I bought this car for my son a few months ago. The car sat for about 1.5 years and has several wires that have chew marks on the insulation but not through the wires. Recently we installed new radio. Everything worked fine for about a week. Then all of a sudden when we try to start the car, it won't start. When we turn the key, the power to the radio and what ever is in that immediate vacinity goes out, but all the other lights on dash stays lit. The antenna even goes back down. If we jump the cylinoid the car will start. My son says his brake pedal also seems to be a little harder to depress. If anyone has any idea what to try first it would be greatly appreciated. I have purchased a ignition switch, but not installed it yet.

 

Do some testing to narrow down the problem, this is for an Integra but it will work on your Lude...
https://honda-tech.com/forums/tech-misc-15/simple-diy-start-circuit-test-%5Bbypass-jump%5D-2961164/

When you say, "it won't start" do you mean, starter is not working, [engine not cranking] or does it crank and just not start?

If you have questions, feel free to IM me. 94

 

when you turn key to auxillary all lights and everything come on, but when turn to start nothing happens except the power to radio and ac controls goes out. even the power antenna goes back down. but as soon as you let go power comes back on. Also his batter got drained down to a 3% charge

 

we have been able to get car to start by jumping the cylinoid, and took battery to be checked, recharged and still nothing. I bought a new ignition switch, but haven't installed yet. the power going out only in certain area leads me to believe there is a short

 

Sounds like the ignition switch is faulty since applying direct battery voltage to the solenoid turns over the engine.

If you're really careful when install the ignition switch to keep it in like new condition, even if it doesn't fix the problem you can still return it for a full refund after. This assumes it doesn't come in a sealed bag or sealed box.

A lot of times they will say that they won't accept returned electrical components but just let em know it wasn't installed or used and you can usually get em to accept it back.

 

The radio, [and ant.] are on an accessory circuit and the "ac controls" are on an ign.2 circuit neither one is powered when key is in the start position, so what is happening is normal.

Trace the problem using the tests I linked, you can also start at the ign, switch, test the black/white lead for power when ign. key is in the start position. 94

 

So here is an update. I have since replaced the ignition switch (nothing), I also replaced the starter(again nothing). I have been told that when installing an after market stereo that the wires for the dimmer need to not be connected cause they can cause fuses to blow. So I guess I will be checking fuses cause of course my son did not do that. The only other thing I can think of that is left is the accessories relay or the main relay.

 

Tossing parts at the problem, [ign. sw. and starter] before knowing what the problem is, is an expensive way to troubleshoot the problem.

Obviously the starter was not the problem if a bypass jump worked, "If we jump the cylinoid the car will start" and now just as obviously it was not the ign. switch.

The link I posted will help you narrow down what the problem is.

At this point I would check starter relay and CIS, if a 5 speed or the A/T gear position switch if an automatic.

If an automatic have you tried starting car in neutral? 94

 

You might also look and see if the wiring has been messed with. There are plenty of aftermarket alarms and GPS locators and so forth that cut the wire from the ignition to the starter. Working on all sorts of used cars at the shop, that's the first thing we check for.

Tracing the problem should be simple, as basically there's one power wire that goes from the ignition to the starter relay (which you can bypass to test), and then to the starter solenoid.