Held down key too long and lost electrical power

RICKEY24MEC

MEMBER
2005 HONDA ACCORD
2.4L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
200,000 MILES

I have a bad starter which I plan to replace. I also has a ignition switch which is also in need of replacement. On a cold morning I went to tap the starter to get going like I had been for about a month, but this time it wouldn't do anything. Everything else worked fine. But after numerous attempts turning the key trying to start it, I held the key down too long then all power to instrument cluster, radio, windows, blower, and wipers just died. But, battery is new and headlights work, door chime, and dash illuminates when door is open. But everything else is not working.

1 Reply

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,580 POSTS

It sounds like the starter was drawing excess current and caused the failure. Because of the way it is wired the first thing I would do is check the connections at the battery and then at the end of the ground from the battery. Then the ground wire between the engine and chassis. One of them is the most likely issue. I would also have the battery tested, even though it is new it could have failed internally if the current was enough to melt one of the plate connections. Also this is a type of starter motor you don't tap as there are magnets glued inside it and tapping can easily break them and lock up the starter motor which is why I suspect it stopped working. Then once it was locked it drew as much current as it could until something failed. There is no fuse between the starter and the battery so that is where I would look first.