Hi, have a 2005 Honda Civic LX auto

I thought it was the starter, replaced it but still wont crank. (Doh)

Anyways I turn the key and it clicks once, dash lights are on, some go off when I turn the key, battery is good.

Getting frustrated.

 

Check the battery, battery connections, grounds, alternator and loose alternator mounting bolts that can give a poor ground and other electrical gremlins.

Any codes stored with a Check Engine Light on?

 

any idea where all the grounds are on the body and engine, do I need to jack up the car?

 

One should be under your fuse box on the left side of the engine bay.
One right in front of you in the middle front of the engine bay.

Look up the big 3 ground upgrade for our vehicles and you should see them all

 

ahh what a good idea thanks, here I was typing into google, 2005 honda civic grounds, getting horrible results

 

Im going to give my car to my mechanic. After replacing the starter and IGN fuse, even though I have a stronger "click" I cant afford time wasted on this thing. Damn, Hondas are not that reliable, my old Pontiac Sunfire ran better. Only thing is the civic has better MPGs.
Hopefully its a ground problem or something.

 

The only way you will get something more reliable is a toyota possibly. But personally I can't stand driving a tercel or corolla compared to many Hondas I've driven. I do rock an older toyota truck however. I agree the 7th gen is a little less reliable than previous civics and people seem to have issues with high mileage ones with questionable maintenance records. I haven't had any issues except with struts and locks, but then I haven't hit 200k yet. I think the 5/6 gen is Hondas civic sweet spot. Also it seems people drive the cars like they are in fast and the furious but figure they need zero maintenance since it's a Honda and will go 350k no matter what you do or don't do.

 

Try using jumper cables hooked to another running car just to see if it turns over. You could have gotten a bad new part, it's been know to happen.

 

Well i paid 90$ to have it towed to my mechanic and he figured out it was a bad aftermarket positive terminal battery clamp! He took it apart and cleaned it and it fires up strong now!

Cost me a case of coors for the repair.

All in all it was:

140 for initial tow
170 for starter
4 for suspicious looking ign fuse (was brown and melty)
About 2 hours of my time
90 for another tow
38 for a box of coors


342$

Im not worried if i replaced a good starter, it was 14 years old anyways and its a oem rebuild now.