Rick Overton

Hey guys, I'm having problems with my 95 lx civic. It's a 5 speed with a d16z6 swap. A day ago I went to my girlfriends house to pick her up, and when I come back out to start the car nothing happens. It just clicks, it doesn't crank, just clicks.

So I pop the hood make sure everything was plugged in (At this time I didn't have a check engine light)everything was plugged in and the only thing I could think of was it was the starter. The fuel pump would prime, the radio would come on so I'm pretty sure I can rule out the ignition switch. Anyways, I have my girlfriend grab a wrench and tap on the starter and then put in the clutch and turn the key, she fires right up. So I was thinking it's just the starter going out and I'll go to the junk yard and pull one.

Well, I put the car in reverse and start to let the clutch out and it starts to sputter and I have a CEL pop up then the car dies. I put the clutch in and turn it back over and it turns on. I drive up the street and it's jerking me back and forth like it wants to die so I pull over and jump the terminal under the passenger foot well to see what CEL code I get. I get a code 3 and I know it's the map sensor and luckily I had another one in the car so i take off the negative terminal on the batter replace the Map sensor, try and clean the connector to it and plug it back up put the battery cable back on and it fires right up and runs fine so I go home.

I take my girlfriend home today and when I'm in the parking lot I go to turn the car on and it happens again, this time it didn't start with the map sensor and give me a CEL. I tap on the starter with a wrench and start it up and go home.

But about an hour ago I try to turn the car on to go to the store and it won't start so I get a wrench and gently tap on the starter, get back in the car and it turns over just fine, I let it idle for about 5 minutes just to make sure. I take off get about 300 feet and I get a CEL and it starts sputtering real bad so I had to pull and U turn and go home.

My question is, does anyone know if it's the starter or the MAP sensor, or if it's a combination of both. Has anyone had this happen to them and if so what fixed it. I'll go pull the code it's currenty give me tomorrow and try to give more details. Sorry for the long post. Thanks for the help in advance.

White_EG1

I don't believe a map sensor will cause a no start no crank, maybe bad mpg. And poor performance, and you could have some other sensors on there way out 02 sensor, tps, etc. I suggest you take the car to your nearest auto parts store and have them check the cel for you, and starter, battery, alternator if you don't have a multimeter.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Are we kidding? You had to knock on the starter to get it to run. Maybe check the starter?

09chaplak

Number 1: "I have my girlfriend grab a wrench and tap on the starter and then put in the clutch and turn the key, she fires right up" I need a girlfriend like that.
Number 2: "I get a code 3" What was the actual code? Unless your scanner is cool as s**t and says stuff like code red or is on the defcon rating scale, we don't know what that means.
Number 3: Check this out......https://honda-tech.com/forums/acura-integra-6/fix-your-starter-%245-%2410-no-special-tools-3043958/
Number 4: Let us know if it's fixed or you might just want to replace the starter all together.

09chaplak

And those are in order of importance FYI

Former User

Replace or fix the starter.

Check whether code 3 or another code is now being thrown. Then reset ECU to see whether same code returns.

Former User

The OP's car has an OBD1 ECU, so you can't pull the codes with a code reader. OBD1 code 3 indicates a problem in the MAP sensor circuit. Click the Codes link in my signature.

09chaplak

Ah, my laziness has caught up to me still need that girlfriend though......thanks for the direction Ron!

TomCat39

Hi Rick, besides the MAP sensor circuit, the starter is definitely acting up. I'd say take a hammer and firmly tap the side of it, not gently but firmly, hard enough you'd dent the fender or door if you were rapping on it. Don't beat the snot out of it but definitely whack her firmly a few times. It can knock dry debis loose while the being gentle will only free up the sticking to let it stick later. The key is to vibrate the starter enough to shake debris around so it will clear itself.

You may find that it buys you significant more time to get to the junk yard.

I just experienced your starter issue except I didn't tap gently on the side of the starter, I tapped it firmly and haven't had to pull the hammer out from under the seat since.

This weekend I plan on going and pulling a starter and making mine a backup.

Rick Overton

I just pulled my code, it's a code 3. I'm not sure why the map senor would be acting up unless the starter is somehow messing with the map sensor.

I'll try to firmly tap my starter like stated and then take her for a drive and see what happens. I let everyone know if it's fixed or if the problem pops back up.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

The starter and MAP sensor are not inter-related systems. The only job of the starter is to start the engine.

If you have to keep tapping on the starter to make it work properly then replace it. You will never fix it with Fonzerelli technique.

Rick Overton

The car is still acting up and It sounded as if there was a vacuum leak so I'm thinking that the O-ring for the map sensor is letting air out and therefore the map sensor isn't getting the proper reading and then it's causing my car to act up. As for the problem with the starter I'll just go to the junk yard and pull one. I don't want to order a O-ring online and wait 2-3 weeks for it to ship. Any idea where I can get a 9.8x1.9mm O-ring?

TomCat39

Honda Dealership can have it in 2 days or less usually.

tony_2018

I gotta start thinking like you and keep a hammer in the car, I keep everything else but the hammer. hahaha.

OP you already know its the starter if you had to hit it a couple times. Get that replaced first and go from there.

tony_2018

Did you check the sensor first to rule it out?

Rick Overton

It wasn't the starter. But my starter froze up last winter and I got a new one instead of taking it apart and cleaning it like I should have. It was the map sensor all along. Apparently the 4 I had were all bad, I bought a new one and haven't had a problem since then.

Former User

These comments seem contradictory.