Honda5272

99 civic d16y7 auto non vtec.
What switches are these? If someone can tell me what it is and what they do it would be great. I keep hearing different from everyone.
I Googled how come my car wont start when its cold and they say the ect sensor can cause that issue. Then some say distributor but I do not know.
My car starts all day long with no issues when it is warm out but when its under 30 degrees it wont. You'll be lucky to get it started. Battery is brand new to.

Picture one info:
The switch in picture one I can take and spin all the way around like it is broke. What is that switch called by the way? I keep hearing it is the ect switch.

Picture two info:
What switch is this one? It's under the distributor on the front. I keep hearing this one is the ect switch aswell.

Picture three info:
Same as picture two but a better picture.

Could the switch in picture one be bad and making my car not to start up when it is cold out?
Or could it be the one in picture two? My fan is jerry rigged and hardwired to the battery with a fuse if that has any problems with the starting issue to.

HondaPartsHero

1. Fan switch - turns on cooling fan when coolant reaches certain temp
2. ECT/TW sensor - sends coolant temp to ECU to determine open/closed loop

B_Swapped93

x2^^


I'll add that if the fan is wired as a "ACC" then there is a possibility it's putting a strain on an already weak battery upon start up.

For the other no not so much on start up more like it could make you run open loop longer then needed thus reducing MPG etc.

Honda5272

So which one of them could be making my car to not start? The one on the thermostat I can spin it around and around. It seems broke.

Honda5272

Oh ya, I only plug in the fan in the summer time anyways so they aren't on all the time.

B_Swapped93

the fan switch 100% wouldn't and the ECT s highly unlikely to cause that we just explained what it does and when/how it affects things.

Honda5272

I just keep hearing that it's one of the ect's. Because I can start it up one after the other when it is like 30 degrees out but once it drops lower then that it wont start... If it does I'm lucky.

HondaPartsHero

Do you have a check engine light on?

Honda5272

I have had a few codes my light is burnt out for the cel. But I think I am just going to replace both switches and see if the car will start up in cold weather then. From what I hear from others with the same problem all they did was replace the switches and their cars started right up.
I had these codes:
p0116
p1399
p0753
p1336
p1337

94EG8

The ECT sensor is the one that can cause a no start condition. It's not a switch either, it's a temp sensor. There's an old TSB about it.

Also, there a several wires that can chafe through on the intake manifold stiffener bracket under the intake manifold. Normally it affects the alternator, O2 sensors and VSS but you might want to look at that too.

Honda5272

I just ordered a new sensor the one that goes in the head under the distributor. Hopefully that fixes my no start problem.

Honda5272

Oh yeah I made sure no wires are to tight or torn into and they seem fine. I took off that im bracket a long time ago.