Hi Guys this is my first post here. I would post more but seems any question I have has been answered already, thank god. Anyways I just got a 1997 Civic 2dr manual with 250,000 on it. I got it as a project car like a lot of people do. It was running fine then I parked it, got back in and it was dead. It is completely dead. Here are the symptoms...

Key in ignition press in clutch and (no other pedal) dash will light up and starter will click pushing the key forward all the way. You press the brake pedal with other foot or try to turn on lights car goes dead no lights or sounds or anything. Quiet

I get no turnover on the car at all. If I "kickstart" it it will run as long as i keep the rpm's up from idle.

I have new starter, main relay and battery reads 12.7 volts. My grounds seem good and they are all there. I checked the one off the thermostat with the washer thinking maybe that but it's fine.

This car has basically no mods yet. I have an aftermarket Kenwood radio and replacement speakers. I replaced the radiator with an OEM piece. Those are the only things that touched anything electrical.

The only thing I can think of now is there is an anti theft system in the stock radio that I took out. Could that be a problem? Any advice the can help? Thanks! Oh and there's no CEL

 

After you get the engine started:

Does the alternator charge the system?

Does the cluster charging system warning light remain on?

 

Yes, it recharges the battery and I get no warning lights on the dash at all no CEL nothing when it runs it seems fine accept when you stop the idle seems like it wants to stall so you have to tap the gas to keep the rpm's up. I just tried swapping the radio back to stock and that did nothing.

Could it be a problem in the steering column?

 

Oh another odd thing it the main relay sounds like it's about to have a heart attack for like 3 sec every time i try and start it

 

When you turn the key from off to ON(II), does the cluster charging system warning light turn on and remain on?

How do you know the alternator is properly charging?

 

Yes if you mean the battery symbol next to the oil light. Then of course the brake light because my ebrake is on.

The Alternator even if bad and battery is good should still turn the motor over even if only for a moment. I get nothing just the sounds of relay clicking from everywhere and fuel pump prime.

 

Oh and the battery reads 12.7 volts not under load. Once I put key in position 3 and hold in the clutch i get the starter sol. click and main relay goes nuts for a sec. dash lights up normal radio works windows work. If I just leave it in pos. 3 and try to either turn the lights on or step on the brake pedal everything goes dead no lights or anything. The car does not turn over at all

 

How do you know the main relay is making the noise?

Remove and clean the G101 ground on the thermostat housing and the G3 ground on the transmission, and then clean them with steel wool and a wire brush.

 

Well I tried that and it worked! I guess maybe because they were old and deteriorating? I ordered a new set of engine ground wires and will be switching them out thanks for the tip!! That's so crazy, they "looked" fine but looks can be deceiving I guess? When I took them off they basically kept their shape and I felt like if I were to try and move the wire itself it would snap. Shew thanks a million!!