Hey everyone, just wanted to see if any of you guys heard about this problem before.

so basically my car had trouble starting.. we thought it was the starter.. but after placing a new starter, sometimes the car wouldnt crank over, it was just click one time, and all the dashboard lights would go dim.

when the dashboard lights go dim (battery and oil lights).. the car will definitely not start.. but if you hit the steering wheel column, the dashboard lights gets brighter, and then theres a 50/50 chance it might start or it might not (if it doesnt start, the dashboard lights become dim again after trying to crank it)..

this what made me believe that it was the alarm behind the steering wheel that maybe is related (plus when my car does start, i tried starting it with the alarm armed, and you can start the car while the alarm going off)...

so i got back there, and there was a loose wire near my alarm, i hooked it up back together and now my alarm works perfectly (car doesnt start when the alarm goes off)


So I thought my car would be fixed from that point on.. it started good 10 times afterwards.. then earlier same problem, it wouldnt crank, and all my dashboards light became dim.. If i hit the steering wheel, the dashboard lights become brighter, but it still wont start, just one click and all my lights are dim again, sometimes it does start again after hitting the steering wheel column.

I then push/roll started my car, because every time i push/start my car, the car would crank again and work properly... and guess what, my car was able to start again, and started with no problems. Arming my alarm, i tried to start the car, and the car wouldnt start, so the alarm is still good.

so honestly what should i do, because i know my car outta no where its not gonna start randomly, and sometimes it will start... been to a mechanic shop a few times already, but theyre having trouble narrowing down where this is located.. now i come to honda-tech to see if theres any suggestions.

so in conclusion.. when my dashboard lights are dim (particularly the battery and the oil).. the car for sure will not start up, and will just click over once, it seems like there isnt enough power or something. After hitting the steering wheel, the battery and oil lights gets brighter, and the car have a greater chance of starting.

thanks for helping me out

 

So have you tried pulling off the plastics covers and inspecting the wiring or we just smashing the crap out the steering wheel in the meantime? You checked alarm wiring, what other wiring have you checked?

 

Apart from the bashing of the steering column, This sounds alot like a grounding issue. Ensure that all of your grounds are clean and clear, It's a great first step.

Did you install the alarm yourself, Or did you have a shop do it?

After checking out your grounds, I'd try starting the car. If the issue persists, Do not smack the steering column. Instead, Get under there with a test light and probe the connections your alarm makes with the ignition system. These connections should be soldered, But if they used those crimp caps they are definitely prone to intermittent continuity issues.

 

these cars also have problems with the electrical portion of the ignition switch

 

This is an 11 year old post so im sure the issue is fixed or the car is scrap but like me, somebody will have this issue again and wont find anything on the web so here goes. 8 days ago I stopped somewhere and went inside for ten minutes. When I came out the car wouldnt start. It cranked but wouldnt start. I noticed that I was missing the upper dash lights. I later noticed that I had no accesories. I.E. wipers, windows, radieo, ect. Only the blower. The dash did have a green key, indicating the security system ingaged. I had to wait about an hour to recharge the battery that I worew downtrying to start it. After an hour, I locked and unlocked the doors using the key fob. Started right up. Bingo, immobilizer was engaged. Weird but simple right. Wrong, I think. I drove around for the rest of the evening, stoping and shutting down the vehicle many times. Started fine every time. I get home at about midnight, shut the car off and then notice the window was down a couple of inches. Turned on power and nothing. Tried to start it, nothing. I couldnt power the accesories or start the car at all. Everything that I read directed me to battery, ignition system (switch, relay, fuse, ect.) fuel pump, throttle positioning sensor, and Immobilizer). I am embaressed at how many times I tried to reset the security system by 2 clicks and turn the key while holding up my left foot and eating a banana. Many variations on same theory. Needless to say that none worked. I spent the next week changing relays, disasembling ignition switches, pulling fuses, staring at an opened up steering column. I no longer had a security light coming on so progress right. I had no lights or codes because that system had no power. I tested power to wires. I tested continuity. I tested my own sanity over and over. This made no sense. Everything had power where it was supposed to so it should all work. On day 8, I think. I decided it couldnt be the ignition switch so it was put back together. Wasn't the battery. It was charged better than ever. All fuses and relays and switches and matching electrical tape checked out. While assembling the ignition I happened to push on the middle wiring cluster going into the under dash fuse box. It crackled. A weird sound to have happen but it was something new so I considered it a win. I did it again when it was reassembled and same result. I did it a thinrd time while turning the key. The car started and ran for 1.5 seconds. Now I lost all in cabin power to everything. Couldnt duplicate the crackle again either. I assumed that I blew a fuse. Nope! Nothing. Wires tested hot that should be and no power to the ones that shouldn't. Everything tested as it should except for the not working part. So with no more ideas but a fire I took one last look around. I inspected the small grounded wires at the battery. A small insulation opening but a solid connection. While under the dash, I checked the brake light switch. Seemed to be in good working order. As I was climbing out from under the dash, (no small task at 52 and fat in ahonda civic lx. Picture a mouse fighting its way free from a ball python) I get irriatated that the steering column is extended all of the way out. In my frustration, I release the latch to adjust the sterring column and slammed it back into the most recessed posion as hard as I could. When it made contact all the way in, my dash lights popped on and the door alarm started beeping. I turned the key and the car started stronger than it has ever previously started. All evidence by way of strange security lights, dim lights, no accessories, and all other mind numbing rediculous coincidence were gone. Its like it never happened. I can't find anything that it could have contacted or altered but it did. It affected something. The steering column either had a shorted out wire, which I never found, or closed a connection on a stuck relay or something. Your guess is as good as mine. It doesnt explain the crackling wire cluster or the security system locking me out them not even affecting anything for the second half of the week. None of the issues seemed to tie in together. But slamming it together worked. Its sometimes better to be lucky than smart. I know this give a direct answer and solution but its better than every other answer out there on the web. None of them went into the obscure issues that these cars seem to have. None pointed in any direction other than the ones listed at the beginning. If I had one person send me looking at the unusual and obscure, it probably would've only taken a day or two. There is something in or around the steering column that can hamper all three things; security, accesories, ignition. I fixxed this today. Did I mention that this happened about 4 hours after I made the final payment on this thing. Literally the day it got paid off. You can't say that God doesn't have a sense of humor. If you read this whole thing, you have more patience than I do. Good luck to you.