Need help!!! my car wont start properly - Honda Prelude Forum

theaneet · 02-25-2005, 10:06 PM

I have a 99 manual lude, I drive it about once a week. I live in CT, so its been pretty cold lately. Latley when ive tried starting my car, it wont start right away. I will have to sit there and keep the key turned for like 30 seconds to a minute even. When it finally does start, the cabin starts to smell like sulfur. It straight up smells like farts. lol. I took the car to autozone and had them check out the battery, they tested the battery and starter and alternator and said everything was fine and that I just need to start it more often. This was two weeks ago, since then I have been using it more often and I still run into the same problem when Im starting it cold. After its been warm for a while, I can shut it off and it will turn over right away if I start it again. I think its the battery, im not sure what else the problem could be. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

Ludster · 02-25-2005, 11:08 PM

It may be the battery or the starter. Have u tried testing the battery b4 starting the car cold?

theaneet · 02-26-2005, 03:48 PM

No i havnt, i drove down to autozone after it had warmed up a bit. Maybe ill leave it there for a few hours and try testing it cold. thats a good idea, thanks

marcucci · 02-27-2005, 09:18 AM

If it cranks fine it's not the starter. The sulfer smell is likely just the unburnt fuel. Start looking for ignition issues, or possibly a super-rich fuel mixture. You might have to take it in to a dealer to get a good diagnosis.

Lenin · 02-27-2005, 10:12 AM

If you have sunoco 94 octane in there, it will definately be really hard to start. My car does the same thing, the higher octane burns slower, and it is harder to ignite. Try changing your plugs first, and if that doesnt make the motor crank over easier, try switching to a lower octane for the winter.

theaneet · 03-03-2005, 05:01 PM

I have been using Vpower from shell. I talked to my dads mechanic and he said it could be a super rich fuel mixture. Im gonna take the car to him next week and have him fix it, and I'll knock out getting the car ready for emmissions through him too. thanks for all your info guys.