# 2009 Honda CRV - Struggles to start on cold days **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** cr-v, start, honda\ **Created:** [February 17, 2011, 8:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-honda-crv-struggles-to-start-on-cold-days/61482 "2011-02-17T20:48:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Powerchic26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Powerchic26](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Powerchic26)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 8:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-honda-crv-struggles-to-start-on-cold-days/61482/1 "2011-02-17T20:48:04Z")
My 2009 Honda CRV struggles to start on very cold days. I need to hold the key and turn it longer than I would on most days. Is this something I should be concerned about or is it normal. Thanks, Jenn ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-honda-crv-struggles-to-start-on-cold-days/61482/2 "2011-02-17T20:54:40Z")
How much longer? How often do you drive it? ---
**Author:** ![Powerchic26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Powerchic26](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Powerchic26)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-honda-crv-struggles-to-start-on-cold-days/61482/3 "2011-02-17T21:02:14Z")
I drive it everyday. and it seems like 30 secs longer and it only happens first thing in the morning on a very cold days. I would say when it is in the teens or lower. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-honda-crv-struggles-to-start-on-cold-days/61482/4 "2011-02-17T21:23:40Z")
30 seconds is a little extreme, yeah. What’s it sound like when it’s turning over? Slow? Like it’s hard for it to actually turn over? Have you had your battery checked? ---
**Author:** ![Powerchic26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Powerchic26](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Powerchic26)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-honda-crv-struggles-to-start-on-cold-days/61482/5 "2011-02-17T22:59:01Z")
It sounds like it is struggling to turn over. The car just pasted inspection in November and no concerns with the battery where noted. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-honda-crv-struggles-to-start-on-cold-days/61482/6 "2011-02-17T23:02:05Z")
Doubtful they did a very good inspection on the battery, especially since your car was probably running for the other inspection tests, and so even if they took a voltage reading it would have been high since it would have been being charged by the alternator. I’d have it specifically tested. Battery/parts stores can generally do this for you, usually for free. I suspect that your battery is weak, and batteries always get more weak in cold temperatures, so an already weak one would have trouble when the thermometer dips. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2011, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-honda-crv-struggles-to-start-on-cold-days/61482/7 "2011-02-17T23:53:52Z")
…especially if one does a lot of short-trip local driving. ---
**Author:** ![waterboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/waterboy/32/764_2.png) [@waterboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/waterboy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-honda-crv-struggles-to-start-on-cold-days/61482/8 "2011-02-18T00:18:35Z")
My rule of thumb is not to crank the starter more than 10 seconds at a shot. Cranking for longer is a recipe for starter failure. Leave it overnight on a cold night at the dealer so they can diagnose the assumed problem in the am, as 30 seconds is way too long.