EMF interference with car electronics?

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David Goodman

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Pahrump, NV, USA
My son was just assigned an indoor parking space that is next to the building‘s bank electrical meters. He has a push button start on his 2019 Honda Accord. It normally starts within a second of the button being pushed. However, he has noticed that in this parking space, the car will take several seconds to start.

Is there any chance that a magnetic field from the meters is causing the problem?
 
David Goodman said:
This is also something I will need to ask my son about. I don’t know if there is work space between his car and the meters, or if the empty parking space becomes the work space.
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Yesterday he parked with the nose of his car toward the meters. Today he parked by backing in, and he had less problems. So, moving the engine electronics an extra twelve or so feet from the meters might have made a difference.
 
The "engine electronics" probably isn't where you think it is.

I really don't think there is any connection with the electrical meters. Automotive ECMs are pretty "hardened" against interference and what, if anything generated by the meters would be light weight stuff compared with all the transmitters and cell sites that would be encountered on a daily basis.

I would say he has other problems. What's the discussion on Reddit about @retirede ?

-Hal
 
hbiss said:
The "engine electronics" probably isn't where you think it is.

I really don't think there is any connection with the electrical meters. Automotive ECMs are pretty "hardened" against interference and what, if anything generated by the meters would be light weight stuff compared with all the transmitters and cell sites that would be encountered on a daily basis.

I would say he has other problems. What's the discussion on Reddit about @retirede ?

-Hal
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Several Honda owners are reporting that occasionally, the starter will crank for an abnormally long time (not quantified) before starting. Some say as infrequent as once per month.

A guy who calls himself a Honda “master tech” says a weak battery will cause intermittent longer cranking times. I’m skeptical!

That’s why I asked the OP if the delay in this case is from button press to starter engagement, or starter engagement to engine start. If it’s cranking, it’s either not getting spark or not getting fuel.
 
Maybe the garage is colder than other places he's parking it this time of year. You'd need to control for that and possibly otuer factors before pointing at the meters.
 
My 2008 chevy Trailblazer takes a few extra seconds to start after I fill up with gas. It has something to do with the gas cap being removed I'm sure. Only happens after I fuel up.
The check engine light is on and that's from a sensor on the fuel system somewhere.
And I'm not into chasing down a bad sensor when they are a hundred dollars apiece so it shall remain on. It does not seem to affect the performance of the vehicle at all.
 
qcroanoke said:
My 2008 chevy Trailblazer takes a few extra seconds to start after I fill up with gas. It has something to do with the gas cap being removed I'm sure. Only happens after I fuel up.
The check engine light is on and that's from a sensor on the fuel system somewhere.
And I'm not into chasing down a bad sensor when they are a hundred dollars apiece so it shall remain on. It does not seem to affect the performance of the vehicle at all.
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But it will keep it from passing a smog test, right off the bat, with no further testing.
 
David Goodman said:
My son was just assigned an indoor parking space that is next to the building‘s bank electrical meters. He has a push button start on his 2019 Honda Accord. It normally starts within a second of the button being pushed. However, he has noticed that in this parking space, the car will take several seconds to start.

Is there any chance that a magnetic field from the meters is causing the problem?
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Realistically, no.
 
qcroanoke said:
And I don't think Va. requires a smog test as part of inspection.
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Well, there are two inspections in Virginia, the annual Virginia State Safety Inspection that you in Roanoke and everywhere else in the Commonwealth are familiar with.

In the EPA Non-Attainment area there is the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Emissions Test. $28 every two years until the vehicle is 25 years old. This area includes: Stafford county, Prince William county, Arlington county, Fairfax county, Loudoun county and the independent cities within. Oh what fun we have....

Another fact: if a dashboard light is on and Amber in color, the vehicle can still pass the Safety Inspection, so don't let some inspector say you must fix the ABS light, Tire Pressure light, Check Engine light, etc. ;)
 
Frank DuVal said:
Well, there are two inspections in Virginia, the annual Virginia State Safety Inspection that you in Roanoke and everywhere else in the Commonwealth are familiar with.

In the EPA Non-Attainment area there is the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Emissions Test. $28 every two years until the vehicle is 25 years old. This area includes: Stafford county, Prince William county, Arlington county, Fairfax county, Loudoun county and the independent cities within. Oh what fun we have....

Another fact: if a dashboard light is on and Amber in color, the vehicle can still pass the Safety Inspection, so don't let some inspector say you must fix the ABS light, Tire Pressure light, Check Engine light, etc. ;)
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That is very good to know!
I'm sure a lot of people (myself included) would go along with being told that if we didn't know any better.
 
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