Greetings,

Random and very annoying problem - about 1 out of every 20 starts will have this problem, its very hard to reproduce. However, once the problem shows up, I can attempt a start 15 times and the problem is consistant.

Turn the key, and the starter does not turn. Nothing happens. Push start the car (its a 6-speed) and it starts right up when the clutch is dumped. Drive off, and once I turn the car off at my destination, it will fire right up over and over and over again.

I have checked the power cable, and the small wiring harness plug at the starter, and they are both secure.

So the problem is either the starter, or some relay burried in the car.

My question is - how do I check the starter? From what I understand, the power to the starter is hot from the battery all the time, and it is a relay inside the battery that sends the power to the motor. Right?

So, when the problem comes back, how to I check to see if the starter is intermitently failing, or if the starter relay is not being engaged by the main relay?

Thanks.

 

Load test the battery, and ensure your power and ground cables are free of corrosion, very basic but always overlooked.

Does it click and not start, or nothing at all? Any aftermarket security?

If it does absolutely nothing, you more than likely have a control circuit problem. There are a variety of causes, and should be diagnosed by a shop. If the starter operates, the starter is fine, leave the starter alone until you troubleshoot the control circuit.

Ignition switch, clutch switch, starter relay, and there may be more depending on the anti-theft strategy used. Because you interface with the clutch and ignition switch regularly, these are more likely to wear out statistically, but do not shotgun it please for the sake of your checkbook.

Let me know if you have access to a multimeter, and basic tools, and I can guide you.

Note the conditions when it occurs precisely: temperature, humidity, time of day, in the shade or not and for how long, how long since last good start, if the engine was hot (heat soak), or stone cold (8+ hours), or somewhere in the middle. Any DTC's?

 

- I am fairly certain the battery is fine. When it does start, it fires right up. There are no other electrical symptoms.

- When the problem presents, there is no click. The clock, radio, and accessories turn off, but no click under the hood.

- The starter SOMETIMES turns(about 95% of the time), and when it does, the car starts right up. When the car starts, the starter sounds normal. When it does not start, the starter is completely silent. When the problem comes up, I will attempt to engage the starter over and over and it never will turn. It is only after push-starting the car, and driving it to another location, will it resume its normal starting behavior. I am assuming this is because whatever is loose, is falling back into place as I drive it.

- I do not think its the ignition switch. When the problem presents itself, the main relay turns off the accessories, so that part of the relay is at least getting a "start" signal.

- It could be the clutch switch intermitently failing, though I have never had a problem with the cruise control. I nearly always disengage the cruise control with the clutch pedal.

- The starter relay is inside the starter right? Is there another relay in the fuse box that engages the starter, and if so, is there another relay of the same design I could swap it with to test it? I guess a look in the fuse box would answer that question.

- I have basic tools, but I do not own a multimeter. I was going to buy one tomorrow, and keep it in the car so that I could test a few different circuits when the problem comes up next. I'm guessing the circuits to test would be:

- The wiring harness at the starter
- The wiring harness at the clutch switch, and the switch itself
- The plug the relay goes into in the fuse box, if such a relay exists
- the relay itself.

I am embarrassed to admit I have never used a multimeter.

 

On a related note, a Dealership recently had the transmission out. I thought it may have been a lose cable on the starter, but they are tight. I will double check the battery terminal.

 

The starter relay is not in the starter it is under the dash,

The first thing I would try, [the next time it fails to crank[ is a bypass jump, unplug the starter lead at the starter motor, [thinner of the two leads at the starter] using a jumper lead with one end connected to the batt. pos.(+) post or the batt. cable terminal on the starter, touch the other end to terminal on starter that you unplugged the starter lead from, BE CAREFULL make sure car is not in gear as engine will crank even if car is in gear, and or ign. is off.

If engine does crank when doing the bypass jump, it is unlikely a starter or starter solenoid problem, although with it being an intermittent problem doing a bypass jump just once is not definitive.

Next thing I would do, [when it fails to crank again] is bypass the CIS, unplug the CIS and jump the CIS circuit, sorry I do not have wire colors for an 06 TSX, you will nee to find out which leads on the CIS are for the clutch interlock, [and not the CC] and jump them, if engine still will not crank, the CIS is not the problem, if it does crank tou will have to leave the switch jumped for a bit to confirm because it is an intermittent problem, if it no longer fails to crank, replace the CIL switch.

If problem still exists, you will need to test the starter output, [black/white] from the ign. switch, if good you will have to find and test the output of the starter relay.

Also as mentioned, the problem may be in the security system, [starter cut relay] if equipped, check the simple things first. 94