1997 Honda accord makes clicking noise but takes a long time to start if it starts

 

• Battery dying
• Loose cable at battery terminal, or heavy corrosion at terminal
• Ignition switch issues. Unlikely if no other power problems present
• Most likely the Starter is failing (sometimes you can hit the starter with a hammer or tire iron, and if it starts fine afterwards, bad starter solenoid is the trouble)

If you know the battery is strong, and the Honda has the original starter in it, almost certainly replacement starter is needed.

Replacement is fairly easy DIY job, but the original starter may have one of more stubborn bolts holding it on. If you have one, or can get one, a breaker bar
might come in handy.

 

fortunately the starter is really easy to get to, it's pretty easy to swap out the starter contacts if you got a manual starter, i've had good luck with Pure Energy starters at rockauto

to test, check for voltage at the signal wire going to the starter when you turn the ignition to start and the car in neutral, if you got voltage it's likely the starter is bad

if you got a DEA or Viper aftermarket alarm it's possible the ignition kill function is malfunctioning