1999 5speed Civic.
Everything was fine and out of nowhere my car wouldn't start, so I had to push start it the past few times. At first, there was no click at all from the starter, but today i'm having clicks and was able to start it once after tapping the starter a few times. I assume my thermostat housing leaking (started 2 days ago when I took out the thermostat and didn't seal it) was a contributing factor, so I sealed it up with RTV today, could that play a role in the starter failing?

Would I just buy a whole used 98-00 manual starter assembly, or is this problem that copper piece that just needs to be rebuilt for a couple of bucks?
Does another starter work/fit? I'm aware a starter solenoid from a 99-01 A/T prelude works, or all 98-00 M/T Civic starters.

 

wait..you took out your thermostat and didnt seal it? like you pulled it and that was it?

then yea, Im sure coolant bathing your starter would make it fail.

you do realize a thermo is under 20 bucks right?

 

Yeah pulled it, cleaned off the edges with a blade, and stupid me forgot to seal it because it started raining and I rushed.
I went to Honda, their thermo was $40
I bought one on RockAuto and it's sitting in my house now because the gasket I had for it didn't fit correctly in the thermostat housing, so I let it run freeflow for now until I get the gasket.


back to starter fix... Clutch rubber could be a factor too right?

 

So 96-97 starters of 5th gen starter assemblies wont work on a 99 m/t?

 

"Clutch rubber"? Clutches don't have rubber, and the starter does not interact with the clutch. Any starter from a car with the same engine and transmission will work. If you have a 99 EX, any 96-00 EX starter will work. If you have a DX/CX, same deal.

 

or not that rubber, the black piece, always thought it was rubber. the switch, but it's fine.
I have a 99 DX, but I read up on RockAuto and traced back the part # for the starter assembly which is 31200-P2A-014 and it only applies to 98-00 Civics not 96-97

Okay i'll keep that in mind. i just went out to play with the connections, and clean the area, just macygyvered things and now i can start my car after 2 tries. The first time, won't turn over, the second time it will start. Did it 5 times in a row and that's how it is (1st wont, 2nd time will), and now I feel safe that I can probably drive. Although I noticed my idle did drop to 550-600.

 

I think you might have a few more issues than the starter.

 

I think so too, lol. Stock parts are becoming a decade old, bout time.