Hey all. Reaching out for some advice as for once I'm stuck on a problem I can't fix! And it's annoying the f--k out of me.

Short(-ish) story. Bought my son an '04 RSX base, manual. Passed MD inspection with no issues, but because it took him a while to be able to get his license, the car wasn't driven much. After a few months, I went to start it up, and the alternator had seized and the battery was dead (that was one of the things the inspector said might happen in the future as it was low charge). No biggie. Bought new ones, replaced them and the serpentine belt. Pretty easy installs. Car worked fine with no codes.

Fast forward a few months, and he has his license, so is starting to drive it to school. Says that there are times when it won't start, or is really sluggish to start. A little bit of turn over, but no catch. I figure the battery is low again and tell him to turn off all accessories and try again. Gets it to start. It progressively got worse over the next few weeks. I figure the new battery just drained down for some reason. Check it with a volt-meter ..... nope! Even 12.5 on the meter across terminals. So it's not the battery! Next culprit I figured was either the starter relay fuse or the starter itself. Bought each of those and replaced them. Fuse took 5 minutes, no go. Starter took about two hours to install. And?? Nothing, not even a crank ....... F--k!

I'm getting pissed at this point. Only thing left I could think of was the clutch engagement switch. So I just cut the wires and spliced them together for both that switch and the cruise control switch (unsure which one may be the culprit). Nada!!

So for sh-ts and grins, I had the kids help me push it up the driveway onto a slope and I popped started the car going down the driveway. Ran just fine with no check engine lights or anything. Parked the car and turned engine off. Same thing, wouldn't start. Won't even turn over and no clicks.

Damnit. I'm stuck. What else could it be?? Should I reconnect the wiring for the clutch engagement switch and replace it? Could it somehow be the key immobilizer? There is no battery in the key chip, right?

Reaching out to the HT gurus to help me out. This is the first time an H/A car has gotten the best of me, and now it is a vendetta of mine to get it fixed!

 

You buying crappy parts store starters, alternators, and batteries? Made in China lowest bidder stuff is complete garbage. Very common to have DOA parts especially electric parts.
Check that you are getting 12v at the starter terminal. Then check that you are getting 12v on the starter signal wire when you have the key in the start position.



But first put those clutch position switches back together and stop being a hack. BTW, they are not both NO one is NO and one is NC. So twisting both wires together is going to probably cause a no cruise control condition.

 

Uh, thanks? I think?? Appreciate the hack comment ...... >

(I have been working on cars for over 20 years, so I'm not some newb.).

I went with the cut/splice just to see if that was an immediate solution, it obviously wasn't. Alternator worked fine, battery is a name brand, not knock off.

I'll check to voltage to the starter. I don't think it was the starter to begin with at this point. And splice the clutch switches back together.

Also going to order a replacement clutch switch just to see.

 

Check the large gauge power wire between the battery and the starter... it is referred to as the "charge harness". There have been corrosion issues with these and the voltage/amperage drops between the battery and the starter and causes a slow crank/no start type symptom. If you see any corrosion, dark copper strands, or damaged wire there, replace the large gauge wire between the battery and the starter. You can replace the entire charge harness, however, they are a bit pricey from the dealer and the rest of the wiring inside it is usually just fine.

 

Great, thank you for the recommendation!

 

Pulled the intake manifold off enough again and reconnected the battery to check the voltage going on that wire to the starter. It read 12V, so it is definitely getting power at the starter, and this included when my wife turned the key to the start position. So not sure what the heck is going on still.

I also reconnected the wiring for the clutch switches, and I bought replacement ones for each (they are relatively cheap). I checked each of them with the new ones, and still nothing.

Maybe the new starter is bad? Maybe the starter relay I put in was bad?? I'm at the point where I'm ready to take it to a mechanic and have them try to trouble shoot, even knowing I already replaced everything ......