Okay, this is beginning to **** me off. I'll turn the key and all the check engine and courtesy lights are working but the engine isn't cranking - so I have plenty of battery. But this only happens sometimes - like right when I want to go out and have fun driving. I've cleaned the terminals and thought maybe that was the problem but still the same situation.

I don't understand the problem. Maybe my starter? A bad relay? Help.

 

Ignition Switch is the most probable cause if your starter dont crank and you made sure you have a good battery connection.

 

check these things:

1. starter

2. ignitor (inside the distributor)

3. ignition switch(the one where the key is inserted)


since you think there is power to the battery then you should check the above things!!

hth

 

Also check the ground wire that goes from negative terminal on the battery to the frame rail and the transmission.

 

my crx had same problem and a groud was missing from the engine head to the frame.

 

Definitely not the ignitor if the engine fails to even crank.

 

schlit:

i have many occurances where the ignitor was the problem. it starts with your car not starting sometimes or when you shut your car off and then try to start it like 2 minutes after.....then someday your car will shut off on you. BUT those are symptoms that he is describing....but like i said, check the easy things first......like your grounds.......but it sounds to me like your starter......but i dont want to speculate....try taking it out and getting it checked out at your local parts store...hope this helps!!!

 

Thanks for the input guys. I'm going to inspect all the wiring tonight and make sure everything is tight.

There's a fuse box with a positive terminal that you're supposed to use when jumping the car. That's not working sooo I'm thinking something is up there.

If I can't diagnose it after tonight then I'm taking her to the mechanic.

 

it probaly the ground, the one on top of the trans it connected to the yellowish green thing see if the bolt is loose or u can try connecting a wire to the trans then to to the negtive terminal then try starting it use like a amp power wires

 

really?? how does the ignitor interrupt the start circuit? It's probably more complex than what i'm thinking.

 

another thing you can do is this.....find the starter off the tranny and take a wrench or screwdriver....anything that you can tap it with.....and hit the starter a few times, not really hard but just tap it....sometimes the contacts wear out and when you tap it, it losens them enough that they contact again it will then start........this will tell you indefinalty weither or not its the starter thats faulty.....cause if it starts afte you hit it a few times then thats it

 

Check all grounds.
Remove them.
Polish the underside of the bolt, its threads, and all grounding surfaces until you see bare metal.
Tighten them down very securely.

This is an easy fix if this is your problem and I highly suggest it. Bad grounds can do A LOT of strange things.

 

Are you able to jump-start the car using another vehicle or a standalone battery charger with a start assist mode connected directly to the battery terminals?

If so, one of two things is going on here:

Option 1: You really do have a dead battery. Lights take less than 1 amp, starting a car takes a few hundred of them.

Option 2: Your battery posts aren't getting good contact with your battery cables. Suggest an intensive cleaning of your battery terminals and cable terminators.

NOTE: When you charge a car battery, you should remove the battery terminals from the posts and connect the battery charger directly to the battery. Why? Because if you don't have a solid connection between the terminal and the post and you connect the charger cables to the terminal, you are trying to charge your car and not the battery. So it will always report that it is fully charged.

So if by some slim chance you are able to start the car with a start-assist charger, I would look at your battery as the weak link in the system.