Wagon wont start

ee4wagoonee4wagoon Wagonist
in Engine & Drivetrain
i have a brand new battery and battery termnials, not a new started but one that works for sure.

u turn my key and all the lights turn on and radio work but is very dim.

i turn my key again to start the car and nothing happens. all my lights turn off and it does absoultly nothing just a couple clicks and the clicks are very quite.

can any one tel me whats wrong?

thanks justin

Comments

  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    First thing to check would be the connections at the battery cables AT BOTH ENDS. Check where the pos. goes to the starter, and make sure that the neg is grounded to the body AND the engine.
  • ee4wagoonee4wagoon Wagonist
    okay going to do that noww
  • ee4wagoonee4wagoon Wagonist
    the ground wire to the tranny looks like shit its supre crumby

    and the one to the starter looks okay its on pretty good
  • clarkw23clarkw23 Band Wagon
    Have you load tested the battery? I sell batteries alot at work. if they spend too long on the shelf they go junk. would have some juice for lights but no cca for starting
  • FejFej Wagonist
    I'd check the main relay, a common issue on EF's. I'd imagine that if you are getting power the battery should be fine, but I could be wrong.
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    Yeah I would say if your battery cables are all hooked up, and the battery is good then you have three likely culprits...... the main relay, the clutch engagement switch, and the ignition switch.

    The main relay is a black box that is underneath the driver's side dashboard. It is a pain in the ass to get to, but it is a common problem in older Hondas. The solder joints eventually weaken from thermal expansion/contraction over time and create a sometimes intermittent problem where the car will not start. If you can get to it, hold it in your hand and put the key in the ignition. When you turn the key to the "ON" position you SHOULD feel the relay click (it actually clicks twice really quickly, but you might not be able to tell). Then if you turn the key to the "START" position, you should feel it click again. If you can't feel the clicking, that's bad. Also when you turn the key to the "ON" position you should hear the fuel pump come on for about two seconds to prime the fuel system; it should also come on when the key is moved to the "START" position. A bad main relay can cause the fuel pump not to prime when the key is in the "ON" position and cause it not to come on in the "START" position also. So if your relay doesn't make those clicks at the right time, it is most likely bad. BUT, the relay not clicking can also represent a problem with the ignition switch.

    To test the ignition switch you have to check for continuity between various wires on the switch when the switch is in certain positions. Refer to the image below.

    To check the clutch switch, get a flashlight and crawl up under the dash on the driver's side. Follow the clutch pedal up past it's pivot point and you should find the switch. It's just a spring loaded push button. Push the button in with your finger and see if you can start the car with the button fully depressed. If so, the rubber bumper on the clutch pedal (that pushes on the button) may have deteriorated and broken. If it has, there will just be metal and a little hole on the clutch pedal where it meets the switch. Also check the wiring on the switch.

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  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    and make sure your drivers door is shut all the way, the auto seatbelts not actuation because the door is still open will make your car have the same symptom.... pissed me off so bad one time until I got out and got back in and it worked haha
  • ALLWHEELDRIVEALLWHEELDRIVE Wagonist
    if the battery is good and the main relay was bad it doesnt go queit after a few tries to start it. so im betting its something else i would check the battery then alternator.
  • rti intracrti intrac Senior Wagonist
    I doubt it will be a main relay problem. that does not control the starter.

    Easy way to check it its a earth problem. Get some jumper cables and connect from the battery earth terminal to the block or handy point on the engine gearbox. If it goes you have a earth problem
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