mohater

Hey Guys,

1997 HX, 221,xxx on the odo.

Fun morning today, went to get in the car to drive to work, put the key in and turned, starter clicked over a couple times but no crank. After that, all the lights for the diag stopped turning on (brake, check engine, battery, etc.) when the car is put in accessory. Radio turns on, lights turn on, etc, but zero on the car starting. A whining noise comes out from the passenger side around the glove box. Just for giggles, I tried to jump it and no dice. Didn't have time to do any other diagnostics since I had to come up with an alternative method of getting to work. Didn't check any fuses or anything else.

Car has had a P0401 Cel for a while, just have not gotten around to cleaning it to clear the code. I cleaned the EGR port about 100k ago (when I first got the car) and cleared the same code back then. Car had a dead battery two weeks ago (left lights on), jumped it and was fine for these two weeks.


Searched the threads and it "appears" the ECU took a dump on me. Just wanted to get this started so I have some direction on what to do when I get home this evening.

Thanks in advance.

-mohater

mk378

The brake and battery lights are not connected to the ECU. Also, the connection between the key and the starter doesn't involve the ECU. The engine will crank (but of course not start) even with the ECU completely removed from the car. So I don't think the problem is the ECU.

Sounds like you simply have no power from the battery reaching the car, for example it could be a bad ground connection.

mohater

Thanks for the reply:

Would that be the case even if the other items are powered (radio, lights, etc)?

Former User

Test the ignition switch. See FAQs sticky for diagram.

mohater

Thanks for the first step.

I tested the continuity per the diagram and everything was fine in all three positions (acc, on and start).


The check engine, battery and oil light are all very dim and not coming on like they should with the key in acc. There is a strange clicking noise coming from where the ECU is.

Radio, lights, horn, etc are all good.

Any other ideas?

Former User

Test the battery.

mohater

reading 12.xx v on the multimeter

Former User

What are the .xx digits?

mohater

12.25

This is the second time I've ever used a multimeter. I feel like a child doing a puzzle for the first time

mohater

Based on the google'ing I just did, seems like the battery is the culprit.

Gonna bike over to auto zone and test out this puppy.


Edit: but I also tried jumping the car to no avail... Does that still mean it could be the battery?

Former User

Did you clean the battery posts and connectors as well as the battery ground connection to the chassis?

mohater

Yes and yes. At autozone getting the battery tested

Former User

mohater

Battery passed full test, fully charged, still no oil/batt/check engine light in acc and still won't turn over


Edit:
Just watched a YouTube video where a guy jumps the starter with a wire and alligator clip. Tried it and nothing, radiator fan turns on and nothing else. Which leads me to believe the starter is dead. Reasonable assumption?

Former User

Test the G3 transmission ground.

mohater

Many lolz found:

Former User

mohater

Time to wait for another car to be available to go buy a new ground wire... Anything else to check before running back to auto zone?

Will report back after 3PM PST.

Former User

Use your battery jumper cable to ground transmission to chassis. Engine should now fire up. If not, there's an additional problem.

mohater

Did as suggested, same issue and no improvement. Also tried to jump the starter again after establishing a G3 ground, same.

Still check engine, battery and oil light are either off of very dim.

Should I rip the starter out?

Former User

With the jumper cable transmission ground connected, are you jumping power from the (+) battery post to both the starter solenoid and motor terminals?

mk378

Put on a new ground cable first. It is often hard to get a good contact with jumper cables.

mohater

With the jump cable in for the G3 ground, i tried both to start the car normally (nothing) as well as unplug the signal wire from the starter and then connect the alligator clip to the starter motor and then take the other end of the wire with the alligator clip and touch the positive terminal of the battery.

So I believe the answer to your questions is yes. The battery is plugged in like normal and I simply tried to jump the starter solenoid.

Former User

He probably should also use the heavy gauge jumper cable to connect the (+) battery to the starter motor terminal. A smaller gauge wire is suitable for the starter solenoid.

Former User

The motor/battery connection requires a heavy gauge wire for the high current load. If a small gauge wire to the motor doesn't get very hot, then there's still a ground issue.