When turning the key to start my 2001 Honda CR-V, a friend saw bunch of sparks under the front of the car, and the engine would not crank. Today in the daylight, I removed the starter / solenoid assembly, and noticed there is a braided wire from the solenoid to the starter that had broke, and that was where the sparks came from. That braided wire connection had turned to corroded copper dust in New York's winters.

I'm wondering why the he!! they put a crappy braided wire here, without any kind of insulation? Was it on purpose to make the wire burn out after so many years, so a dealer would make a buck on a starter replacement?

I disassembled the starter, replaced the corroded braid with a 10 awg stranded line, insulated, and the starter worked again. Saved $120

I bought a replacement starter before I removed the old one and I noticed the new starter had the same kind of crappy thin braided wire on it. I returned the replacement starter just in case you were wondering.

I read a posting by BigMoose (https://honda-tech.com/forums/members/bigmoose-999304575/) which he discussed the reason for braided wire to ground RF, but I don't understand if this is applicable to a starter solenoid which is only used to start the engine, i.e. short duration use.

So if anyone can educate me, I would appreciate it, thanks.

 

Braided and stranded = basically same thing? By braided do you mean its simply twisted stranded wire?

 

Yes, but the strands of wire are super thin, like hair, so I've heard it referred to as braided wire.

 

Steve,

I don't think you will see a problem. I am surprised they used braid for the positive feed to the starter. This could well have been a stock room change made by the bean counter types. I don't see the engineering need for it. I think your fix is quite serviceable.

Wishing you a happy and blessed Thanksgiving,
bigMoose

thanks, bigmoose, that make me sleep better