Starting issue

Oct 09, 2007 10 Replies

I have a 90 Acura Integra. Occasionally when I turn the key I get nothing. The starter does not click. It is very similar to when trying to start the car while it is in drive. I have recently changed the ignition switch, main relay, starter and fuel pump. These were all changed for other reason in the past 5 months. Any ideas? I was thinking it could be the switch around the gear selector, but I am not sure. Could it be a bad ignition switch? Anyway to test?



Thanks



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THe starter solenoid finds it's path to ground through the armature and brushes. Just tapping the side of the starter with a hammer will usually make your car start, since the brushes are burnt up / hanging up or sitting on a burnt part of the armature. You probably need your armature lathed / undercut, and your brushes replaced. If it makes the big 'CLICK', but does nothing, thats the contacts in your solenoid. Different symptoms.

Read all the way through this thread and follow the various links provided:

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'Curly'

provided:

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I just replace the starter and there is not a click. There is nothing. I am not saying that I could have purchased a bad starter. I bought a reconditioned one from NAPA. Sometimes it will start within a minute and sometime within a half an hour.

" snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@o3g2000hsb.googlegroups.com:

how's your battery? as far as the gear selector interlock,you could rig a bypass starter switch,see if your car cranks then.

innews: snipped-for-privacy@o3g2000hsb.googlegroups.com:

The battery is new. I will try to jumper the switch the next time this happens.

innews: snipped-for-privacy@o3g2000hsb.googlegroups.com:

The car is still having this issue. Sometimes the car will not start on the first turn and start the second and other times it will take about 30 minutes before the starter will engage. When I turn the key nothing clicks or turns only the dash lights light up. Any more ideas?

" snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@v29g2000prd.googlegroups.com:

can you trigger the starter solenoid directly(and crank the motor),using a bypass switch like mechanics use? That is what I meant by "bypassing the switch";bypassing the ignition switch(and any lockout switch,too) by applying 12V directly to the starter solenoid terminal. If you can't,then it's your new starter. If you can,then it's your ignition switch or the auto lockout switch. you could also meter the terminal to see if you get 12V to the solenoid when you try to crank the motor.(or use a test lamp)

I had to replace the solenoid contacts in my 94 Integra GS-R,they get eroded and make intermittent contact.Cost was $30 USD,much cheaper than replacing the whole starter. But at least I got a "click" when I turned the ignition switch to crank.

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The ignition switch sounds shot (but it could be an interlock too). Honda recalled about a billion of them a few years later, and a friend of mine had his go bad. I've had five of them replaced in the recall.

'Curly'

motsco_ wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com:

five on the same car?

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Nope, That would be a VW scenario, but I've owned five Hondas in that production range. Still have three of them. 'Curly'

Found the problem. There is a wire that activates the coil of the solenoid that runs between the solenoid and the starter. It was grounding out occasionally and not letting the coil energize so there was no click. It was just barely touching and when it cooled it did not create a ground and it worked. Thank you Jim for telling me to check the starter to see if it was getting proper voltage when starting.

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