hey everyone, this my time in the forums and I'm really you're able to help out tell me whether or not this is a post cause. Currently my 93' Honda Accord won't crank, turnover, start whatsoever; I've turned the headlights on to see if they dim while turning the key and nothing! Lights on the dash still come on though and the check engine light comes on and shuts off like it should. It started probably 2 days ago I drove to a buddies house to hangout and when I was fixing to i was denied. One thing to know is that my head gasket has been blown since i bought the car a couple of months ago (oily engine block) , but since then ive only had to replace the starter which i replaced again because it was under warrenty and i thought it was the problem (they did say the one i brought back was defective somehow; it had something to do with that spindle thar goes into the engine which was locked up im pretty sure they said) and a radiator hose the blew in me ( didnt fully replace the hose when it gave out the first time, but when i finally did i was driving long distance and the car locked on me after a little while of driving - breaks weren't working and couldnt gas it so i shut it off for a little in the highway and then restarted and it was dandy). With this current issue ive also replaced the ignition coil because it looked to be burning where the plug connected with it, and ill post a picture if i can (havent gotten any new plugs yet). Currently planning on looking at the distributor and main relay. Put curcuit tester on coil and distributor as well the starter, but with the starter i touched the conecters and with the coil and distributor ive only touched the bodies, but the light came on so.. Im not sure. Any questions or if you need more info ill be willing to provide when i get the chance

Old ignition coil<br/>





Coil plug





Pov of coil #1<br/>





Pov #2





Current distributor

 

You need to pull the small wire from the starter. Have someone try to start the car while you measure the voltage to the small wire.....are you getting battery voltage to that small wire?

 

I've used a circuit tester and all wires showed they were getting power, but i dont have the tool to measure the exact voltage

 

If you are getting voltage to the small wire on the starter and it is not spinning the engine..One of two things.

Not enough voltage or the starter is bad.

 

I actually had thr starter replaced when thebstarte first presented itself as it was under warranty and cost me nothing, but i was thinkin it mightve been not enough voltage, but puzzles me is that i was driving it maybe an hour two before and when i went to start again it just had nothing to give me.

 

Really wish you had a volt meter to measure the voltage, simple ones can be had for ~$5.

Check and clean the battery terminals, all ends of both cables and be sure the connections are clean and tight.

Have you tried to jump start it with another car? Sometimes the added voltage from another car is enough to "bridge" a weak connection and get it running.

 

If i can find one for that much then i will definitely go on and get one when i get a chance. Unfortunately i habemt been able to try the jump because no one i know surprisingly has one, but then again neither do I. The terminals did have oxidation on them, but ive since cleaned that off and my groind has a loose connection that i tried to remedy to see if it was the problem by wedging a scree in between

 

Harbor freight has them for $5.99, if there isn't one near you - even walmart has them for less than $10.

And jumper cables, a cheap set is less than $10 as well.

Based upon your description of the battery cables and their connections.....they are my #1 suspect but that is a guess and don't do anything on a guess.

 

The other day i did what you suggested and tried to jumo with another car and not a darn thing happening; still no crank, no start and all the instrument lights and all other things are working just fine. Turned the car to the on position wth headlights on to see if they would dim, but still no dice. Its really acting like e it would if you werent pressing the clutch, but i am so it was suggested i look at the clutch safety switch

 

But if it was the "clutch switch" you would not get voltage to the small wire on the starter. So I'll ask again "are you getting voltage to the small wire on the starter?"

When you tried to jump start the car, was the ground clamp on your car on the battery or to the frame/engine?

 

It was on the battery, and there was power going to all off the lines on the starter when i used the circuit tester, but thats really all i have to rely on

 

Heck, give the starter a good love tap with the plastic end of a screwdriver or a pice of wood and see what the heck happens.

 

Well, i wouldnt think thatd do anything because i picked up a new starter would it?

 

Well I'm "spit balling" ideas/things to try without being able to actually test anything.

Sorry, just trying to help

When you used the test light.....were you using the battery ground as the "ground"? If so what happens when you use the "transmission case" as the ground.

To re-cap where I'm at....you have voltage to the small wire when trying to start but don't know "how much". So either the starter is bad, you would not be the first one that has gotten a "bad" one out of the box, or you have a bad/weak battery, or a bad weak battery connection - either the ground or the positive or both.....you do have a "screw" trying to hold one of the battery clamps tight

 

Yeah, i have a screw wedged inbetween tye terminal snd the clamp so that the clamp is tight around the grounding terminal. Could you tell me what the transmission case is exactly? Also, I didn't think about possibly getting a bad ine out of the box; should i bring it in to get tested? The battery, was checked and found to be at full power when i first started checkings things but maybe should i see where its at now? If its changed.

 

The "trans case" is just that.....the outside metal/alum case of the trans.

If you can, yes pull the starter and the battery and have them tested....if they test good at the parts store......stop somewhere and get a volt meter.