This just started happening Monday morning (figures ), and has happened every morning so far this week, and usually when I leave work in the afternoon.

I go to start the car, depress clutch pedal, turn key, and nothing but lights on dashboard and fuel pump pressurizing. No click, no cranking, nothing. I release the key, turn it again, and it starts up just fine. What could make the starter solenoid not even engage on the first try, but then starts up just fine on the second try? Ideas?

Also if the car has only been sitting a couple of hours or less, it will start up just fine on the first try.

This is the first time since I bought the car almost 4 years ago that it has not started on the first try.

 

patrick, same thing happens to me...what I do sometimes, when it happens, is just to push the clutch to either side with my foot, generally towards the center of the car, and it makes the contact it needs. It's an odd problem, and I'm not sure if I'm describing it well or not, but, just push the clutch sideways with your foot and it'll be all good. You've got a lot of miles on your car ( just turned 91xxx here...) and the contacts for the clutch (ya know which ones I'm tlaking about, to get the car started) are a little worn out. Same as mine, so, just do as I've said above...

 

so you think the problem is the clutch interlock switch? Thing is that sometimes when it happened to me, I wouldn't even take my foot off the clutch before trying again. I just kept the pedal down the whole time, and on the 2nd try it starts right up.

 

just did it again this morning. I pressed the clutch pedal, turned the key, nothing. I tried wiggling the pedal (while still pressed), turned key, still nothing. So I released the pedal, then pressed it again, and this time it started just fine.

It would seem to be an electrical problem of some sort, but I don't understand why it only seems to happen after the car has been sitting a long time.

 

Sounds like a bad starter to me, if you aren't moving your foot on the clutch at all to get it to work it probably isn't the switch under there. It'll get worse if its a bad starter and you should probably just replace it before you get stranded somewhere. (might consider bench testing it before you needlessly replace it)

 

possibly main relay?

 

Thing is, in order for it not to crank the first time, and then crank the second or third time, means that something has to change in those few seconds between my first and subsequent tries. I can't think of what would change in that time that would allow it to start on the 2nd or 3rd tries.

 

I've been through a couple bad starters. If my car sat for any length of time I'd have to try cranking a couple to several times before it would even turn over. I'd imagine yours is on it's way out. If you want to make sure, just observe it a bit longer and you should see it get progressively worse.

 

Do you think that it could be something wrong with the contacts possibly? First time the clutch goes down, doesn't make contact, but, scrapes off whatever gunk etc..is on it, second time makes contact...possible?

 

is it hot in the car? I kinda feel like it's a main fuel relay problem, but since you pointed out that you hear the fuel pump pressurizing then clutch switch sounds more like it. Although i've never heard of it going bad.

my .02 cents, take it or leave it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SwedBoy2999 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">is it hot in the car? I kinda feel like it's a main fuel relay problem, but since you pointed out that you hear the fuel pump pressurizing then clutch switch sounds more like it. Although i've never heard of it going bad.

my .02 cents, take it or leave it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

mine has happened in fair weather, cold weather and hot weather...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by marsbike &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do you think that it could be something wrong with the contacts possibly? First time the clutch goes down, doesn't make contact, but, scrapes off whatever gunk etc..is on it, second time makes contact...possible?</TD></TR></TABLE>

no because sometimes I don't even release the clutch pedal or move it. I just keep it down, and it won't start the first try but does on the second try.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PatrickGSR94 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">no because sometimes I don't even release the clutch pedal or move it. I just keep it down, and it won't start the first try but does on the second try.</TD></TR></TABLE>

hmmm....maybe it is the starter going then...

 

Ignition switch would be my guess - they have been known to go bad.

Here is a schematic for a 6th gen Civic - can't imagine the Teg is all 'that' much different.

 

Dashboard lights and fuel pump priming would eliminate the main relay.

Could be the clutch interlock switch but I'm betting on the starter. Same problem my buddy had. First it would take 2 or 3 cycles of the key to get it to start pretty soon he was up to 10 cycles... when he hit 20 or 30 he replaced the starter with a reman. and problem solved.

 

Well I would be glad if the starter is the problem, because that's an easy fix and sure beats hunting around under the dashboard for some hidden problem any day.

200,000 miles on the original starter, I guess it's served its time.

 

Yea my buddy had 300,000km when he changed the starter. '94LS.

 

sounds like the starter to me
my friend use to have the same problem and the only way he got the car to start was to pop the hood and tap on the starter
he changed the starter and it was fixed

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by riceball777 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">sounds like the starter to me
my friend use to have the same problem and the only way he got the car to start was to pop the hood and tap on the starter
he changed the starter and it was fixed </TD></TR></TABLE>

Ya know my dad taught me that trick of tapping the starter w/ a hammer back when I had my Camry. He said it was a really old-school trick (I'm surprised cuz he never works on cars ).

Just yesterday I think, I got the idea that my problem could be the same thing.

So what do you guys think for a starter, brand new Duralast starter from Autozone, probably w/ lifetime warranty, or a rebuilt OEM starter w/ 3-yr warranty?

 

Im not thinking it is your starter because you said it didnt click when you turned the key. I just replaced my starter this weekend and everytime I turned the key it clicked but wouldntr start. As far as I know, if it is the starter it would still click. Im betting on something electrical.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EE_Chris &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ignition switch would be my guess - they have been known to go bad.</TD></TR></TABLE>

When mine went bad, the car would lose all power while driving also.