No Start Is Getting Old
Monday August 13, 2007
This letter of frustration is just one version of a message I get quite often:
Well, Adolpho, there is no instant answer, and you may in fact need a new starter. But, before you drop the cash for a new part, you should try the simple things first. When you turn they key to the ON position (but before you start it) all of those colorful dash lights should come on. When you turn the key all the way, these will turn off while the car starts itself. If they don't come on at all, or if they don't turn off when you turn the key to the start position, you might just need to clean your battery terminals. Try this before you start to panic about a new starter.
Auto Guru, I have an issue. My car (1999 Honda Civic, manual transmission) has become a PITA to start on certain days. There is no rhyme or reason to it all, but sometimes I turn the key and, well, nothing. Then if I wait 5 minutes and try again it will start! After that it usually does fine until I let it sit for a while again. My mechanic says that I need a starter, but my brother in law told me that it doesn't sound like a starter to him. What's the deal?
Signed, Adolpho.
Well, Adolpho, there is no instant answer, and you may in fact need a new starter. But, before you drop the cash for a new part, you should try the simple things first. When you turn they key to the ON position (but before you start it) all of those colorful dash lights should come on. When you turn the key all the way, these will turn off while the car starts itself. If they don't come on at all, or if they don't turn off when you turn the key to the start position, you might just need to clean your battery terminals. Try this before you start to panic about a new starter.photo by Matt Wright, 2007
Comments
would a cracked distributor cap have the same effect?
I heard somewhere that condensation can build up in some of the engine parts when the honda is out in the sun too long..strange but true.
My car will not start w/o the clutch being popped do I need a new starter? I drove to Auto Zone & they said the battery was fine. Could it be the starter even though it was replaced in 11/06?
Mine was doing the same thing, and it was a small relay switch on the dash. Replaced it—- no more “none starts”.
i had the same prob with a 92 Jeep. No service center could diagnose the problem. I replaced a few relays and sensors and in the end it turned out to be a bad comshaft positioning sensor. Cheep fix if you do it yourself