Here's what I've got. I have been having several issues and im not sure if they are related.

Here's the problems I'm having here recently.

1. Twice i have gone to start the car and nothing happens. Like a dead battery. Ill wait a minute and try a few times and it starts up perfectly.

2. Once i have started the car and all the electrical things turned on i.e. dash and lights, but the engine never started. The starter never cranked.

3. I am having a problem with my radio. Its a Kenwood. Sometimes when i brake the radio shuts off and comes back on. It also does this at times when the volume is turn up.

4. I also had my Alpine amp quit working on me a while back. Opened it up and nothing appears blown. Put it in another car already wired and nothing.

Here's what I have done.

1. Battery is 1 year old. Cells are full of water, terminals are clean, voltage is good.

2. Checked all fuses, there good. Checked power lead into the underhood fuses, clean.

3. Checked the grounds and they and not corroded or loose.

4. Had Autozone test the alternator and they said everything looked fine.

What am i missing?

 

Test the ignition switch.

Also clean and tighten the battery (G1), transmission (G3), and thermostat housing (G101) ground wires.

 

Thought about the ignition. How would I test it? Wait til the car doesn't start then check it? Also that shouldn't be causing the radio issues.

 

Exactly

Probably a separate issue. Triple check your wiring job.

 

I checked checked the ignition switch. It looks ok, its a little grimmy inside, had voltage going to it, no voltage after i started the car.

The battery ground and thermostat grounds look and feel good good.

I dont see a transmission ground. Where is that typically bolted on a D16 transmission?

Im fixing to check the radio wiring.

 

See FAQs sticky. Ohm test the ignition switch.

Top of transmission (bracket) to chassis.

 

I have now ohm tested the ignition switch and it was good. I saw that Honda had a recall on them. Could this be because of the recall issue?

I pulled the radio. The wiring and connections were good. No exposed metal or anythig.

Could it be the ignition switch starting to go bad?

 

Ideas anyone before I start throwing parts at this? This morning on my way to work I noticed a strange smell. It seemed to be coming from the car not outside. I couldn't place the smell. Smelt kind of like electrical smoke but sweeter. It wasn't the smell of burning oil.

 

Was the car taking longer to start gradually over time? Check power cable to your starter. And where is the burning smell coming from? underhood, underdash?

 

When it starts it starts very smooth. I have already checked the power on the starter and it was good. As far as the smell, it didn't happen this afternoon on my drive home. It smelt like it was coming through the vents like it was coming from the engine bay. I have been reading about people with similar issues and i cant find anything solid. People have been saying it could be the battery, alternator, ignition, or bad ground. Everyone who has posted about this seems to be chasing their tail just like I am right now. Not really looking to start buying parts on guesses.

 

Did you test when the engine would not crank?

 

It has started fine every time since I have started to seriously try and figure this out. The issue with not starting isn't very frequent. Id say twice in the past month. I'm going to through my meter and some tools in the car so that when it doesn't crank i can test it.