got home the other day and noticed a small amount of smoke coming out of my hood, it was already too late at night so i went to sleep. the next day, the car wouldnt start. the battery is still good. ive tried jumping it with jumper cables but still the same results. if i just turn the ignition to the first click and second click, the headlights work, and i can blast the music, but only for a short period of time, then everything shuts down. the only way to get it all working again is to wobble and move the battery connectors around. if i try starting the car, all you hear is a click, then everything shuts down. and so id have to move the battery connectors again.
i did have a wire conversion from my o2 to my ecu though. the smell did smell like burned wires. i followed my wires and none are burned. none of my fuses are burned too. any ideas, itd be very much appreciated.


Modified by hatch_ at 4:50 PM 10/13/2007


Modified by hatch_ at 4:59 PM 10/13/2007

 

anyone???

 

tried switching the starter and still had the same thing happening. i push started the car and it works. about 2 years ago, this same thing happened. i couldnt fix it so i took it to the shop. the dude there fixed it and charged me $60 for it. he told me i had a wire shortage somewhere under the intake manifold, i cant remember what he said actually. but he said he connected a new wire and everthing worked fine. i cant find the wire anywhere, but im thinking that my burnt smell was from that wire and i just need to replace it. has this happend to anyone?

 

if this is a 96-98 civic, its a very common problem to short the wires under the intake manifold (usually throws a cel for eld, 2ndary o2, and...something else - and shorts the alternator fuse too)

Its interesting that you changed the starter and still have the same problem.
Have you checked the 3 ground wires?
-on the thermostat housing
-on the transmission
-on the valvecover
If youre wiggling wires, also check for a loose connection from the battery to the fuse box, to the starter, and...thats probably all

(my ej8 wont start either and Im suspecting bad starter...better not mirror this ****!)

 

check your connections if you can "wobble your cables" then your loseing voltage.

 

my car is a 94. my connections are fine, i meant id have to lossen them and wobble/wiggle them and tighten them again to get power. i checked the ground wires on the valvecover and transmission, they both seemed fine. wheres the thermostat housing ground at?

 

try cleaning the battery terminals and the connectors w/a wire brush or some sort

 

a buddy came over to check it out. he told me i should change my power wire, the one from the positve terminal to the starter. i did that and now everything works fine.

 

Sounds like a bad connection, my friends teg had this. **** was built up around the connections, cleaned em and it started fine