94TealCivic

My sister has a 98 Civic DX auto and she went to her friend's house and when she was leaving she tried to start her car but it wouldn't even turn over. It doesn't make a clicking noise, nothing happens. The radio works and all and everything else (cluster lights up) but the car won't start. Can this be the starter? If so, how do I replace it? Which parts are compatible with my sister's car? TIA

94TealCivic

can anyone help please?

Evs-One

check the ground onto the starter selenoid. It's a slide on connector that can/will come loose

94TealCivic

Thanks I'll try that but can anyone show me a picture of the starter solenoid?? I have no idea what this is. Also the car has about 165k miles on it.

95hatch

Sounds dumb and obvious, but i got so used to driving a manual that i leave autos in drive when i park and can never figure out why it wont start.

aw1234dude

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 95hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sounds dumb and obvious, but i got so used to driving a manual that i leave autos in drive when i park and can never figure out why it wont start. </TD></TR></TABLE>
been there done that....

94TealCivic

haha

I will check on that solenoid, can someone at least tell me where it's located and what it looks like?

And also if it's the starter, which starters can I use? Only auto? 92-00 or 96-00 only? Or which years? DX/EX doesn't matter?

eg6turbo

also check the alarm system in those cars...could have set off the alarm that would cut the starter...or maybe if it came with a chip that fell out

SpyderZEX

Also, she could have left her lights on and the battery is dying. That has happened to me before. There just isn't enough juice to turn the car on but the low current stuff still works. Did you try to jump start the car?

SuperMan19

umm it might be the starter... but i'd try to buy a new battery first. I've had that happen to 2 of our cars, but it had that click sound from the starter, whereas yours doesn't. All we did was buy a new battery for the cars, and they fired right up. ohh and if the battery is that old, it's not gonna help trying to charge it up. either.... tried that already too.

94TealCivic

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SuperMan19 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">umm it might be the starter... but i'd try to buy a new battery first. I've had that happen to 2 of our cars, but it had that click sound from the starter, whereas yours doesn't. All we did was buy a new battery for the cars, and they fired right up. ohh and if the battery is that old, it's not gonna help trying to charge it up. either.... tried that already too. </TD></TR></TABLE>

We already tried charging it and we bought a new battery. No luck. Anyone with info please help!

silverEH2

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 95hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sounds dumb and obvious, but i got so used to driving a manual that i leave autos in drive when i park and can never figure out why it wont start. </TD></TR></TABLE>

haha yeah i have done that to

PotatoePAPA

its definately having to do with the starter solenoid. If all the lights/radio/blah blah is working, then the battery would at least have enough juice to make the solenoid *click* Check it out mang! Ohm meters are your friend too!

94TealCivic

Starter solenoid, I would love to take a look at it, but no one has explained to me what this looks like!

Caveman74

look on the left side of the tranny, Find the starter, the solinoid is a small cylinder looking part on the starter. check the wires, see if they are loose

94TealCivic

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Caveman74 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">look on the left side of the tranny, Find the starter, the solinoid is a small cylinder looking part on the starter. check the wires, see if they are loose</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ok this is the same for automatic transmission as well? BTW I'm not even familiar with the starter, where is it located and what does it look like?

94TealCivic

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94TealCivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Ok this is the same for automatic transmission as well? BTW I'm not even familiar with the starter, where is it located and what does it look like?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Does anyone know??

Pritos

try geting some speaker cable or any wire and connect the starter signal to the + batter. the car should crank.. if it doesn't then ur starter may be bad.

Pritos

that also sonds like the stock alarm. my friends civic does the same. I just pulled the ecu fuse and undid the batt for 10 minutes. that reset everything and the car started back up.

Pritos

the starter is located below the distributor, and is like 8" to the rear.

94TealCivic

thank you pritos, you answered all my Qs. Now I gotta go and try to see if it's the starter. pritos =

Acme2eg6

<U>CHECK YOUR FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!</U>

94TealCivic

Ok guys bad news. I checked all the fuses under the hood, and inside the car. All fuses are fine. I checked the starter solenoid, all the wires are plugged in. Checked all the little stuff, nothing.

Now, just today I tried to arm/disarm the alarm but it would not go off. The alarm is not working at all. How can I check the alarm to see if it is working or not? I'm pretty sure it's the alarm now.

mycvc8u2

check the starter ground as well as the chassis ground by the tranny.

94TealCivic

But would that explain the alarm not working?? I don't think the starter/starter ground or solenoid has anything to do with the alarm does it??