StewieVX

Guys so my car (92 honda civic vx) was running and by accident i turn on a key/starter while engine was running. Then i turned engine off and when i tried to start it it would crank but would not start. After few tires it finally started. I drove around and tried again and starts at first try most of the time but if i tried it 3 to 4 times at 4 time or so it will try to crank really hard and i can hear starter trying slowly but very hard it tries and eventually starts. Sometimes it wont thought so my worry now is in the winter time frame.

I took battery out to charge it overnight cause maybe battery is going bad. It has 3-4 yrs but i never had this issue before unless i didn't notice it.

Question is did i fry or damaged starter or flywheel? Starter is $63 so it's not bad to replace it but uncertainly especially in winter is gonna bother me.

Symptom is after few tries starting the car starter will have very hard time cranking it therefore me having to hold key for 20-40 sec constantly. Otherwise it won't start. Any thoughts?

Former User

Have an auto parts store test the battery for you.

What CEL codes are thrown?

StewieVX

Hi Ron. I'm not getting any CEL code yet. I did vol test with my multi-meter and it shows 14.35 but not sure about amps tho. I'm currently charging battery overnight. Would battery test at store show more then i just did with multimeter? Should i focus on battery or starter? Thing is i didn't have this issue until i cranked it while running but then again i never paid attention to it either.

Former User

With engine idling?

StewieVX

No. I took battery out and started charging it then few hrs later i checked and it showed 14.35. I screwed up as i should have checked it before charging. Anyway that's current reading while disconnected from everything including charging. I will still charge it overnight tho. Would store test show anything different then voltage?

Former User

That's an unusually high voltage for a car battery. Not good.

StewieVX

I suspect its my multimeter that has +- error rate. My other battery for lex i charged showed similar results and works good so far. I think if i had fluke it would be lower. I have innova. Should i go to store? You don't think it's starter?

Correction i just checked it shows exactly 13.31V

Former User

Post a picture of your multimeter with the settings you used to measure battery voltage.

StewieVX

Sure.

Former User

13.3V is not so shocking. But what voltage reading do you get with the meter set at DCV?

StewieVX

Same 13.22V on DCV settings. Any thoughts? Should i not bother with starter just focus on battery? Is store tester any different? Autozone tests for free so if its different i can try.

Former User

Battery seems fine. Install in car and check whether the starter cranks and the engine fires.

StewieVX

It did before too but after i cranked and turned of about 3-4 times then on next try had hard time cranking. I only noticed that after i cranked on running engine and then it would not crank at first try until i rolled car down the hill to jump in second gear. Then it cranked again. It's intermittent. Not really consistent. I was worried i burned starter but it cranks just sometimes not after 3-4 tries if i keep shutting it down.

I'll install it tomorrow and see and thank you Ron.

TomCat39

Using a volt meter or digital multimeter to test a car battery is not very definitive.

A better test for car batteries is a load tester. There is many times when the battery is getting weak and will show full voltage on a volt meter but can't product the amps to crank the motor properly. Usually found out on a nice cold winter morning.

The load tester is better at displaying those issues.

The tester is something like this:


I think I got mine at Princess Auto for 10 or 20 bucks on sale. If you are in the states I'm sure you can find a decent one for 20 buck USD.

StewieVX

Tomcat nice gadget. I will pop this as its nice portable and can test before battery dies in winter which always sucks and get stranded somewhere.

StewieVX

Hi guys so i put battery back in and same issue happens. I pretty sure it's not battery. I tried to pull engine code but no code.
My thoughts are either i fried starter. I damaged flywheel or mechanical timing got jumped if that is possible while i cracked engine while it was running. Is that possible?
If not then i think i will change starter. I recorded how it sounds it and posted on utube so i'll post link below.
This started to occur after i cranked starter while engine was running and now. Any thoughts?

Former User

Have the battery load tested as suggested at an auto parts store.

Also clean the battery connectors, G1 battery ground connection to the chassis, both ends of the G3 transmission ground, and the G101 ground on the thermostat housing.

Then go from there.

StewieVX

Ron thank you. So i went to look for receipt from previous owner on battery purchase just to check and it was purchased in 11/2008 lol so it's pretty safe to assume battery was on its last legs until i cranked the ignition. I think that damaged the battery somehow. That explains why sometimes it starts on first try and sometimes it does not. It doesn't hold the STABLE load anymore.

I will go to auto store and test it out but i'm leaning towards battery now after seeing that is close to 7 yrs old. lol.
This is walmart battery. I'm actually amazed walmart battery lasted almost 7 yrs. If it was for the crank it would probably last little longer.

StewieVX

I changed the battery to new one and so far so good problem should be solved. Thank you for the help!
I must have been on it's last rope and that crank must have shorted it and it stopped being stable. Sort of happy wasn't starter as i didn't feel like change it really although would be cheaper lol.