I figured someone on this board could tell me what’s wrong, before I tow it to a shop, to get screwed for not knowing anything about cars.

Here's what happens.
I sit in the car, turn the key and I hear a "Click", Not the mechanical noise from actually turning the key, but a "click" from apparently under the hood or behind the steering column.
It sounds almost like a relay or something just isn’t working.

The starter doesn’t budge... it doesn’t turn over even once nor does it respond at all, it’s like the electric current isn’t even making it to the starter.

I turn the key again.... "Click" [I] (sounds like taking a screwdriver and lightly taping it against something metal) [/I]

I turn the key again.... and the car starts! ... ?

this started happening last week, every time I get to the car, I have to turn the key like 3 or even 15 times like "Click" "Click" "Click" "Click" "Click" "Click" "Start"

And when it starts....it does so as if nothing was ever wrong.... like... it doesn’t churn over poorly a few times then catch up... It just starts.

Anyway, todays payday.. so for the most part... i need to decide weather to spend the weekend trying to fix it myself.. with the help of friends, or if i should just take it to a shop.

9/29/2006 8:49:43 AM

have you tried geting a jump start?

9/29/2006 9:09:06 AM

Check the connections to the battery. Clean if needed. You might even try replacing the metal connectors. Cheap to do, so it won't be a big waste of money if that's not the problem. My car did the same thing. One of the connectors wasn't carrying a charge.

9/29/2006 9:26:53 AM

cleaning and checking the terminals is a good idea, the starter/solenoid on the starter may be going bad

9/29/2006 9:31:22 AM

Go get the starter checked.

[Edited on September 29, 2006 at 9:55 AM. Reason : need to learn to read.]

9/29/2006 9:55:16 AM

if its not the battery, then its more than likely the starter.... my car was doing the exact same thing and just got it fixed... costed around $50 to get the starter rebuilt works great now(at least for a 1996 isuzu)

9/29/2006 9:56:53 AM

The starter will make a repeated clicking sound when the battery is dying. Get a new battery. Don't replace your starter that's not the problem. Get a jump, drive to autozone, buy a new battery.

9/29/2006 10:00:08 AM

or the battery could be losing charge cause the alternator is not working properly...

9/29/2006 10:15:02 AM

Get advance to check the battery for ya, they'll check the load to see if its that. If its fine then get the starter replaced.

9/29/2006 10:38:47 AM

Quote :

"The starter will make a repeated clicking sound when the battery is dying. Get a new battery. Don't replace your starter that's not the problem. Get a jump, drive to autozone, buy a new battery. "

What kind of scrotesticular bullshit is this?

A single click from a Honda's starter indicates the usual Nippondenso starter solenoid contact wear.

Honda used both Mitsuba and Nippondenso starters. And quite a few of us here are VERY familiar with the Nippondenso starter and its primary mode of failure. I'd bet a dozen creme fille donuts on this.

Is the car automatic or manual?

[Edited on September 29, 2006 at 10:55 AM. Reason : auto or manual]

9/29/2006 10:53:31 AM

Its a Manual.. But i dont think its the battery... i'll check though.. im suprised i didnt think about that.

So if the terminals are connected tight, and there is no major corrosion; then its the starter.

i dont think its the battery, because when i do sit there, attemting to start the car, if the air conditioner is on.. the fan kicks in and stays on pretty strong during the whole process. it doesnt weaken or strain when the "click" happens.. . or at least not untill like the 20th time..

9/29/2006 11:12:51 AM

i bet fiddy cents that mofo will jumpstart and its the battery

[Edited on September 29, 2006 at 11:18 AM. Reason : t]

9/29/2006 11:18:43 AM

Up that to a dolla, and I'll take that bet. Hell, I'll put a ten-spot on it NOT being the battery.

9/29/2006 11:22:30 AM

whatchu got on my donuts homie?

9/29/2006 11:37:25 AM

Bad Battery = repeated clicks
Bad Starter = one click

In your case, it's the starter.

I was in this same situation last week. I just rebuilt the starter in my GSR for a whopping $24 total.

You can buy the rebuild kit from Toyota, since they use the same starters as Honda, and the Honda dealership doesn't sell the kit.

Toyota Part #'s:
1. #28226-74070
2. #28226-64370


Edit: and the fact that your car starts up randomly even more suggests it's the starter. They go bad gradually. This wouldn't be the case with a bad battery, so i'm with zxappeal; it won't start with jumpers.

[Edited on September 29, 2006 at 12:06 PM. Reason : .]

9/29/2006 12:04:20 PM

why is everyone's damn solution to a no start jumping it? jesus christ

put a volt meter directly on the battery terminals and try to start it, if it starts or not and you have 11.5 volts plus, then the battery is ok, move to the terminals connected to the battery, should be 11.5+, try to start it, if it drops to 5 or so, its corrosion on the terminals. if all else looks good, then the contacts on the starter are shot

9/29/2006 1:06:16 PM

Thanks alot for the information. i can definitely make a more informed decision..
i guess i'll be under the car all weekend.

9/29/2006 1:42:42 PM

lmao looks like someone else had the same exact problem
http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1318816&page=1

9/29/2006 1:44:41 PM

I've been replacing the contacts in Nippondenso starters (which the manual tranny cars have; the automatics are Mitsuba) for over 12 years. I feel very confident that the contacts are your problem, just like you've found on the Honda tech site there.

World Pac has these parts in stock here in the Triangle; if you can't get to the Toyota dealer or they don't have them, you can go to any Car Quest or T-Hoff and have them look up the parts for something like a Toyota Camry or such. There are different Denso solenoid kits and contacts, but those are fairly universal.

You can also look up WorldPac's parts numbers online and take that with you to T-Hoff and/or Car Quest.

9/29/2006 2:00:56 PM

starter.

9/29/2006 4:37:14 PM

starter if not battery

9/29/2006 4:37:23 PM

solenoid

9/29/2006 5:12:31 PM

flux capacitor

9/30/2006 11:28:54 AM

hey jamerson, what are you doing, running a honda repair shop or something and getting paid from tww's advice on how to fix the shit? i know you don't own all these fucking hondas. and if you do, what are you doing to them to have all these problems? i think some credit or cash is due somewhere.

http://www.thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=410390
http://www.thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=409477
http://www.thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=388916
http://www.thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=381819
http://www.thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=379470
http://www.thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=367119

[Edited on September 30, 2006 at 1:31 PM. Reason : -]

9/30/2006 1:29:04 PM

Quote :

"03 Civic wont start "

it's probably better that way

9/30/2006 1:55:41 PM

^^it's just a 93 accord, and a civic.

9/30/2006 4:08:46 PM