Engine will not turnover is the starter bad?

Tiny
TRICKER19
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 HONDA CIVIC
  • 7,000 MILES
All electrical will come on and battery test was sat. But car will not turnover it will click like a relay issue
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Friday, December 7th, 2012 AT 12:14 AM

28 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
If you are only getting a click when trying to start it, chances are the battery is too weak to start the engine. 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.
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Friday, December 7th, 2012 AT 12:19 AM
Tiny
TRICKER19
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I thought so to but the battery is new and is putting out 12.6 when off
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Friday, December 7th, 2012 AT 12:53 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
Have you checked all connections including the ground to the engine block? Are the battery terminals clean and tight?
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Friday, December 7th, 2012 AT 12:55 AM
Tiny
TRICKER19
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Battery is clean and tight and I will check the ground to the block but I think that is fine to, now it will jump start with no problem does that help narrow things down could it be the starter even though it will jump
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Friday, December 7th, 2012 AT 1:02 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
Check the ground first. Then check to see if you are getting 12v of power to the starter. Have a helper turn the key to the start position while you check for voltage at the smaller wire on the starter.
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Friday, December 7th, 2012 AT 1:05 AM
Tiny
TRICKER19
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Ok im will check the ground and the power to the starter in on postion. If im am not getting the 12v to the starter that is my problem and I thank you, now the car will run fine once started by jump, I am assuming that the power out put from the battery isnt right, I will check the CCA, I have heard of good volts and bad CCA is that a possibility
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Friday, December 7th, 2012 AT 1:13 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
Usually the two work together, but if you have low CCA, the engine won't start. When you check the starter, have a friend turn the key to the start position.

Let me know what you find.
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Friday, December 7th, 2012 AT 1:19 AM
Tiny
TRICKER19
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thank you so much for your help I found out the starter was bad from the guide you posted.
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Friday, December 7th, 2012 AT 1:21 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,005 POSTS
Sounds good. Thanks for using 2Carpros
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Friday, December 7th, 2012 AT 1:29 AM
Tiny
KAP123
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140,000 MILES
1994 honda civic, car won't start, takes a jump, battery showed only 25% power, sitting for 24 hours. Replaced battery car still will not start, checked all fuses, all lights lite when key is in the starting position, but nothing happens slight hum is it's only response to starting and oh yea alarm is set off. I believe it to be after manufacture installed, may or may not have an anti theft system.
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:59 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Have the starter tested. Disconnect the starter solenoid wires and apply battery voltage to terminal to test if starter cranks.

Ensure all ground circuit connections and cables are clean and tight from the battery.
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:59 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HOWARD_CHAD
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 210,700 MILES
Hi, I have a 1994 Honda Civic Ex and it won't start. It makes a clicking noise whenever I turn the key. This has been an ongoing problem when I get in the car I have to try several times before the car will actually start, but today it just won't. The battery is not dead, it has just gradually gotten harder and harder to start the car and the clicking noise has gotten worse. Do you know what might be causing this?
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:59 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CWATTER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
If the Battery is strong you may have a problem with the starter solenoid. The battery activates the solenoid which kicks the spinning starter gear onto the flywheel gears which then turn the crankshaft until the engine begins to run on its own.
You can replace the solenoid or both solenoid and starter. But be sure to make sure it isn't a weak battery first.
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:59 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SAND_ALWD
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 HONDA CIVIC
Whenever I turn my 1994 honda civic dx off; then when I go to start it back up it sometimes will not start or it will start then cut out. It will cut out like if you have the car in 1st gear and let off the cluth I let the car sit for a few minutes and it will start back up. I recently replaced the starter and I had the battery and alternator check out and that is not the problem.
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 12:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LUIS LOPEZ
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Hey friend, I had some problems with my 92 civic DX
too. Some months ago. I am not mechanic but I did my research and I have some knowledge.

And the same stuff that you described has happened to me during that time. I also thought it was was the starter or the battery but I did my checking and they weren't. Get a voltmeter and check for current.

I did some research and I found that my main relay was bad. ( Lets say you go to the store for like 5 minutes, then come out but the honda doesn't start. When you are turning the car up. Try to tap the main relay to cause vibrations on it. And see if that car starts, then if it does, when you turn the key to -start you should hear 1 click, then you should hear the fuel pump running, and at the same time it stops running you should hear another click. And the third click should be hear after you start the car.

If you do not hear the first or second click then it is problably the relay.

And even if it is not then you should resolder it anyways because it is a common problem with the civics and is likely to fail sooner or later.

Check the website that I gave you and check all the info. (Soldering the relay is easy, ( I did it with a 1 dollar solder iron) just focus on the job.

And if you mess it up then you can buy one off ebay for like 8 bucks. After I re-soldered it my car starts everytime.
Let me know if it fixes your problem.

Good luck.
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 12:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GMCRAMMIT
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
  • 1994 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 158,000 MILES
I went to start my car yesterday evening and it wouldn't start. It was like trying to start the car without pressing in the clutch - instrument lights were on, radio was on, lights on a/c were on but no cranking noise, nothing. Just the fuel pump kicking on. The only way I got it to run was to get it rolling and popping the clutch. Is it possible there is not enough "juice" in the battery to start the car? Or do I have a bad starter/solenoid and how can I tell which one is bad (starter or solenoid).

Thank you for your time!
Greg
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 12:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Hi Greg,

To isolated it from starter or battery, the best way is to jump start it. If jump starting cranks well, you can rule out starter and from there you need to check for bad connections or battery.
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 12:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GMCRAMMIT
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Thanks for your reply. I tried a new battery and still no cranking noise - nothing. Pulled the starter off and had it tested at local auto parts store and it PASSED. When I pop the clutch to get the car running, and I turn the key like I was going to start it, there is also no noise. I know my Chevy let's out a real loud noise, not sure with Honda's. Any ideas on what else it could be?

Thanks,
Greg
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 12:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GMCRAMMIT
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Figured it out - clutch switch. Thanks for the responses/suggestions.
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 12:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PIAZZA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 HONDA CIVIC
Engine Performance problem
1994 Honda Civic 4 cyl Manual

replaced battery, 80A Fuse for battery, but the engine still does not turn over Drove it for a few weeks then it would not start the next day, but notice the clock had stop for a little while. Help
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 12:00 PM (Merged)

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