Here is the situation I'm having with my 89 Crx si.

Sometimes the car starts, sometimes it doesn't.

When I turn the key, all I hear is the fuel pump and a click from the main relay. That's it. The Starter doesn't do anything.

I have already taken the stater out and got it tested at 3 different places, all of which tested ok.

I have checked all my grounds for corrosion and/or bad connection.
All is good.

I do not think it is the battery, becuase I have power.

My ECU is not throwing any codes.

So, basically, I seem to think that this is something having to do with the ignition switch. I have yet to test it with an ohm meter(that's next)

Does anyone think it may be something else? Could the Dizzy be at fault here?
Can anyone give me some further suggestions to my problem, or at least confirm that it is probably the ignition switch.

Thank You!

 

Do you get battery voltage at the little wire to the starter (when you turn the key to 'start')? If you do, then the ignition switch is doing it's job.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda Virgin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Does anyone think it may be something else? </TD></TR></TABLE>
Does it have a clutch interlock switch?

 

Are you refering to the smaller wire with the female connector. I'll have to use an Ohm meter on that cable to see if it is deliverying power. I would like to say yes, but only the Ohm meter will know. I'll check when I get home. That's a very good way to tell if the ignition switch is working!! Thank You!!!!

As for the Clutch Interlock Switch, I am fairly certain their is one, because one of the 1st things I tried to do when I got the car was to see if it would start without the clutch engaged, and it didn't. So, How do I find out for certain? Can I find it by simply tracing the wires by the clutch pedal? What does it look like? Thanks for that suggestion!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda Virgin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
As for the Clutch Interlock Switch, I am fairly certain their is one, because one of the 1st things I tried to do when I got the car was to see if it would start without the clutch engaged, and it didn't. So, How do I find out for certain? Can I find it by simply tracing the wires by the clutch pedal? What does it look like? Thanks for that suggestion!

</TD></TR></TABLE>
See if your getting power at the starter signal wire first. Use a volt meter, not an ohm meter.

 

ok. I tested the power wire going to the Starter(the smaller one with the female connector) with a Volt Meter.
It tested good, a little under 12 volts.

Now I am really confused.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda Virgin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ok. I tested the power wire going to the Starter(the smaller one with the female connector) with a Volt Meter.
It tested good, a little under 12 volts.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
So your ignition switch is good then. And your starter has been tested as good? Are your battery cable connections clean and tight, both ends? It doesn't start at all?

 

Yes. It is really sad.
My battery connections are clean. no corrosion. they are tight, but not too tight.
no start. just a noise from the fuel pump, and a click from the main relay.

the first time I had this problem, I took out the starter, got it tested, then came to the conclusion that the smaller wire going to the starter wasn't making a full connection. So after putting the starter back in, and hooking the wire up snuggly, the car started.

The next time I had this problem, moving that wire didn't do anything. So then I went the ignition switch. One of the two wires from the ignition switch goes to the fuse box. I unplugged it, then tried to start with it unplugged. Obviously nothing happened, as there was no power. So I plugged it back in, and then tried to start the car. And it started.

This time, none of that s**t is working.

What else could be the cause of this problem?
I can still push start the car, but that doesn't do any good unless I plan to push the car everytime I want to go somewhere.


Is there something I am over looking? Should I check anything else again?


Modified by Honda Virgin at 8:55 PM 7/8/2004

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda Virgin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I can still jump start the car, </TD></TR></TABLE>
Have you tried a good battery?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda Virgin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... I can still jump start the car...</TD></TR></TABLE>That kinda nails it as a bad battery.

 

OK.

Just put in a new battery................Nothing.

Click from Main Relay, and noise from Fuel Pump.

No turn over. Nothing.

Anybody???

 

The main relay is a common fault in CRX's...but if it's clicking as usual then I guess it's fine? I'm curious to know what the hell the problem is here, free bump for you.

 

What is the voltage at the starter cable (from the battery)? What about when you try starting it?

 

Today I introduced the butt of my screw driver to the starter.

Then the car started.

I then turned it off and tried to start it again.

No start.

So I banged the starter a little again with the butt of the screw driver.

It Started!!!

So, it must be THE STARTER.

Can anyone explain how it tested OK at 3 different shops, even though it seems to not be OK?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda Virgin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... I can still jump start the car...</TD></TR></TABLE>So that time, you probably didn't bang on the starter. That's strange. Turned out to be misleading, too.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda Virgin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can anyone explain how it tested OK at 3 different shops, even though it seems to not be OK?</TD></TR></TABLE>When you take it out & carry it to the shop, maybe that's enough shaking so it works once? Still kinda strange. Hope that finally fixes it.

 

Well it does seem that something is jammed or loose or something. Because that banging the starter seemed to loosen something, as well as push starting the car.

I'm not sure, but I think this happens when there is heat in the engine bay.

My question now is what kind of things could be wrong with the starter?

Could it be that something inside the starter is getting bound up from the heat, causing expansion.

Or is it possible that the bushings inside the starter are going bad, thereby causing a lack of continuity.

Or could it be some electrical wire inside the starter that is coming loose or not making complete contact.

ANY THOUGHTS????


Modified by Honda Virgin at 8:56 PM 7/8/2004

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda Virgin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ANY THOUGHTS????</TD></TR></TABLE>

Replace it.

 

Nice.
Plain,
Simple,
to the point,

I'm going to do just that.

Just trying to learn any thing I can about starters, or honda's for that matter.

ANY INFO??

 

Sometimes the contacts in the starter solenoid get corroded, pitted, don't make good contact any more.

Sometimes the carbon brushes in the motor itself get worn down, or even get so dirty they don't make good contact.

I've taken a starter apart to replace brushes, it's not all that hard. But it reminds me of the joke: You know you're an engineer if you spend 3 hours trying to fix a $5 radio...

 

Alright!

Put in new starter this weekend. So far car is working fine.

Thank you everyone for your help and info!!

I learned a lot