On a pretty flat ground, my car (1998 civic Si/U.S EX) will start without any struggle. On a hill though like when I'm parked at home nose up, when i gotta start it, it will crank (is that the word?) for 1-3 seconds more before the engine's started. I've just been driving it for a few months, but I never paid attention to this until recently.

I figure it somewhat makes sense since the gas tank is under the rear seats in the back of the car, so it takes a bit more effort for the gas to get to the engine if it has to travel upwards but even then, it's never the same. Sometimes it will crank for just a second, sometimes for 2-3 seconds.

Is it normal?

That might have something to do with it. However, I suspect that the fuel pump is strong enough to pump a small amount of fuel through the lines.

Try this the next time you're in your car:

1. Put the key in and turn it to the possition right before it cranks over the engine.
2. Press the brake and put the car into neutral instead of park.
3. Try and start the engine now.
4. Observer possible results.

I'm not suggesting that it'll be different, i'm just saying it is different way to test it out.

For my 8th gen (07) Civic, what they usually recommend is wait until the digital fuel meter to pop back up to the actual fuel level after putting the key in the II position to allow the fuel pump to get the gas up. It usually takes a couple seconds, try doing that with your car -- put it in II for 2-3 seconds and then start it.

So if I understand correctly, you guys are both saying to leave the key on the position right before engine start and then to start it, right?

I forgot to mention one thing. The car used to have a fuel pump kill switch which I later removed because the location of the switch was awfully revealing. I removed everything and reconnected the fuel pump power line by crimping it and I made sure it's tight. I figure if a connection was a problem, the engine would crank regardless of how the car's tilted, but I could be wrong.

I would check the fuel pressure to at least rule that out. But yea, if you turn the key to power the accessories, the fuel pump will prime and engage. So just wait a few seconds before you start the ignition.

Yeah today I had it checked by my mechanic, the pressure is fine as well as the filters and gas lines.

To start it without those extra seconds, basically he said what you guys are saying, sort of. He told me to leave it on II/accessories for 2-3 seconds, then off, then start it rather than leaving it on accessories for several seconds and it didn't take as long.

So yeah, I just wasted 30 minutes of labor for nothing

Well, does it work?

Sadly it does

Haha that's amazing lol.