Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000) EG/EH/EJ/EK/EM1 Discussion

Civic Wont Start (only clicking sound)

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Old Jan 31, 2009 | 12:23 PM
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Default Civic Wont Start (only clicking sound)

I havent driven my civic for more than a month then now... when I try to start it... l can only hear a clicking sound (not cranking), we tried jumping it but no can do... its seems that its stuck ??? or a new starter maybe ??? a little bit of help would be greatly appreciated.
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Old Jan 31, 2009 | 12:54 PM
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Default Re: Civic Wont Start (only clicking sound)

I am thinking you have a completely dead battery. First clean the battery posts, connectors, and ground wire connection. Then try to jump again. If no success, then take the battery to your local auto parts store for testing. If the battery is dead, replacing it should fix the problem.
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Old Jan 31, 2009 | 01:33 PM
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Default Re: Civic Wont Start (only clicking sound)

Put the jumper leads directly on the starter motor + and the - on the frame. It should turn over.
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Old Jan 31, 2009 | 03:12 PM
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Default Re: Civic Wont Start (only clicking sound)

Thanks... I will try those things first... I hope its not my starter
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Old Jan 31, 2009 | 03:13 PM
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Default Re: Civic Wont Start (only clicking sound)

sounds like the starter to me. Hit it with a hammer or wrench while some trying to crank it up. should work. and if it does, its your starter.
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Old Jan 31, 2009 | 03:18 PM
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Default Re: Civic Wont Start (only clicking sound)

Dead battrey check the battrey the car hasn't been running for awhile and maybe the battrey hasn't been used or charging.
Check the battrey first.

And if its the starter yeah try hitting it wit a rubber hammer the brushes might be lucky enough to make good contact, also it can damage the starter.
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Old Jan 31, 2009 | 03:54 PM
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Default Re: Civic Wont Start (only clicking sound)

I actually just had that same problem today, havent started for about a month, i kept my battery inside so it didnt freeze, and same thing with the clicking sound, didnt know what was exactly wrong so i left the battery in and plugged in the car for a few hours, tried it again and same thing, so i unhooked the battery for 30 sec and then she fired right up....still a mystery but it worked...
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Old Jan 31, 2009 | 03:59 PM
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Default Re: Civic Wont Start (only clicking sound)

funky things happen man..

but my money is the battery. Also, make sure you get goo connections when jumping, and make sure the car jumping it has enough power (big enough battery/alternator) to power the other car
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Old Jan 31, 2009 | 04:04 PM
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Default Re: Civic Wont Start (only clicking sound)

^not a mystery a miracle! lol it sounds like the starter to me test the battery for voltage, if its like 2 then its probably too dead to recharge.. and if the battery is good and shows like 11 or 12 volts, then hit the starter while someone turns the key to start.. if it worked u need a starter.. also if ur tryna test ur battery for like cold crank, u can have some one test the battery while u try to start the car.. if its like 2 or 3 volts get a battery..
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Old Jan 31, 2009 | 05:59 PM
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Default Re: Civic Wont Start (only clicking sound)

Originally Posted by 96H4TCH
I havent driven my civic for more than a month then now... when I try to start it... l can only hear a clicking sound (not cranking), we tried jumping it but no can do... its seems that its stuck ??? or a new starter maybe ??? a little bit of help would be greatly appreciated.
How exactly did you connect the jumper cables? The negative cable to the car with the dead battery being jumped goes to the engine block - NOT THE NEGATIVE POST ON THE DEAD BATTERY. A lot of people overlook this fact and think they have a bad starter when it won't start when they have the cable on the negative post of the BAD battery.
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Old Jan 31, 2009 | 06:13 PM
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Default Re: Civic Wont Start (only clicking sound)

the negative post doesn't matter.. it's merely a ground. A ground doesn't get old or bad (well, they do.. but not in this sense). The battery is already attached to the chassis, which is an excellent ground
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Old Jan 31, 2009 | 06:30 PM
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Default Re: Civic Wont Start (only clicking sound)

Since the bad battery is weak, and to prevent exploding, it's ground clamp gets connected last, but not directly to the ground battery post.

To prevent sparking directly on the battery, and possibly fry the ECU, you connect the 4th battery cable clamp to a metal frame part of the dead car, which is connected to the minus pole of the battery. Many people are easily confused by this step.

They cannot figure out how this completes the circuit to the battery. Car batteries have their ground cable also wired to the chassis of the car, so by clamping to a good metal chassis point, this is electrically equivalent to connecting to the ground post of your car battery.
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Old Jan 31, 2009 | 06:50 PM
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Default Re: Civic Wont Start (only clicking sound)

Originally Posted by 96H4TCH
I havent driven my civic for more than a month then now... when I try to start it... l can only hear a clicking sound (not cranking), we tried jumping it but no can do... its seems that its stuck ??? or a new starter maybe ??? a little bit of help would be greatly appreciated.
1 single click = starter internal contacts no good

multiple clicks = battery discharged

A good jump start should have worked if your battery is low.

A jump start would not help a bad starter.
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Old Apr 24, 2020 | 01:39 PM
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Default Re: Civic Wont Start (only clicking sound)

Originally Posted by Mangotreemechanic
1 single click = starter internal contacts no good

multiple clicks = battery discharged

A good jump start should have worked if your battery is low.

A jump start would not help a bad starter.

I have 1 click starter and my motor wont turn by hand, my ground cable started to melt insulator, new battery please help me
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