Honda's Unique startup?

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A Man Hamster
Ive noticed that Practically all Honda's have the same "run dun dun" start up. It doesn't matter whether it be old or new they all sound the same, anyone know why this is?
 
It comes down to the type of starter you (the company) use. I noticed that yesterday when I was unloading a truck at work and a nearby Pilot started up, which sounded exactly like my Grandfather's 20 year old Prelude.

Interestingly as well, I even made note of it to my co-worker who was unloading the truck with me.

IMO, GM has the most recognizable start-up, particularly with the small-blocks (I could easily pick that out of a crowd of sounds). Chrysler, IMO, probably has the worst sounding start-up out there, as it always sounds like it is doing damage to the car.

Other oddities?

Volkswagen. They have an unreasonably long crank-over time, kind of a "rut-ut-ut-ut-ut-eh!" noise. I've found that older VWs have an easier time cranking over, but more recent MKIV models (using the same engine I have) crank for an odd amount of time.
 
Honda's barely have enough torque to get the motor started, that's why.
 
I see, huh well thanks for shedding some light on the subject.
 
Quiet_Storm
The Honda Civic hybrids doesn't make a sound when starting up. :lol:
Click to expand...

Ive always wondered how that works. They say hybrids only have their engines start up above a certain speed or rate of acceleration and that it shuts down when not needed.

Wouldnt it be weird to hear your car start up when its already doing 25mph? Or when it shuts down when the car is still moving.
 
Bubble Bunny
Ive always wondered how that works. They say hybrids only have their engines start up above a certain speed or rate of acceleration and that it shuts down when not needed.

Wouldnt it be weird to hear your car start up when its already doing 25mph? Or when it shuts down when the car is still moving.
Click to expand...




Hybrid cars do not have a starter like conventional gasoline cars. They use the electric motor to start the gasoline engine that's why there are no "starting" sound. When the car idles for a period of time (ie: sitting at stoplight) then the computer will shut the car off to save fuel. When you let off the brakes and step on the gas, there is a sensor that will tell the ECU to crank the electric engine to start up the gasoline engine (this happens instantanously). Your engine only shut down when you're at a complete stop but will always be on when the car is moving.

Under heavy acceleration is when the electric engine will kick in to help accelerate the car and save fuel on the gasoline engine. Braking will recharge the batteries for the electric motor. Hybrid cars is also equipped with a variable ratio automatic transmission to keep the rpm in the optimum range to conserve fuel as well. If you've ever driven a Hybrid car, you'll notice that it doesn't shift like regular car does. You'll feel like you're in one gear and it's the longest gear ever. :lol:
 
Should we get a few examples of the start-up?

How about GM?



Its not the best example, but its the basic sound you hear with every modern small-block model. Our Avalanche usually makes a buzz noise before it starts (I assume its the fuel pump priming itself?), and then does much the same. I love how the V8s usually rev-up a bit on start, giving a good exhaust note. Our Grand Prix, and even the Envoy do much the same as well, even with their six-pot engines.

You can hear that noise a bit on the G6 GTP start-up:



What about Ford?

We'll start with the Mustang, which sounds pretty generic:



A Fusion (US model) as well?



Not very eventful...

I hate the Chrysler sound on start-up. This is the best example I've got:



The Charger does much the same...



Even on the Viper it sounds like a weak starter...



===

What about the furrriners?

Toyota has a pretty distinctive sound as well:



And the iconic Honda?





Come to think of it, Nissan has a pretty weak starter as well. My brother's Sentra always used to piss me off whenever I tried to drive it...






...I'll get more in a bit...
 
lol @SVX startup

You know, Subaru and Nissan source the same company for most of their components (radiators, caps/plugs, alternators) so I bet a V6 nissan wouldn't sound too different from that SVX crank. I had a 300ZX for a while (but it was a pile and I sold it)



Sounds about the same to me.
 
The Chevy Tahoe video is mine! I took it while out at my uncle's lake house. I do notice the Honda sound a lot. My brothers car is a '94 Integra LS and it doesn't have the sound. My moms car is an '07 Accord SE V6 and it does have the sound. The rental car when her car was getting the tint didn't have that sound. It just sounded...weak. You can find that video on my YouTube account.
 
Hm. Should, one of these days, show you duys what a 1.6 carb'd Toyota sounds like. After all, you flood it...
 
Our Avalanche usually makes a buzz noise before it starts (I assume its the fuel pump priming itself?), and then does much the same. I love how the V8s usually rev-up a bit on start, giving a good exhaust note.
Click to expand...

👍 My bro-in-law's 07 Avalanche sounds awesome on startup. My sisters Taurus and my moms '94 Olds Cutlass on the other hand, :indiff:
 
My Biscayne's Starter sounded like the birth of the universe when it worked.

Churrr-run-run-run-rn-rnr--rnr-nr-nrnnrr-BOOM! Only GM starter I've ever heard that didn't do that really high pitched whine. Then again, it was the only starter that also required praying to a polytheist Delco deity to get the starter to work long enough to start the car.

This interesting. I've never thought about it before. That's true about the Volkswagens. My mom's takes a long time. But it sounds really strong for a 4 cylinder.
 
I have yet to drive an MKV Golf or Jetta, and I often wonder if they have the same kind of starter noise on the I5 as I have on the old I4. I know a few of the MKIV models I was in made much the same noise, but that could probably be easily explained by the fact they were using the same engine in my car...
 
In my experience, most B-series Honda engines have very quick startups, with only 2 or 3 turnovers, usually. The engines are relatively short-stroke, compared to, say, the Nissan 2.5, which sounds like the starter just can't handle the long stroke.
 
Now that you mention it, I think you're right. The Altima we had seemed to crank for quite a while (like my Vee-Dubs) for no apparent reason. Even the decidedly old-school Prelude cranks over pretty easy, and its 20 years old this fall.
 
The K-series in my wife's TSX cranks forever before it finally pops off. Always has, since new.

Without doubt the most distinctive starter sound is the 1950s-1980s RWD Mopar sound:

Giga-giga-GOW-GOW-GOW-GOW-gigagigagiga-VROOM-sizzle...
 
LMAO!

Anyway, I don't think any newer electro-throttle engines can really be compared to older cable engines, like the B, H, D, and whatnot. Same goes for other car companies. Fuel delivery is a big part of it. Carbureted engines start almost instantly after a stab or two at the go pedal.

My short-stroke 1.6 might as well be carbureted it starts so quick. Big V8s start pretty quick because they're making a lot of power. But crappy engines, like Nissan's 2.5 or anything from VW just suck in general. :lol:
 

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