thefryer

96 Civic EX, 248k

Over the past two years I've had lots of issues with the car turning over. I've replaced the initiator switch on the clutch last year and it worked for a year, then a few weeks ago the starter (a garage said the starter was getting power but not going and would work if he hit it; so I replaced it), and now it's not starting again. Was occasional and would work on the second try but now hasn't started the past five times.

Each time the symptoms have been this:

Turn ignition and lights come on and fuel pump runs but engine doesn't turn.

Battery is fine.

So I've been fixing things myself because I just got married and I just need some direction to start on. I borrowed a multimeter from a friend and tomorrow morning I plan on push-starting to an autozone to see what their tests show.

If any of you late nighters have any suggestions that would be great.

Thanks!

Former User

The red arrow points to a rubber stopper. Has it broken and fallen out of the hole?

thefryer

I'll check it now!

thefryer

That was the ticket.

So frustrating that it was just the switch not being compressed all the way by a rubber stopper.

The rubber stopper was there but had gotten an indentation in it and was not depressing the switch entirely, almost by a quarter inch.

I couldn't get to it without removing the whole pedal arm and a lot of stuff (as far as I could see) so I loosed the locknut and adjusted the placement of the switch by twisting it so it was close enough. And it started.

Thanks RonJ@ht!

thefryer

Unfortunately it must have decided to start again after I adjusted the switch again.

The switch is still getting depressed but the car isn't starting.

Same symptoms:
Lights come on
pump goes
nothing else, don't hear the starter but it's brand new.

Going to autozone to see if they can run a test to see if that helps me get some more information.

95ctrs

Check all your grounds and then double.check. I had a simalar problem. I had corrosion under the ground going from the negative terminal to the body. Took off ALL my grounds and cleaned and put copper shield under all connections also sand down where the connector bonds to the body. It also would be wise too change the wires and stakons. Hope this helps. This problem drove me crazy for a.good two months..

thefryer

Thank you for the suggestion!

It was a corrosion problem! I cleaned up all the connections with a metal brush and applied some protective stuff I got from Autozone.

Starts like a champ now and even the A/C runs better.

95ctrs

Happy to hear that.... Now go DRIVE!!! Lol