I own a 2000 Civic Ex manual transmission. It has about 45,000 miles on it. I have had regular oil changes and use 5W-30 since the manual recommends it especially for starting in cold weather.

The problem is, starting like 4 days ago my car has trouble starting. I have to hold the clutch in and turn my key for a lot longer than usual to get my car to start. There is a clicking noise and the engine churns and trys to turn over and after a while it finally does. Sometimes I have to stop and do it again for it to start.

This does not happen when I have had the car running for a while and then turn it off. Then it starts fine.

Would this problem be related to my spark plugs, or is there some starter fluid that the civic needs? I'm not low on gas or motor oil.

I do live in Kansas City and it was pretty dang cold for a while but I don't think this problems gonna get better even if the weather does.

Before I take into any shop or dealership, I was wondering what suggestions or experiences people have had in the past that might relate to this that I can look at myself.

btw- I also have a remote starter on my car (i don't know if this affects this situation or not).

Thanks!!!

 

This deffinatly makes thinks a bit more tricky. Any one of those wires could have a bad connection and be causing this. First I would start by cleaning the battery terminals with baking soda and a wire brush. Put a bit of grease on the terminals to prevent corrosion. I would then take the car to AutoZone or a comperable place and have the battery "load tested". It almost sounds like your battery is starting to go bad.

 

The clicking sound was just that one incident, I believe. When starting my car after work, it just wouldn't turn over for a while. Thank you for any help to this.

 

I would still try what I mentioned above first. It's free to do and very easy.

BTW, who installed your auto car starter? Just curious.

 

Yea, I'm gonna go home and try that out. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks.

On the name of the people who installed my car starter- I don't think they would want me to say their name since I think it's illegal to do on a manual transmission?

 

That's fine. I was going to say if Best Buy installed it, I would lean more towards the auto start unit. I've heard of many cases that they installed it poorly and the car would not start or start spontaniously by itself.

 

It wasn't Best Buy. I've had the remote starter for about an year now and haven't had any problems with the car not starting or starting spontaneously. However, now when I try to start my car using the remote starter, it makes a lot of clicks and weird noises but no churning sound like when I start it with the key. It does this for about 30 seconds and then quits.

 

Sounds like the startor motor isnt turning the fly wheel...

Shot in the dark... overrunning clutch in the starter assembly isn't doing it's job when you use the remote starter?

 

Is there an easy fix to this?

This is a problem even when I'm not using my remote starter.

 

Only by replacing the starter. They are about $250 new and about $200 rebuilt.