My car wont start after i make short trips (10 minute drives) i would come back and try to start it but it doesn't even crank. All i hear is a humming sound (fuel pump?) I have to wait 5 minutes then when it would start the next time i would try. any ideas? the only way i can make it happen is if i leave my dome light on while trying to start the car and all i hear is the humming. thank you in advance.

1997 accord v6
196k miles

 

The humming definitely sounds like the fuel pump but not turning over sounds like the starter. I'm pretty sure it would still tur n over with a bad fuel pump though.

 

Take off the smaller wire connecting to the starter and connect a multimeter to it with the other to ground(preferably using alligator clips)...make sure it's not touching any type of metal/ground...preferably have it sit on the lower radiator hose...thought i'm not sure if that's possible for the v6....anyhow, test for volts when you have someone crank the engine...if you're getting volts the issue is the starter ...probably the starter contacts not making contact and you can normally buy new contacts and be good to go if you have a denso starter. You will need to do this fast when it doesn't start or it could render the test not very useful.

if you don't get voltage then the issue is from the ignition switch through the relay, through the neutral safety switch to that starter connector(somewhere in there, or the battery)

report back if you don't get voltage

 

i havent been able to test it yet.... but it completely wouldnt start today until i got a jump from someone. would that still mean starter?

 

If it only started after a jump then the issue is more likely the battery or quite possibly the battery connections since getting jump requires you to jiggle the connections at the battery.

Do the battery connections look corroded(especially the positive side since this is where the majority of the issues occur) ? If not, have the battery load tested.

 

i cleaned the battery terminals not to long ago. and i have to wait for a friend for the load test.
UPDATE: Before the car is unable to start and i still can crank it, there is like a .5 second delay when i turn the key to the engine actually turning. i just noticed it yesterday. then a few crank later it wouldnt start at all.

 

Might be bad contacts on the ignition switch. Pull off the lower steering column cowl, remove the switch and inspect its contacts for excessive wear and overall slop.

 

It's probably going to be either the ignition switch or the starter contacts. More than likely imho it's the starter contacts.

If you have a Denso they are replaceable. If you have a Mitsuba starter they are not.

You can get new starter contacts either on ebay, amazon, or from "larry b's starter contacts". Next time it doesn't start, tap the starter with something and if it starts it's the starter contacts.

 

i tapped it and it worked so i just replaced the starter and battery but still have the same issue though. where are the starter contacts? i read that it could be the cable from the battery to the starter so i will replace that next

 

Okay since you replaced the starter and it's doing the same thing it really can't be the starter contacts which are inside the starter.

Do this now. There is a small wire that is connected to the starter, it's not the big wire, it's the small one. Take it off and connect a multimeter to it and make sure it is not in any way touching any metal at all nor is it still connected to the starter. Connect the multimeter to it via the red lead. Connect your black to the negative terminal. Use alligator clips for all this.

Then have someone try to start the car while you are looking at the multimeter with it set to the 15 dc volts setting.

Tell the person when they turn the ignition to the start position to yell out "NOW!". It's important for them to yell that so you know the exact time that they in the start position. If it doesn't read 12 volts or so at that exact moment then the problem is probably the ignition switch. It should be instantaneous. If you don't get battery voltage at that exact moment then report back. The battery voltage tells the starter to turn on so if you're not getting voltage then the starter won't turn.

 

thanks for everything. ended up being the kill switch in the ignition. the one from honda that chirps. no problem ever since.

 

thanks for updating