Hey Honda Tech,

Long time reader, first time poster, I've searched around for an answer to this, nothing ever conclusive.

My winter beater is a 1997 Acura EL, a Civic EX with a different dash and leather trim, lol.

I'm having an issue with an intermittent no crank situation, and I'm not sure if the main relay would have an impact on this. A few times a week the car wont crank when the key is turned. I did a little trouble shooting and when it doesnt crank I'm not getting 12v to the starter trigger wire. If I run 12v from the battery directly to the starter with the key in "On" the car will start right up. All other things prime, like fuel pump etc, so as soon as 12v hits the starter she goes. Neutral safety switch tests out fine as well.

This has had me stumped for a month, as anytime it does this, I dont have the means to diagnose, and then its fine for the next 25 starts. So when I'm home with my tools, it works perfectly fine, lol.

I was hoping maybe someone from this forum would have had the same issue in the past. I wouldn't care about manually bumping it if I drove it all the time, but I lend it to my mother for the summer, and she's not mechanically inclined enough.

Details about the car:
1997 Acura EL, D16Y8, Autotragic (I know), 59,000 miles.

 

The main relay has nothing to do with the starter.

Test the ignition switch and the rubber stopper that presses on the starter switch at the top of the clutch pedal. Don't confuse the latter switch stopper with the stopper for the lower cruise control switch.

 

Thanks RonJ,

No clutch as it's an automatic.

Could it be the IGN switch if it powers everything else? and starts the car 19 times out of 20?

 

Yes.

For your voltage tests, what did you use as ground?

 

Throw it in neutral and try to start it.

 

cleaned mine, didnt do the springs. better but will replace eventually.

DIY Ignition switch cleaning - Team Integra Forums - Team Integra