Thought my starter was going bad in the R. Sometimes when I go to start the car, I turn the key to start and get no response at all, sometimes it will start as normal. Then I started to turn the key to start and hold it there, no response but after 5-10 seconds the car starts. The issue is intermittent, kind of seems that if I dont drive the car for a few days the issue is kinda consistent. I have not noticed any true way to reproduce this problem every time.

I went to Advance Auto, to have the starter, alternator, and battery checked out everything checked out OK. The guy asked what trouble I'm having I explained to him what was going on and he suggested it could be the ignition switch/ or the whole entire lock cylinder as well.

So I dont know too much about how these parts work together, if I understand correctly, I have to replace the lock cylinder, I have to get a new set of keys?!

Has anyone had this issue and or changed out these parts before? Can you please shed some light on this subject? Thanks in advance!

 

I think that you only need is the wireharness not the cylinder key. Maybe if you take a part and clean all the terminal or conector will be Ok.

good luck!!

 

Check the wire harness side of the ignition switch. The wires at the ignition side are soldered and sometimes the solder itself has a hairline split in it causing an open in the circuit. I see it often at the dealer. A quick fix would be to solder it back together but it may only last another month max. If it is cracked get the electrical portion of the ignition only. No need to replace the key cylinder part.

 

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm gonna crack it open tomorrow. Thanks again!

 

another thing it could be is your starter contacts. next time it happens, try and listen for a click from the starter. if you hear a click but no crank, then your starter contacts are probably gone

 

Hey tipe r, I do hear a single click from time to time, for instance today when I went to trouble shoot the ignition switch, I remote started the car and it just clicked w/ no cranking. Then the alarm timed out trying to start the car since it would not start, so then I used the key to start and it started up right away.

I eventually took apart the steering column cover and under the dash. Then it hit me that it could be b/c of my remote start hook up, b/c its tapped into the ignition switch wiring, but I checked all connections and they seemed fine and weren't loose. It was mess under my dash man, so discouraging, I wish I never had my alarm installed. So then I unscrewed the actually switch attached to the key cylinder, didnt see anything out of the ordinary.

So I closed everything up, and started the car and it was kind of slow, what I mean is that it wasnt a good zippy start, the car cranked over but it was slow to idle up. I turned it off and started again same thing. So just for dumbass moves, the car was started and I turned the key to start it again, expecting a ferocious grind, all I heard was a light scratching sound. Not sure if that is an indication of anything, I doubt it, but I thought I would throw it out there.

Then after Ii parked the car, I went to look at the starter, I was wanting to take it out soon to get it bench tested at advance auto. So the rubber grommet covering the B terminal, was barely hanging on, but the contacts looked good. I didnt check the S terminal though.

I wonder if it really is the starter, AAARRGHH! who knows. Thanks everyone for the suggestions and help. I'll keep you updated.

 

sounds like a starter issue.

 

So yesterday, I removed the starter to get it bench tested. That bottom bolt is beeyotch to get at, after removing the bottom of the airbox I had a little more room to manipulate my hands. So I brought it to advance, the guy hooked it up to the bench, and hit the button and nothing happened. I've never bench tested anything in my life, so my thinking was to see the starter turn the gear. But then I think this test is only to tell if it engages or not? I think he thought the starter was supposed to turn as well. He kept saying theres nothing bud, nothing. He double checked his connections according to his diagram, and he hit the test button, and he again said, nothing. Me having no experience at all, I was confused b/c I just started the car 2 hours before this test to move it into my garage to work on it. I think he didnt have a clue as to what he was supposed to see. So then he goes and tries to sell me another starter, but I declined. I went ahead and ordered one from acuraoemparts.com, a remanufactured one for about $272 bux. Has a 3 year/ 36,000 mile warranty. I need to go get a test light so in the mean time that I'm waiting for the part to come, and this happens again where the car doesnt react when I turn the key, I can test to see if Im getting power at the S terminal when I crank, if there is a signal and no crank, then its def. the starter. I'll keep this updated. Thanks everyone!

 

Let us know, I have similar issues with my car, replaced the starter and ignition harness, with no change.

 

Mr. OB, or anyone else, do you know where the starter relay is located? I'm thinking that will be my next step if the new starter doesnt help any.

 

Starter contacts can be replaced with parts from Toyota as Honda doesn't sell the contacts. Both Toyota and Honda are Denso starters.

 

Finally replaced the starter a few weeks back on Feb 26. So far no issues have popped up. Car has started everytime perfectly. I did notice that I hear now the high pitch cranking sound that a honda is supposed to have, my previous starter did not. Sorry for the delayed reply, the first replacement starter I received was damaged during shipping so I had to wait 3-4 more days for the good replacement to come in. But so far so good, if my issues come back I'll def. update this thread.

 

sounds like such a headache for just a starter

nice you got it up and running

 

for anyone else that has a starter contact issue (click but no crank from the starter)
you can buy starter contacts at most starter rebuid shops for around $10. I just did mine.
there really easy to replace. basically just remove the cover near the B+ terminal, remove the plunger (clean contact surface), undo two nuts and replace the contacts

 

Check this out:
http://techauto.awardspace.com/ignitionswitch.html