WEll, i have a 96 accord ex and it occasionally does not turn on. WHen this occurs the car lights work but the car does not crank. It has all the lights as if it were to start but when I turn the key nothing occurs. I thought it was the mainrelay, but my other car has the main relay issue but it turns over, but because of the relay the fuel pump turns on later. My accord is not like that as when I turn the key nothing happens, then after waiting and trying several times it will just magically turn over. I am stumped.

 

Go to AutoZone and get your starter checked (free)...it maybe that or just a loose connection. Might want to test battery, too-since you'll be there....

 

First thing to check is the battery connections and the cables at both ends. The next thing is to use a test light and be sure there is power going to the starter solenoid when the key is turned to the crank position.

 

I do not think it is the battery. Everything is on and tight. I checked. ALso the starter cables appear to be fine and hooked up. The car is totally stock and I have never had to remove anything so I am stumped. THe lights turn on as if it were going to turn on but it does not crack. I thought about the starter but thought that the starter would not go off and on like that. I thought it would just go bad. ????????????

 

If the ignition switch is going bad there will be no power to the starter solenoid, if the contacts in the starter solenoid are burnt down you'll hear the starter solenoid 'click' but have no starter action. A test light is not that expensive, to be able to have a correct and accurate diagnose. FYI when you turn the key to the 'crank' position there is more than one set of contacts inside the ignition switch.
I promise I wouldn't lie to you about this situation

 

I do not deny, I have a test light but I just wanted the problem accurately diagnosed. I do not hear a click when I turn the ignition when the car does not turn on, that is what is confusing. since the issues is sporadic how can I diagnose it accurately since the issue is sporadic.

 

just go to auto zone and get the free starter test. It never hurts to see, and at least then you'd know that the starter is working right. a short at the ignition switch is veary probable too. as stated by hondadude


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hondadude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If the ignition switch is going bad there will be no power to the starter solenoid, if the contacts in the starter solenoid are burnt down you'll hear the starter solenoid 'click' but have no starter action.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Also if it is a manual you can check the clutch safty switch. that could cause this problem if there is a dirty contact.

 

is your car a stick? the reason i ask is because i had the same problem. i found out that it wont crank if i hit the clutch all the way down to floor, i have to hit it to certain level in order to start the car. ( try to turn the ignition first before applying clutch)

 

the car is an auto, I checked this also as my other cars are stick. But I noticed that when I pressed the brake it would turn on and sometimes if I turned the ac off. I am not sure if it was coincidense of what. Some other times it did not matter what I did. This is happening about 1-2 times every couple of weeks. I will try to go to autozone and see what they say.

Again, back to the starter, when Autozone checks the car will they know that there is something as the issue is intermittent and may not be present at the time of the check. Thanks for the help

 

You need to take the starter out of the car. Then take it in to get it checked out.

 

okay drintegra, go to the 3rd drawer down of my side box, and get out the 12 volt LED with 6 feet of wire hooked to it. Put the positive end of the wire under the starter solenoid wire connector and the negitave wire to a good ground. Then thread the LED up thru the cowling so it sticks up at the back of the hood, tape it in place. NOW every time you turn the key to CRANK the led will light up IF power is going to the starter solenoid from the ignition switch.
This ain't rocket science, all it takes to get a good diagnose is to ask yourself "how sneaky can I be"
I really doubt at this point the starter contacts are the problem if you aren't hearing them click, unless you can't turn off the stereo for 5 minutes.

 

Or for an even simpler way of checking the starter, next time the solenoid doesnt pop... hit it with a hammer. Try again.

Serious about the hammer btw.

 

Thanks fellas, I know about the hammer, but it has never taken that long to turn on, it usually a couple of times I try, I turn off the ac, and press the brakes, and sometimes it will start.

The LED thing is trick , I will see what I can do since I have a couple of meters lying around. There is an electrical place near my house so I might take it there if the problem happens again. I checked everything again and again to make sure it is all good.

Thanks again