just like it says. the motor is my b18b lsvtec with gsr head. it ran fine in the integra, and now is in the crx. i've been driving it for a while, and one day, it wouldn't start. the problem was the battery terminals, which i replaced.
then i drove it around some more, and it didnt start again one morning. the battery is good and the lights come on in the gauge cluster. it just doesnt crank, like the starter isnt kicking on. i was able to get it started by pushing it and popping the clutch, and it drove home ok. i had the starter checked, and it is fine. i looked at the ground cable to the negative terminal, and its rusted just a little bit on the and, as well as a little worn. can a new ground cable fix this? what else can it be?


Modified by LSvtec03 at 6:52 PM 12/13/2004

 

Check to see that the ground spade connector is hooked up to the starter. Mine used to come loose quite frequently. If everything appears to be straight wiring wise try jumping the starter directly off the battery.

 

the spade connector is definately hooked up, because i switched out the starter with a friends, and i'm positive i put everything back. so i also know it's not a bad starter.

how do you mean, jump the starter directly off the battery? isn't it already directly powered from the battery?
thanks for the input.

 

check the igniton switch

 

well, poo. i changed the battery ground cable, and still nothing. for a minute, i thought it might be a spark problem, but then i realized i push-started it and drove it home, so it must be getting spark.

my friend is telling me there's no way it can be the ignition switch. can you tell me why this could be the problem, and exactly what the ignition switch does?

 

might wanna pull the cap off and check the coil and the ignitor

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LSvtec03 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... but then i realized i push-started it and drove it home, so it must be getting spark.</TD></TR></TABLE>Since it ran, the ignitor, coil, & distributor must be OK.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LSvtec03 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">my friend is telling me there's no way it can be the ignition switch. can you tell me why this could be the problem, and exactly what the ignition switch does?</TD></TR></TABLE>The ignition switch 'turns on' the EFI & ignition, & it also switches on the starter. It's nothing more than a power switch with 3 different circuits to turn on.

What about your clutch switch?? There's a switch above the clutch pedal that's SUPPOSED to prevent the starter from running unless the clutch pedal is pressed ALL THE WAY down. Maybe that's broken or bent?

 

****** didn't want to come out....
well, it's got a little orange/brown near the connector, like how my main relay looked when it went bad, and it's got kind of a funny smell to it, like my main relay did when it went bad. but it doesn't seem to have any cracks in the solder. so please tell me this is the problem and that these are easy to get/inexpensive. or better yet, that i can use the one out of my 94 integra (not likely, but one can hope).
oh, and the clutch switch didn't seem to be bent or anything. i pressed the clutch and the switch seemed to move in and out ok when i pressed it.


Modified by LSvtec03 at 2:36 PM 12/14/2004

 

bumpers....i want my car to start

 

I really don't know what a clutch switch looks like in a CRX, but are you sure that's it?

If you jumper the connector for it, does that let it start?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JimBlake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I really don't know what a clutch switch looks like in a CRX, but are you sure that's it?

If you jumper the connector for it, does that let it start?</TD></TR></TABLE>
well, there was a switch that looked like a button that was pressed in by the clutch when your foot is NOT on the pedal, when you press the clutch, it lets off the button. i assumed that was the clutch switch.

i'll try that too.
i did a little experiment...with the ignition switch pulled out, the car reacts the same when i try to start it as when it was in. and when i try to start it without pressing the clutch (testing the clutch switch), it reacts normally as it would if you try to start it without pressing the clutch...if that makes sense. so this makes me think that the clutch switch is ok, and kinda makes me lean toward the ignition switch being at fault. i guess i'll try to borrow a switch from a friend and make sure that's the problem before i shell out $60 for a new one.
thanks, everyone

 

i'm having the same problem in my teg, except if I try holding the key in the starter position for long enough it eventually starts, sometimes it takes 4-5 minutes. Lights come on in the gauge cluster, but engine doesn't crank. Pumping the clutch doesn't make any difference, but it does eventually start if I hold the key in the starter position long enough. Once engine does crank, there's no problem with the car starting.

Hopefully bad doesn't get to worse with me having to push the car to start it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by LSvtec03 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well, there was a switch that looked like a button that was pressed in by the clutch when your foot is NOT on the pedal, when you press the clutch, it lets off the button. i assumed that was the clutch switch.</TD></TR></TABLE>I didn't have much luck with pictures of CRX pedals, but it's like this on my Integra...
There's a switch below the pivot, it kinda doubles as the stop for the pedal. That one cancels the cruise control, since it switches just as soon as the pedal begins moving.

The starter interlock switch is up higher, & it doesn't switch until the pedal is pretty much all the way down.

If you can get to the ignition switch, you can check it with an ohm-meter.

 

i just tried switching the ignition switch/relay, whatever. the thing in the pictures i put up, and that made no difference. i guess i should check the clutch switch again, and i'll look for the starter interlock switch.

 

well, gee whiz, what's this?

well, gee whiz, looks like i kicked the plug off of the clutch switch. good one, self
i'm looking through my EF helms, but i can't find where it is supposed to plug into. but the brake light switch plugs into a harness, and where this plug is, there are two cut wires. they are purple and red. should they be going to the clutch switch? and if so, how the hell have i been starting my car the past week if they have been cut? O_o

edit: it appears the cut wires can be seen in the pic. should they be going into that connector?

 

need some more help. i still haven't figured it out. the last thing i checked was the ignition switch. i switched it out with another one and with the same results. no cranking at all. i dont know where to go next. someone must have a couple ideas....

 

where did u get ur icon from??

 

I read back trying to remember what was already checked...

On the starter itself, there's a smaller wire, that's the signal from the ignition switch. Unplug that, check the wire with a voltmeter (vs. ground) when someone turns the key to 'start'. If that's getting (+) battery voltage, then we've been messing with the wrong stuff.

If that signal is OK, then either the starter itself IS bad, or the big power cables (+ & ground) to the starter aren't good.

If that signal is bad, then we've been trying to check out the right stuff... But I feel like I've been sorta in the dark without having a wiring drawing for a CRX.
- Is there a fuse or a relay in that starter signal circuit?