My starter wont turn the engine over?

The battery will not recharge efficiently if that cable is loose. Chances are that is all that is wrong, but now the battery will need to be recharged after fixing the loose cable. To test the charging system, use an inexpensive digital voltmeter to measure battery voltage while the engine is running. It must be between 13.75 and 14.75 volts. If it stays near 12.6 volts, the generator is not working. These guides can help us fix it

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

Please run down these guides and report back.

I have a 93 honda civic ex coupe....all of a sudden it wont start...no spark no nothing...when i turn the key it doesnt try to turn over or anything anymore first it tried to turn over now it just click click and thats it can some one help me here and tell me whats wrong with my car...the lights come on when i try to start but no spark no churn no nothing just click click and thats it usually starts after a jump but this time the jump didnt work...could it still be the battery....they battery is used and its been in the car since 2007....

Try checking for loose connections. Check fuses also.

If that all checks out, put a voltmeter on the battery. It should be 12-12.6V. You may also check to see if you are getting battery voltage down to the starter and the "s wire" on the starter. This is the smaller wire. You should have power there when the vehicle is being cranked.

everything works electrically interior, and exterior,(lights,radio,etc.) no starter action when key is turned. I would appreciate even one or two places to start a diagnosis. Thanks.

Even with everything being able to function a poor battery connection will not allow juice enough to allow the starter to operate. Start by cleaning the connections to the battery and make sure they are tight as well.

Hello,
I attempted to start my car the other morning and when I turned the key all the lights lit up but no noise from my car. When I turn the key all the dash lights come on, headlights work, but no noise from my engine, not even a click. I attempted to jump off the starter and it began to spin, but didn't engage the motor, it only produced a loud whining noise. I had battery tested and charged, and it checked out fine. I checked all battery and starter cables for good connections, and they were fine. Still no response from engine when I turn the key. What is the problem, because otherwise this car runs like a sewing machine with no problems. Thanks.

Inspect and test the starter cut relay, clutch switch and ignition switch

I checked all the mentioned parts and they all checked out, but while inspecting the clutch switch I noticed that the rubber grommet in the clutch pedal that is supposed to engage and disengage the clutch switch when depressed was missing. I also had one missing in my brake pedal, which would explain why my brake lights were staying on and draining my battery. Instead of putting rubber grommets back though I put metal pieces in there to engage both switches. My car started right up with no problems. Thanks for the direction.

Engine Mechanical problem
1992 Honda Civic Two Wheel Drive Manual 114000 miles

I have a 92 Honda Civic DX that will not turn over. Before I get into it, could it be the starter, clutch safety switch or igition switch? The car has power and the lights work but nothing happens when you turn the key and try to start it?
Where should I start?

Thank you,
Randy

Hi Randy,

Start by testing the battery. It must have more than 12 V. Lights might work but for the starter to crank, more power is required.

Next check the starter. Check the starter solenoid wire to see it it is secured. If yes, disconnect the wire and attach a remote wire to the soleanoid terminal. If applying voltage to the wire cranks the starter, it is OK.

Check power supply to starter solenoid. Attach a test lamp to the disconnected wire from the starter solenoid. Get an assistant to turn the ignition switch and see if power is available.

I checked the battery and voltage and no issues. I checked the starter soleniod wire and it was loose. I reconnected it and the car started!
You guys nailed it!

Glad that you have solved the problem.

Have a nice day.

Tnhank you for using 2carpros

I recently had a problem with my car starting. I got in and turned the key with the clutch depressed, as normal, and the starter sounded as if it spun up, but failed to engage the flywheel.

I took the starter out of my car and got it checked at a local auto parts store, where it performed like normal, the bendix kicking out, the unit drawing 110 amps, all kinds of spinning.

I should note that I changed the clutch about 6 months ago.

Any thoughts about what I should check next?

If the start is internally winding but not engaging, either the starter needs to be replaced or the flywheel ring gear has been chewed up or is missing teeth.

i just replaced battery and positive cable and main fuse in engine compartment got the car started and drove to get gas and returned home w/o any problem. I let the car run for approximately 30min then turned it off. I can't restart it now but the lights in the dash and all other lights also work, but the starter won 't click or make any sound or turn over. I'm thinking that this could be an alternator problem or relay........ Help!

Hi there,

First thing is to make sure that the battery terminals are tight, check the starter main cable is tight. Pull the small wire off the starter solinoid and check that there is 12V there when you have the key on crank, If so starter is the problem, if not, check starter relay and main engine fuse

Mark (mhpautos)

I have a 1990 Honda Civic Hatchback DX 4 speed manual. THis car has a bout 240,000 miles on it and when i bought it it ran like a dream with no problems but the battery would run dry if i left the terminals on the battery overnight. after a while the car had other electrical problems by the car not wanting to give full power when i turnd on the head lights and after a lil while of that happing it just wouldnt turn over. All the dash ligghts come on when i trun the key and i mean all of them and none will shut off.. i can turn and hold the key over and about every ten seconds the motor will crank a bout half but just stop. i left it sit for about a month and just decided to try to start it agian and it started right up but about 1 minut later and it had the same problem agian.. what is wrong with my honda i have never experianced this problem b4. the alternator must be good since it keeps the battery charged as long as i take off the turminals when the car is not running. and i have check all main fuses and nothing so please help..

Hi honda_man18,

You should check the alternator charging rate to confirm if it is within specs.

The next thing to check would be the ignition switch.

If the battery is draining off, it could possibly be a faulty relay that remains stuck after being switched off. You need to do a parasitic drain test to confirm this.

I've got a 1990 Honda Civic LX 's that won't start in my drive-way. When I turn the ignition to the first stage, all electrics are functioning (headlights, interior lights and switches, radio, everything...), but when I turn the key to start the engine nothing happens. It doesn't even attempt to turn over, there is only a single clicking sound coming from under the hood. I tried getting a jump from my friend's car thinking maybe the battery didn't have enough juice, but didn't help. Same problem with the single click. While holding the key at the second stage, attempting to start the engine, there's an extremely faint buzzing sound, that then stops when I stop trying to turn on the engine.

It sounds like a starter motor problem. The clicking you hear is the starter solenoid trying to engage. Run some tests on the starter motor, if found faulty, replace it.

Hi KEN SASAOKA, Yes, sometimes fuel pumps works intermittnetly just before they completely fails and it can be over a long period. There is a main relay which can fail intermittently as well. Check the circuit board for cracks on solders and resoldering them should solve the problem.

The battery is fully charged but when i turn the key it acts like there isnt enough of a charge to turn the engine over.

Load test the battery, starter and double check connections-

could you explain a little bit more. ive checked the connections and the battery is charged, but now it wont even make a clicking noise when i turn the key

Most parts store can load test your battery for free, the voltage looks pretty after its charged but when a load is applied and drops below 9.6 its no good-Have the battery tested

ok so i took the battery to auto zone. it wouldnt test because the charge was to low. they charged the battery for an hour and after the charge it tested ok. once i got home and put the battery back in my car it turned the ignition and all i got was about 5-6 slow cranks and then it would not turn over at all. should i have charged the battery longer?

The battery should have been changed instead of having to go through this problem/inconvenience.

Here is some info on this process. Not only do we need to test the battery but the alternator as well. The worst thing is when we replace the battery and the new one is drained as well because the alternator was the issue all along.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

Let us know if there are other questions. Thanks