Zerophase

So I have a 94 Accord and it won't start.At first I thought it was probably the alternator,but when I jump start the car it runs fine until I turn it off and try to start it again.The battery is brand new so at least I know that's not the problem which in my opinion leaves two possible options,the alternator or the starter.

The auto door locks and power windows work fine with the remote when the car is turned off,but when I turn the key it's almost like when you have a dead battery.I'll hook up jumper cables and the car starts up instantly when I turn the key,but when I remove the the cables and try to start it again,It's back to the same problem.At first I thought that the alternator wasn't charging the battery and when I jump start it,the car then gets it's power straight from the battery while it's running(this was a brief diagnosis that one of the guys from Autozone gave,which seemed to make sense at the time),and continues to drain the battery.This would kinda make sense except for the fact that I've had the car idle for at least 10-15 minutes on multiple occasions with no signs of power loss from battery drain.

I guess the only other thing that makes reasonable sense is that the actual starter is not doing it's job anymore,and the car won't start.If I have a bad starter I know,obviously,the car won't start,but will it not even crank at all either like it's doing now?

I'm gonna take out the alternator and take it to Autozone and have them test it,but can I get you guy's opinion on what you think is most likely the culprit here?

Thanks.

hondadude

Battery Cable Connections clean and tight?
do you hear the starter 'click' when you turn the key and it doesn't start? Like worn contacts in the starter?
If the Alt was the problem you would probably have a batt light on the dash.

ziggy!talon

it's the main relay, it's under the dash near the fuse holder in my 6g so it should be somewhere near there on yours...

this happened to me once before wheni still had an F23a in it... nowdays it has an H22a

Zerophase

So it's the weirdest thing.I just went outside and took off the driver's side door panel because there is something really messed up with the auto windows.Anyway I was checking the connections and all that for about an hour or so.I turned the key about five times randomly within the hour and on the last try,it started.I let it run for about 10 minutes and took it down the street and back.When I got back,I tuned it off and turned the key again and nothing.I then took the key out and put it back in and only half turned it to get the stereo,lights and windows to work,but it gets no power.

I then disconnected the negative on the battery and put it back on and when I do that the windows and lock work again so I try to start it up again and nothing.I go through the same routine again and turn the key and it started.

So again,I turn the car off,take out the key and try to start it again,and it started again.I do this 3 more times just to see if it will start and it started all 3 times.

So I guess whatever is going on with it,it has to be an electrical issue rather than a mechanical one. By the way,when it doesn't start,it makes a single click,but more like a snapping sound(like someone hitting a thick piece of metal with the butt end of a screwdriver,that's the best way I can describe it).

It has a Viper alarm system on it and it controls the windows and door locks and it seems to be going somewhat haywire.I guess I'll just have to take it to a place that installs Viper alarms and have someone look at it.

ziggy!talon

like i said, it's the main relay.

same exacty symptoms i had.

Zerophase

So now hours later I went back outside to start the car and got nothing on the first try.I then made sure the negative on the battery was a bit tighter and "viola",started right up.I guess that was the issue all along,and here I though that I was gonna have to get either a new starter or alternator.This still doesn't solve the problem with the window but I still feel like an idiot.