IT WAS THE TRANNY GROUND!!!! IT WASNT CONNECTED

For the past week, once in a while when I would go to start the car I would turn the key and only get one click. All the accessories work fine, lights are strong etc. but I would only get one click when I turned the key. I would just keep trying and eventually it would start up (somewhere between 5-50 turns of the key). Well, today for the first time when I went to start it, I didnt even get the click. I would hear the fuel pump prime, and then when I turned the key all I would hear is a soft, whining noise. To get home I just pop-started the car and made extra careful not to stall. I've pop-started it 3 times today to get around because it wouldnt crank or even click.

The battery terminals were just cleaned 2 weeks ago. My buddy also connected the positive battery terminal to the starter solenoid and it started right up too. This leads me to believe the problem is in getting the message to the starter (wiring, relays, fuses). I'm not sure where to start, any advice is appreciated.


Modified by tommymoose at 3:34 AM 5/18/2005

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tommymoose &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well today for the first time when I went to start it, I didnt even get the click. I would hear the fuel pump prime, and then when I turned the key all I would hear is a whining noise.

This leads me to believe the problem is in getting the message to the starter (wiring, relays, fuses). I'm not sure where to start, any advice is appreciated.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sounds to me like a solenoid relay or something of the type.

 

Thanks, any idea where this is located?

 

I've got a manual around here somewhere, I'll try and find out for you tomorrow morning.

 

okay thanks

 

problems with the R tommy??? hopefully its a quick fix..

 

sounds like starter

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94rs-turbo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">sounds like starter </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yea if your able to drop the clutch an pop-start it then you can rule out alot, so one easy thing would be to check the starter.

 

I have a similar problem on my civic, check the main relay. if there is any cracking or bubbling on the soldered tips then it could be associated to that. its a square box located near the interior fuse panel. sorry, dont have a pic handy.

also, if you have a civic or other integra near by, many of the relays will swap right over so you can try another relay to see if it works.

 

 

thanks alot guys, I'll check that out tomorow. I've got a gsr that I'll swap main relays with temporarily to check. I also noticed in that diagram the "starter cut relay"... does this relay possibly have something to do with it?

 

Make sure the female spade connector on the starter for the starter solenoid is connected. They sometimes get loose. Just get a needle nose and crimp it down a bit to get a good connection. I had this problem after a track day as I guess it worked itself out.

 

take a hammer or something and beat on the starter. see if it works after that. i dont mean hit it hard like ur trying to break 3 foot thick concrete, but give it nice solid hits.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 94rs-turbo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">sounds like starter </TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by eMpAtHy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">take a hammer or something and beat on the starter. </TD></TR></TABLE>

nope, it's not the starter. it was only getting short bursts of 12v power to the solenoid.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tommymoose &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've got a gsr that I'll swap main relays with temporarily to check. I also noticed in that diagram the "starter cut relay"... </TD></TR></TABLE>

umm, didn't i say to do this 2 weeks ago?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RTW &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">check the main relay</TD></TR></TABLE>

I just swapped the one from my running GSR over and it didnt make a difference.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by markpaco &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Make sure the female spade connector on the starter for the starter solenoid is connected. They sometimes get loose. Just get a needle nose and crimp it down a bit to get a good connection.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Was a tiny bit loose so I pushed it down all the way. Car still doesnt start.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by eMpAtHy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">take a hammer or something and beat on the starter. see if it works after that. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Still doesnt start

 

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

cause it needs a starter relay.....

 

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

I just swapped the one from my running GSR over and it didnt make a difference.
Still doesnt start </TD></TR></TABLE>

This is because it's not the main relay. You stated in your first post that:

[QUOTE=tommymoose] I would hear the fuel pump primeQUOTE]

Therfore your main relay is doing it's job.

Not sure where else to tell you to look. Grab yourself a manual (helms/haynes) and go from there.

 

tommy, since your not using the starter to stare your car anyway, just pull it off and go get it checked out.

 

dude, i have this SAME problem in my car. i turn the key, fuel pump kicks in, one click, but no start.

my solution: just turn on the car using my remote auto start alarm. i know this doesnt fix the problem, but it works. im just scared that one of these days that i drop my pager and i wont be able to start my car anymore since my pager is like my key now..

i hope you can find out how to fix this problem so maybe i can fix mine too.

 

so your thinking its related in the actual key assembly?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jindiezel &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">dude, i have this SAME problem in my car. i turn the key, fuel pump kicks in, one click, but no start.

my solution: just turn on the car using my remote auto start alarm. i know this doesnt fix the problem, but it works. im just scared that one of these days that i drop my pager and i wont be able to start my car anymore since my pager is like my key now..

i hope you can find out how to fix this problem so maybe i can fix mine too. </TD></TR></TABLE>

**** I didint even think of this until this post^^. Awhile back I replaced the igintion cylinder or something like that because his girls car wouldnt start. Look into that and you might see results.

 

Wow, i got alot of stuff to check out. How would I be able to check it myself? Could I just pull it off, then connect it up to the positive battery terminal and see if it turns? Thanks for the help

 

Get a test light and check for power at the starter (little spade terminal) when the key is turned to the start position. That'll isolate the problem somewhat. If you're getting power, then the problem is the starter motor. Don't remove the starter motor to check it. Not only is that not necessary, but the action of moving it around may make the brushes inside shift and it'll work just fine out of the car... Until you put it in (might take a week) and it'll be bad again.

The ignition switch is a common problem as well. Its a bit more challenging to check. What you're describing is most commonly the starter itself. Starter cut relay is possible but is very uncommon.

Keep us informed!

 

dude maybe ur freakin battery is ****** dead?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tommymoose &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> All the accessories work fine, lights are strong etc.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm pretty sure that means the battery is fine...