Why wont my engine turnover at all?

Tiny
NROYALP
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 17,500 MILES
Why wont my car turnover at all, I checked fuses, tried jumping it. And nothing, no clicking sound, nothing. All auxillary power seems to be ok, radio, windows, lights., But when I turn my key. Nothing happens. What is the problem. Starter, Battery?
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 AT 12:11 PM

26 Replies

Tiny
F4I_GUY
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,302 POSTS
Check the main power wire (with the nut) to the starter. That should have constant battery voltage. Now, crank the vehicle, the other terminal on the starter should have battery voltage as well. If it does, you have a faulty starter (assuming the ground cables are in good condition)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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Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 AT 5:59 PM
Tiny
JOPIVE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1997 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 135,000 MILES
Hey guys I have 97 civic 5 speed the problem is that the car runs for 20 min. And starts to run bad like to much gas but it does not run rich if I hit the gas to 3500 rpm the engine shoots off and wont start at all starter not working at all til next morning starts fine & runs 20 min. And does same thing I check every thing it gets fuel, spark but starter wont work at all please help
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check battery, connections, clutch switch, starter relay, starter itself and ignition switch
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JOPIVE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thanks for the answer but already did that & it's getting full power to everything clutch switch works fine relay good starter good ign. Switch good anyway forgot to say was rainy day & hit huge puddle. Water got every were car cut off. The car did start but run rough &cut off again I did try to start back up couldn't do it so push to shoulder of road & came back next morning & car start right up &ran for 20 min. & Car wont start, starter does not turn at all & does same thing every time since. I hope this helps thanks
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Here's the starter circuit:


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/12900_starter_circuit_12.jpg

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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JOHNLIVINGSTON79
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1997 HONDA CIVIC
Engine Mechanical problem
1997 Honda Civic 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Manual

Drove to work, turned off car, tried to start back up and won't turn over. Push started it to get home. Have power to everything, lights, dash, a/c, radio. Checked the clutch switch under dash by the clutch seems to be working. Used wire to jump the starter with key in on position and started right up. Never had a problem starting before. Checked the ignition switch fuse and the starter fuse both are good. When I turn the ignition key to the start position the lights on the dash do not go off like they normally would when trying to crank. Please help.
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
F4I_GUY
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,302 POSTS
On the starter motor there are two wires. The larger wire should have battery voltage. The female connector should have voltage when the key is in the crank position.

If that checks out, use jumper cables and ground out the starter to the chassis and try starting the vehicle. The ground cable on the transmission tends to corrode.
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+1
Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JOHNLIVINGSTON79
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Now the car won't even start while jumping the cylinoid. I can still make the starter turn over by running a hot wire straight to the cylinoid. That makes the cylinoid and the starter good. The plugs are getting power. The fuel pump is working. All fuses are good. I changed the ignition switch and it had no effect. Does anyone know about a starter cut relay, could this be the problem with the ignition not make the cylinoid work? When I turn the ignition to the crank position nothing happens. The ignition is sending a signal, but the cylinoid never gets the message. What is there between the ignition switch and the cylinoid?
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JAVILOCO22
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 120,000 MILES
I was instaling a radio and a couple fuses poped. The radio was installed and everything electircal works in the car. When you put the key in the ignition it makes the noise and you turn the key and the ignition rellay makes a click but no start sound or attempt to start happends the car its like if the battery was dead but all the electrical parts work. What can be the problem?
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi javiloco22,

A weak battery would allow electrical componnts to be operated except the starter which requires a high capacity discharge to crank it. Try jump starting to see if it works.
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:48 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JONDERRY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1996 HONDA CIVIC
I was starting my car this morning, and the first time I turned the key, everything seemed normal for about a second (sounded like there was plenty of power, and the engine turned over a few times). I let off on the key and the starter buzzed briefly and the engine stopped running.

Repeated attempts to start my car after that were unsuccessful. Turning the key only resulted in a buzzing sound. The buzzing sound is similar to or the same as the sound that occurs when you turn the ignition when the car is already on.

What could the problem be, and what should I do?
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,548 POSTS
Start by checking the fuse and fuseable links, If OK, then remove and clean battery connections.
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
There is a difference between a grinding noise like the engine is already running and a fast clicking that would indicate a low voltage reaching the starter problem. Check all you cable and ground connections if it's the clicking your getting. If it's the grinding, then you likely have a bad starter.
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JONDERRY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I just checked it again, and it's actually not the same as when the engine is on. It's not clicking either. This time, the engine was sort of turning over, but not very orderly. I don't think it's due to lack of power because I know what a weak, struggling battery sounds like.

I took a short video (with audio) of it. Is there a way to get that up here?
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JONDERRY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
. The way I would describe it is that it sounds exactly like when it starts normally, except instead of the pulsing "duht-duht-duht" sound that becomes higher pitched until the engine fires, it more just a continuous sound that reaches a high pitch (the same pitch that is reached when the car starts normally), but it doesn't go "duht-duht-duht" when it reaches the starter reaches that high pitch.
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TPETRELLIFL
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1996 HONDA CIVIC
1996 Honda Civic 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive 18000 miles stick

battery ok starter ok everything else works! Starter will not work.
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,371 POSTS
Clicking noise? Nothing?

Check starter relay, fuse, neutral safety switch and the ignition switch.
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TPETRELLIFL
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Found out bad starter!
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,371 POSTS
Good job!

Ty for posting back and glad to here it was a pretty simple thing causing this!
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HONDACIVIC023
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 135,000 MILES
My car has been acting weird the Lights go of and on if I jiggle the battery wires I had to jump it to get home from work the other day. On the way home from work when I got of the interstate and stoped at the light my car just stalled out on me. I had to push it to the side of the road and it took about 10 minutes to get it started it again after jiggling the battery cables around. Which caused the emergency lights to go off and on. When I got home I tighten the battery cables and shut my car off and started up again it started up fine no problems drove around the block for 15 minutes no problems. Next day went to start it up again it doesn't start up so I jumped it again it started up, but this time when I shut it off and tried to restart it didn't. So I took my battery in to an auto parts store to get tested they told me the battery was fine. Is it my alternator that's acting up please help.

Hondacivic023
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Monday, January 4th, 2021 AT 11:49 AM (Merged)

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