street_ride14

'95 Accord LX, manual

Hey guys, help me figure this out.

Steps taken: Press clutch pedal, put key in the ignition, turn key, all lights on dashboard are now On, turn key further to start, all dashboard lights are now dimmer, hear a click, but starter would not engage. Sometimes I have to try this 10 times before starter would even engage and start car.

Can we rule out ignition switch problem?
What else could this be?

GhostAccord

Battery doesn't have enough cranking amps. or maybe the connectors may be loose, worn or dirty/corroded.

street_ride14

UPDATE: couldn't even start the car yesterday, had to push-start in order to get it running .. bad starter right?

Black R

Having the same problem in my 88 civic.

It only does this occasionally - the last time it was on a really hot day.

street_ride14

measured the voltage on the small starter terminal during attempt to start and got 8.85V ??

GhostAccord

Sounds like you need a battery not a starter. It's not the volts you are looking for, it's the cranking amps. Pull your battery and have it load tested at a shop.

street_ride14

My battery is fine.

Black R

Another possibility is that you have a Jdm flywheel?

I think Jun flywheels were notorious for having the teeth be slightly off in shape so that they didn't work with usdm starters - on occasional starts they wouldn't engage.

I got the same issue today: wouldn't start. I could hear the starter tick when I turned the key though.
So I put the car in reverse and kept the key turned as I rocked the car back and forth with the clutch out.
It must have nudged the starter enough because it started cranking!

So I'm thinking maybe I have a Jdm flywheel with a usdm starter, or my starter is dying...

holmesnmanny

Replace your ignition switch. Too much resistance isnt allowing proper voltage to the solenoid. You can do a voltage drop test around the start position contacts on the ignition switch to confirm if you want.

Normally when they start to fail they act up after youve been driving the car for a bit and the contacts have got good and hot.

street_ride14

I had my suspicions on the ignition switch as well.
So yesterday I went ahead and replaced the starter with a known good one and the issue still persists.
Ignition switch is next.

94 accord typeR

check ur main relay

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-crx-ef-civic-1988-1991-3/what-symptoms-if-my-main-relay-going-bad-2620797/

happens to ALL Honda models (civic, crx, accord, prelude)

holmesnmanny

The main relay has NO control whatsoever over the starter.

GhostAccord

Ah I love these threads where members continue to throw parts at issues rather than actually take the time to troubleshoot.

Have you managed to get your hands on one of those free PDF Honda Accord shop manuals yet? I'm not talking about one of those crap Helms manuals, it is an actual Honda shop manual.

Lost Again

Mark, I think "94" has a reading comprehension issue.......he has a "manual" (the 94 coupe UK version) but doesn't know how to put what it is saying to practical use.

Pretty sad when I'm the one that is the bleeding heart and tries to help eveyone I can - and even I am at my end with "94". Other places I would shut his stuff down, I don't have that "stick" here.

Heck 3~4 months ago he didn't even know what engine was in his car - had a "HA" stamp - so what

I guess at this point I'll be warned or kicked out....bring it, I stand by my comments.