Car diagnosis question

I'm having a problem with my car and I'm curious what the experts here think the problem might be. I asked someone at work already and he gave me a suggestion that sounds good.

So, the problem is when I turn the key sometimes nothing happens. All the indicator lights come on on the dash, but the starter doesn't turn. Usually if I try again a time or two more all of a sudden it starts. This is a 1997 Honda Accord with a manual transmission.

Any idea what the problem could be? I'll tell you what the guy at work said. Scroll down a page so you can't cheat :)
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He speculated it could be the switch that locks out the starter if the clutch isn't engaged. Does this sound like a decent possibility?

yes. it could be.

is there a button to disable that?
i know toyotas have it.

Not sure if there's a button or not. My first action will be to check the fluid level for the clutch. If the only problem is that the fluid level's low I'll be very happy. I'm not confident I'll get out that easy, though!

My Justy does this every once in a while. Turn the key, dash lights and even radio comes on, but no ignition or spin. Someone told me the starter would be a good place to start looking.

However, my Impreza won't fire until the clutch pedal is pressed all the way in, and sometimes this happens if I don't have it all the way down or if the floor mat gets in the way. If this is your problem area, you could have a loose wire in that mechanism as well....

I know the brake light switch often sits under the pedal, so this might be the case for the starter disable switch too.

instead of a button, jeeps have a fuse that you can pull to disable clutch start switch - might check your fuse box map

next time it happens bang on your starter with a BFH, if it fires right up after that then your starter is bad. Could be the clutch safety switch but I'd bet more $ on starter.

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Originally Posted by lemon boy

next time it happens bang on your starter with a BFH, if it fires right up after that then your starter is bad. Could be the clutch safety switch but I'd bet more $ on starter.

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be careful you dont short it, hold a wood (BFH) or plastic end of the tool, its only 12volts, but plenty of amps

I had the exact same trouble in the spring and it was just dirty battery terminals making a lousy connection. Toothbrush and baking soda/water will clean'em up nice. Worth a try for the 2 minutes it takes.

DG

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Originally Posted by LaramieSkiBum

be careful you dont short it, hold a wood (BFH) or plastic end of the tool, its only 12volts, but plenty of amps

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PUSSY!

:p :p :p

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Originally Posted by The AD

I'm having a problem with my car and I'm curious what the experts here think the problem might be. I asked someone at work already and he gave me a suggestion that sounds good.

So, the problem is when I turn the key sometimes nothing happens. All the indicator lights come on on the dash, but the starter doesn't turn. Usually if I try again a time or two more all of a sudden it starts. This is a 1997 Honda Accord with a manual transmission.

Any idea what the problem could be?

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Do you hear a "click" when you turn the key? Or nothing at all?

If it clicks -- the clicking sound is the starter solenoid. Something downstream from the solenoid is faulty.

If no click -- you need a new solenoid. On some cars this is external from the starter; IIRC on newer ones (and a 1997 Honda = "newer") it's most likely internal to the starter.

Either way -- you're probably looking at needing a new starter. I 2nd the suggestion to tap on the starter with something metallic when this happens next, and see if that cures it.

Good luck. Don't fry yourself.

-Karl

Nothing happens period when you turn the key? No sounds, no lights, no nothing?

if thats the case then: check your battery cables including the ground cable to the engine block. Make sure your battery is charged (sounds like it is).

now, if your getting a click or many clicks - IMHO:

1) Give the starter a couple wacks, try starting, repeat. See what happens.

2) Starter / Starter Solenoid - just take the starter off (2 bolts and a wire harness) and take it to a car parts store to have it tested. Watch them hook it up, and listen to it carefully when they test. Take it off and have it tested even if the suggestion above fails to get it to start. I duno about taking front wheel drive starters off, could be a bitch, could take 10 min like it does on a rear wheel... I've never even looked at a front wheel drive car closely.

3) If the starter is good, you gotta start going down the list starting with the most likely - tell us what sounds and lights you have if any.

You need a new flux capacitor.

Check the ignitor, fo reels. I had an 89 Civic that had the same problem. Full battery power, no click, no start. It was a warrenty issue.

This is a good Honda repair resourse Honda Repair

Does it occur more often when its hot outside or when the cabin temperature is high? If so there is a main relay located by the fuses that may cause the problem.

I second the clutch lock-out switch.

I'd replace everything, trust me, that will work. (Including the Flux Capacitor)

BobMc

I just got back from vacay, so thanks for the advice. Hopefully the car will start tomorrow. I haven't driven it since last week.

Yes, it DOES make a click when I turn the key. I guess it's after the audible click where "nothing happens."

not the clutch lockout then

if the car makes an audible click its your starter dying

whack it with a hammer.

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Originally Posted by likwid

not the clutch lockout then

if the car makes an audible click its your starter dying

whack it with a hammer.

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I'm assuming whacking it with a hammer is a short-term solution?!!

yes, the hammer works for two months at best.

Could just be the starter solenoid. I don't know if it's integral to the starter on this car or not....some are and some aren't.

The starter solenoid is a switching mechanism that takes low amperage current from your key switch and uses it to activate a switch that takes the high amperage current straight from the battery and sends it to the starter motor itself. These aren't usually much money, and are often easily separated from the starter motor itself. If you can, only replace the solenoid, it'll be much more efficient than buying a whole starter motor, which is more expensive and has a lot more components: it's an electric motor vs. the solenoid which is just a switch: your starter motor is probably fine.

There's a simple test: the solenoid should have 2 thick wires, one from the battery and one to the starter, if you jump those wires your starter should engage every time. If it does, this is a solenoid problem, if it doesn't there is starter motor problem. Don't run yourself over or shock yourself to death doing this..k.

by the way, the hammer on the solenoid: why this works...

the solenoid is just a metal plunger that, under the low amperage current from your key switch, gets a stiffy and slides forward into a gap (ohh yeah...), thus closing the high amperage circuit to the starter motor. It can get gunked up or scoured from all that moving around and closing high amperage circuit and either not actually slide into the gap or slide in in a way that doesn't make a good contact...hammering just jostles it around so it either: shakes loose and slides into the gap or moves a bit and grabs better contact with one of the sides and closes the circuit.

know what I mean? It's a very sexual car part..just hammer it home.

:p

Someone else suggested if I do hear a click when I turn the key (and I do) that the solenoid is o.k. Do you agree with this?

I don't necessarily agree that click=OK assessment...the click can be the plunger deal moving 1/2 way or just powering up and not moving or moving all the way and making poor contact. Could be the old "hotdog down the hallway" scenario where the solenoid is moving the plunger (click sound) and it's not hitting nothing but non-conductive corrosion.

dude...did you ever get this figured out. I'm dying to know.

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Originally Posted by YetiMan

dude...did you ever get this figured out. I'm dying to know.

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Yes, I ended up getting the starter motor replaced. For all I know it may well have just been the solenoid, but I took it to a shop and they said to replace the starter. Basically I didn't have time to dick around with it anymore. Of course the day I brought the car in it started just fine for them and for me.

My first car the starter went like this. Basically a flat spot on the coils or something so if it stopped in a certain spot it might not start but other times it would fire up just fine.