2006 Honda Accord 2.4 cold start....

[gregk24]

So its been a little chilly this last week and Ive noticed no difference in starting my car other than a longer than normal high idle, but this morning it turned over really slow and longer than usual. It was in the 30's last night for the first time this year. What I am wondering is...is it the battery? the starter? or is it just cold weather making the oil thick? If it keeps up I might have the battery tested, I dont want to get stranded somewhere because of the battery when it could have been easily prevented. I have had the car for two years as of tomorrow and have never changed the battery.

 

[dave123]

A car will never turn over slow at 30F outside ever it's not cold.

 

[gregk24]

Originally Posted By: dave123
A car will never turn over slow at 30F outside ever it's not cold.


I get its cold outside, but this was unusually slow. I just dont want to end up somewhere stranded. I just dont remember it being a drastic change in turnover rate last year.

 

[fdcg27]

You may need a battery.
How old is the one in your car?
FWIR, batteries actually have shorter lives in southern heat than they do in northern cold.

 

[SLCraig]

Just monitor it.. If it does not happen again/get any worse you're in the clear.

Slow crank could be either starter or battery. If it happens rapidly like not over the span of weeks/months I would lean more towards the battery. When starters get weak, they degrade gradually, unless it's a solenoid failure or something, which you are not experiencing.

 

[fdcg27]

...and the OP better hope he doesn't need a starter.
A very expensive job on a k24, which also means not an easy diy.

 

[Hokiefyd]

If a 2006 Accord is anything like our 2008 CR-V, it DOES turn over slower in colder weather. 30*F isn't that cold, but it does crank slower than at, say, 50*F. I think it's primarily due to the very small batteries that Honda typically uses. Our CR-V uses a group size 51 (or 51R, I can't remember); an Accord may be similar.

Our Acura MDX, with its much larger group size 35 battery, doesn't seem to be affected by "mild" cold like this at all. Due again, at least in my opinion, to the battery size.

 

[redhat]

Yeah what kind of battery is it?

Is it the original? If it is, I'd commend you as you've made an OE 51R Honda battery last that long!

 

[Tosh]

Check the battery's electrolyte level and give it a charge. Then see what happens next time it's cold.

 

[swirlparanoid]

I had an 09 and my mom has a 12 that does the same thing. Seems to be normal to me with these cars. To the guy that said it wont turn over slow at 30, these cars will. When it gets to the single digits its atrocious.

Edit. However you should have the battery checked or replaced to make sure anyway

 

[901Memphis]

Slow to start... Probably the battery. Have it tested for sure.

 

[CHARLIEBRONSON21]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
...and the OP better hope he doesn't need a starter.
A very expensive job on a k24, which also means not an easy diy.



Starter on mine was 180 new and about an hour of my time. It was not fun though. The intake wasn't hard to get off but the bolts were super tight and not a lot of leverage. Had to think of things that made me mad to power through and break them loose. Install took 5 minutes.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Every vehicle I have had turns over slower at 30 degrees than 70. Turns over really slow at -30 degrees.

 

[mclasser]

My 02 Accord has done this ever since new. I thought it was a starter issue but 11.5 yrs later, it still works. I've changed batteries several times since then, as expected, and same thing.

 

[Rolla07]

Just have ur battery tested. Might be the original.

 

[901Memphis]

Up size the battery with more amps if you want a better start.

 

[gregk24]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
...and the OP better hope he doesn't need a starter.
A very expensive job on a k24, which also means not an easy diy.


So I have heard....whats a ballpark price for the dealer and independent shop? I would not tackle this job myself.

 

[901Memphis]

Have you had the battery tested yet? I wouldn't even worry about the start until you test the battery. Your getting in a hurry to worry it sounds like to me when your fine.

 

[supton]

Test the battery.

Our Honda cranked slower in the cold, I do remember that.

But I've never had one last more than 7 years. All of them lost a cell eventually. If it's cranking slowly, save the jump and just replace now before it dies when it's -20F.

Ooos--you're in Florida. That means you'll be miserable when you have to bundle up in 50F weather to replace that battery...

 

[JamesBond]

Our '05 Accord 2.4 starter always sounds slow in the cold.

Actually it always sounds kinda slow when its warm out, but I don't worry about it then.

I wouldn't worry about it unless it gets slower, but it always pays to have jumper cables in the car.