this is a 98 civic hx I bought a while back, a few days after getting it, car had following symptoms:

- Wouldn't start unless jumped w/ another car

- when I turn the key, it would just made clicking sounds

- battery was fine because same battery was used to start my 96 civic ex

- seemed like battery just got drained when I tried to use it to start

- when jumped, the starter sounded funny compared to my other civic, sounded like it was rotating slower, and having a hard time turning over.

what do you guys think the problem is? starter, alternator...?? Im really not very good w/ electrical stuff, thats why Im turning to HT for some help...

 

if you're absolutely 150% positiver its not your battery then i'd check it again. check your grounds (on the tranny and such), make sure you hooked up all the wires to the proper terminals and such. If its not starting w/out a jump its 100% battery related. Maybe the battery doesn't have the proper cold amp output?

 

this may sound off the wall, but if it is persistent, and your battery, grounds, and overall connections are good, and i am not kidding, take a hammer and a long extension for a ratchet, and hit the starter. sometimes the brushes stick and wont let the motor turn. dont kill it, just enough to jar anyhting loose if it is stuck.

 

I'd say your starter is shot. A worn starter will take considerably more current to start the motor and can emulate a weak battery.

 

If it is the starter this may get you going again, but the problem will still be there and will return on the next start.

 

dude thanks for finishing that for me.

 

thanx for the quick replies guys, could someone plz elaborate on how to check the grounds?

 

basically make sure they are bolted up there is no paint or corosion under them, and there are a sufficient number of them. batt to chasis, batt to trans, and vc to chassis. id tell you how to do a voltage drop but i myself have forgotten.

 

if it's clicking it's def not the battery.

 

B I N G O

 

thanx guys, ill try swapping in a new starter asap, do you guys know any good sources for starters? Im thinking ebay or junkyard.

 

Looks like I get to play the opposition. I often get bored late at night and go out and work on my car. I happened to do this one night when I needed my headlights on, as well as the radio. I didn't seem like much time, but when I got back in the car, all I heard was clicking. First thing I did was check all my connections and attempted restarted. I got a clicking as my radio and onboard lights went off. Blah, blah, blah, 6 hours later I hoped worst case scenario it was a dead battery. Switched out the battery around 6AM and the car started right up. It was a little cold at the time so I don't know if the battery just needed changing or if I completely drained it goofing off. Regardless I got clicking, which turned out to be my battery. Good luck, I suggest starting with the cheapest solution.

 

Well I guess you're right. But if the battery's COMPLETELY dead, then it won't click. So there.

 

Could it be his alternator goin dead? I know when my grand am's alternator went dead, it clicked...and then didn't do anything after my retrying to start it.

 

Well if your alternator goes dead, your car will basically be running on non-rechargable power. AKA your car will be running on battery power and not alternator power (the battery is only used to START your car, after that, the alternator powers the car and slowly recharges the battery as you drive). So once your battery runs outta juice, you're dead in the water.

Also, when your alternator dies/belt snaps, your battery light will come on, on your dash. Another way to check if your alternator is dead/dieing, is to start your car then run it with the battery disconnected. If the car continues to run, your alternator should be ok.

**EDIT**** - added a few things here and there


[Modified by Shift!, 2:48 PM 3/26/2003]

 

make sure you check the 2 wires that are on the starter
sometime they get loose and come off
-Brian

 

make sure you got a good clean ground strap on the motor, or ground the starter itself, you can use jumper cables to ground the start just to check and see if it's a weak ground

 

How about I take a whack at your problem.. I'll try my best..

"- when I turn the key, it would just made clicking sounds"
What usually causes the Infamous Clicking Sound is an Open between the Starter Solenoid and the Starter's Ground.. If there's no Ground due to an Open, the current will travel to the Starter Solenoid and power up the Pull In Coil.. This creates a Magnetic Field and "pulls" the Plunger up and along with it the Disc. Once the Plunger is pulled up and the Disc connects the B and M terminals of Solenoid together, the Hold In Coil will be powered up and it will hold the Plunger and Disc in place as the Pull In Coil denergizes and releases. But since there's an Open between the M terminal and Ground, the Hold In Coil won't energize and will drop the Plunger causing the Pull In Coil to power up. And thus it will create a rapid Clicking noise.. ---But I could be wrong..

Another cause for the Infamous Clicking sound is a weak Battery.. If the Battery is weak, it'll only have enough Amperage to power the Solenoid and thus comes your CLICK..

"- seemed like battery just got drained when I tried to use it to start "
Your Battery is just drained after trying to start the engine.. That's possible, the Starter probably draws about 100A.. But it can start another car's engine.. So you have to rule out the Battery..

"- when jumped, the starter sounded funny compared to my other civic, sounded like it was rotating slower, and having a hard time turning over. "
Now here is where I believe your problem lies.. You said it sounded like the Starter was rotating slower.. Well there you go, I believe your problem is solved.. The only way a Starter can rotate slower and drag is due to worn Bearings at the ends of the shaft that runs across inside of it. Once they're worn, it'll cause the Armature to tilt a little and rub against the Pole Shoes/Permanant Magnets inside. Thus causing a slower drag and a draining the juice out of the Battery... It would explain why a Jump helps start the engine. The slower the Starter rotates, the more Amperage it draws.

Well my friend, according to what you told me, you seemed to have solved your problem but just needed a little guidance.. But yeah, your Starter seems to be the problem. To be specific, the End Bearings..

But then again, who am I say what's faulty.. I only gave you my opinion along with some back up.. At least I didn't guess right?.. Anyways, Good Luck.. I hope I nailed it for you.. If you not, I better hit the books again or I won't pass my ASE exams.. Later..




[Modified by PnX-R, 7:16 PM 3/27/2003]