i just swapped in a new b16a2 into my 99 si today. well, everything is in. when i put the key in the on position, the lights are dim. sometimes the fuel pump will buzz, and, sometimes not at all.

so far, i suspect my battery or alternator on this part, but,

attempting to do a start up with the engine, it does not fire. it is immediately followed by a loud ticking noise coming from the passenger side glove department. also sounds like ticking is also coimng from the engine, but, the engine doesnt even crank or fire up.

what is this ticking and what should i look for?

 

could be the starter ticking. Check the connections (2, positive and ground) on the starter. Also check all of your grounds in the engine bay, battery ground, thermostat housing ground, the one on the tranny and the one on the valve cover.
Try either jump starting your car or bump starting it. If it runs and stays running with no problems then its not your battery or alternator.

 

check your battery first...also the main relay for that particular year civic is located in the glove area, so thats what u here clicking in there..

 

i swapped out batteries with my moms civic and both batteries work good in my moms civic. i cleaned all terminals on the battery and cables. i swapped out the starter with my 10k miles starter from my old b16 block and tested both starters. they both are good. i cleaned out all ground terminals in the engine bay and tightened them down real good. i checked all fuses and they are fine.

after all this, the main relay has stopped clicking under the glove department. the lights stay on and do not dim anymore. now the clicking occurs only in the starter. fast clicking in the starter but, engine is still not firing.

suggestions what to do next.

 

make sure the motor is not locked up, try and turn the motor counter clock wise via the crank pulley and a 19mm socket and ratchet.

 

Do you have a voltmeter?
If so check for voltage @ the starter terminals while cranking. If you have at least 10 volts, the starter should operate. If the voltege is good, Your starter needs rebuilt or possibly replaced

 

yes ive checked the voltage. motor is not locked up. if its, the starter, it doesnt explain why both starters work in my brothers b16a2 and not on mine.

am i missing anymore ground points in the engine bay? ive checked. thermo housing, valve cover, tranny, battery, starter.

 

check the ground connector on the starter itself. loosen it up, move it around and try it again. did 2 swaps where this kinda thing happend and i did this, and they fired up afterwards.....
make sure you disconnect the battery first though or else youll see sparks and not the good kind.......

 

with my voltmeter, i noticed that with the ground disconnected from the starter, the ground point on the starter itself recieved ground, but, the ground wire itself did not recieve ground. i thought it was supposed to be vice versa?

S <------------- B

with the ground wire disconnected from the starter.........

S (starter) is recieving ground

<----------(wire) is not recieving ground

B (battery)

i assume this visual diagram is correct and the ground wire to the starter is the little one that plugs in instead of screwing in.





Modified by spidermancivic at 10:35 AM 8/19/2005

 

helps

 

 

got it to start up when i repulled the starter out and re put it back in. strange.............must of been a loose connection somewhere.

well after starting it up once, i noticed that one of my coolant lines were leaking, so i turned the engine off, disconnected the battery, and replaced the coolant line.

going back to hooking the battery on and restarting the engine, now all of a sudden, my OEM honda alarm that has been dead for the past 4 years is suddenly working again. the bad thing about it is, i dont have the remote key to prevent it from going off so i can start my car. this damn alarm is pissing me off. how do i disable it?