Hesitating to start on the very first start of the day?

Tiny
STORM23
  • MEMBER
  • 2023 HONDA CIVIC
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 91,000 MILES
My car has a new battery (bought 5 months ago) and a little over a month ago my car started hesitating to start on the very first start of the day. It's a push to start, so when I press the button, it hesitates for 2-3 seconds, which you audibly hear. Then starts/runs fine the rest of the day.
(Example: I start my car at 8am- it'll hesitate to start, but then runs fine. Let's say I then drive 5 min up the road, turn off the car & it then sits for 8 hours. When I go back out to start my car. Zero hesitation. It starts perfectly) It's only the very first start of every day.

My car recently sat for a week undriven (I was sick and didn't leave the house) My car was completely dead (no lights/ power at all) when I tried to start it. I had to get it jumped for it to even start. I would assume something is draining the battery while it's parked?

I've been going out to start my car daily, even if I'm not going anywhere just so it won't shut off on me again until I get this figured out.

The battery is under warranty, but they've tested it twice and say it's good. The alternator also tested with the correct voltage. The car is fine once it's started and going. However, once it sits overnight or longer, is when the hesitation happens when starting.

Is it worth it for me to take it somewhere & pay for a diagnostic test? What if they can't find anything wrong since it's fine once the car starts for the day?

(I also do not have anything plugged into my car, aside from my phone charger, that could be draining the battery when it sits)

What could this be?
Thursday, August 24th, 2023 AT 7:28 AM

10 Replies

Tiny
STORM23
  • MEMBER
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Example of what it does every day on first start.
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Thursday, August 24th, 2023 AT 7:32 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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This looks like the battery has a bad connection or the battery is defective but still passes their test for some reason. I would get a new battery; these two guides should help you:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked

Please go over these guides and get back to us.

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Thursday, August 24th, 2023 AT 5:25 PM
Tiny
STORM23
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Hello! I bought a new battery and installed it last night. My car started fine this morning! Appears the issue is gone :) If for some reason, I run into an issue regarding this in the future- should I come back to this question or ask a new one? Thank you!
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Monday, August 28th, 2023 AT 12:24 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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You are welcome! :) If the issue returns please continue with this thread. Use 2CarPros anytime, we are here to help. Please tell a friend.
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Tuesday, August 29th, 2023 AT 10:00 AM
Tiny
STORM23
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Well, it's been 3 months, and my car is doing the same thing again. Putting in a new battery back in Aug seemed to be the solution. I've had zero issue until this morning. I even drove it just yesterday with no problems at all. I came out to start my car today and it's doing the same thing from the video I posted before. Any suggestions to what it might be now? It's just weird that both batteries only lasted 3 months. Thanks!
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Sunday, November 26th, 2023 AT 8:06 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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That is strange, can we get a little longer video to see what's going on? Also, it might help us if we do a CAN scan, this will tell us if a module is not shutting down causing the battery drain. can I get confirmation on the year of the vehicles? You can get a CAN scanner (Controller Area Network) which will work on most cars from Amazon.

Here is a video to show you how:

https://youtu.be/u-4syLc-ifQ

Please go over these guides and get back to us.

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Sunday, November 26th, 2023 AT 11:29 AM
Tiny
STORM23
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Ordered a scanner and it'll be here on Dec 2nd. I'll report back once I have received it! In the meantime, I have a 2015 Honda Civic ex-l.
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Sunday, November 26th, 2023 AT 1:45 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Sounds good, you clicked 2023 Honda Civic for the year so that is why I asked.
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Monday, November 27th, 2023 AT 8:58 AM
Tiny
STORM23
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Sorry about that, but the scanner arrived earlier than expected. I included a video, but unsure if there's anything useful from what I captured?
Reading was done with the car on, but engine off.
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Thursday, November 30th, 2023 AT 8:46 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Can you please take a video of what the car is doing again, the first video you uploaded is too short. Thanks for the video of the scanner, the readings looked normal. I am thinking you may have a battery draw; let's try removing the A/C compressor control relay to see if that makes a difference. Here is a guide and the location of the relay:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-dead-overnight

Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Friday, December 1st, 2023 AT 8:58 AM

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