97 accord stick-no start?

Updates:

Battery is great, alternator kicks out 14.5. Problem
is unrelated to temperature or duration of inactivity.
Can happen first thing in the morning, or after a
drive during the middle of the day. May not happen
at all.

This is a 97 accord. In 2004 it had (they tell me!) a
new ignition switch replaced as a recall.

Anyhow -- sometimes when I go to start it, all I get
is the solenoid click. No turnover at all.

But if I repeatedly flap the key to Off then start,
again and again quickly, the starter turns over and
the engine starts.

Now .. I ask you .. is this the ignition switch or
the starter solenoid????

nick

nick wrote:
> Updates:
>
> Battery is great, alternator kicks out 14.5. Problem
> is unrelated to temperature or duration of inactivity.
> Can happen first thing in the morning, or after a
> drive during the middle of the day. May not happen
> at all.
>
> This is a 97 accord. In 2004 it had (they tell me!) a
> new ignition switch replaced as a recall.
>
> Anyhow -- sometimes when I go to start it, all I get
> is the solenoid click. No turnover at all.
>
> But if I repeatedly flap the key to Off then start,
> again and again quickly, the starter turns over and
> the engine starts.
>
> Now .. I ask you .. is this the ignition switch or
> the starter solenoid????
>
> nick

-------------------------

It's the contacts on the solenoid. They're replacable per the link I
already provided. You don't have a no-start problem . . you have a
no-turn problem. Nothing to do with the ignition switch since you always
here it click at the starter.

'Curly'

motsco_ wrote:
> nick wrote:
>
>> Updates:
>>
>> Battery is great, alternator kicks out 14.5. Problem
>> is unrelated to temperature or duration of inactivity.
>> Can happen first thing in the morning, or after a
>> drive during the middle of the day. May not happen
>> at all.
>>
>> This is a 97 accord. In 2004 it had (they tell me!) a
>> new ignition switch replaced as a recall.
>>
>> Anyhow -- sometimes when I go to start it, all I get
>> is the solenoid click. No turnover at all.
>>
>> But if I repeatedly flap the key to Off then start,
>> again and again quickly, the starter turns over and
>> the engine starts.
>>
>> Now .. I ask you .. is this the ignition switch or
>> the starter solenoid????
>>
>> nick
>
>
> -------------------------
>
> It's the contacts on the solenoid. They're replacable per the link I
> already provided. You don't have a no-start problem . . you have a
> no-turn problem. Nothing to do with the ignition switch since you always
> here it click at the starter.
>
> 'Curly'



Yep... I had an ol' '76 Civic that would do the same thing. I wacked
the starter with a jack handle for several months before having the
starter rebuilt..

JT

(I ain't cheeep, Ah's frugal!)

Grumpy AuContraire wrote:

>> It's the contacts on the solenoid. They're replacable per the link I
>> already provided. You don't have a no-start problem . . you have a
>> no-turn problem. Nothing to do with the ignition switch since you
>> always here it click at the starter.
>>
>> 'Curly'
>
> Yep... I had an ol' '76 Civic that would do the same thing. I wacked
> the starter with a jack handle for several months before having the
> starter rebuilt..
>
> JT
______________

.. . . . . Here's the link again. It involves a _HATCHET_ not a jack
handle. Same methodology:

http://www.hondasuv.com/members/showthread.php?t=20252&

Enjoy.

'Curly'

motsco_ wrote:
> Grumpy AuContraire wrote:
>
>>> It's the contacts on the solenoid. They're replacable per the link I
>>> already provided. You don't have a no-start problem . . you have a
>>> no-turn problem. Nothing to do with the ignition switch since you
>>> always here it click at the starter.
>>>
>>> 'Curly'
>>
>>
>> Yep... I had an ol' '76 Civic that would do the same thing. I wacked
>> the starter with a jack handle for several months before having the
>> starter rebuilt..
>>
>> JT
>
> ______________
>
> . . . . . Here's the link again. It involves a _HATCHET_ not a jack
> handle. Same methodology:
>
> http://www.hondasuv.com/members/showthread.php?t=20252&
>
> Enjoy.
>
> 'Curly'



Shades of Lizzy Borden??

<G>

JT

OK, used the hatchet trick and am convinced. I will
order a $25 solenoid kit. When I complete the order
online will they eventually ask me the model/year of
the car?

Also, how difficult is it to get at the bottom bolt
on the starter??

nick wrote:
> OK, used the hatchet trick and am convinced. I will
> order a $25 solenoid kit. When I complete the order
> online will they eventually ask me the model/year of
> the car?
>
> Also, how difficult is it to get at the bottom bolt
> on the starter??

-------------------------

If you need the hatchet, it's usually because the solenoid isn't getting
ground through the brushes / armature.

Read the thread again. I have edited it for clarity. If yours clicks,
but doesn't crank it is more likely the solenoid contacts mentioned by
the member 'Carbuff2'.

'Curly'

How difficult is it to get at the bottom bolt
on the starter?? I do a lot of wrenching on our
old MG, but all the bolts and nuts are pretty simple
to get to. How's the 97 Accord 4 cyl starter to get
off??

Yes, mine clicks. Loud. If I repeatedly flick the key
from OFF to III and back eventually the solenoid contacts
come together and it starts. So I am planning to
order the Nippondenso starter SOLENOID contact repair
kit WITH plunger. Izzat OK??

nick wrote:
> How difficult is it to get at the bottom bolt
> on the starter?? I do a lot of wrenching on our
> old MG, but all the bolts and nuts are pretty simple
> to get to. How's the 97 Accord 4 cyl starter to get
> off??
>
> Yes, mine clicks. Loud. If I repeatedly flick the key
> from OFF to III and back eventually the solenoid contacts
> come together and it starts. So I am planning to
> order the Nippondenso starter SOLENOID contact repair
> kit WITH plunger. Izzat OK??

---------------------

Yes, you've got it!

Mine needs to come out soon because I've got the noisy gears / bushing
that go EEeewww when I let go of the key.I can't say about the
difficulty cuz I've never done one on a Honda.

Look in there with a mirror and a good flashlight. Parts diagrams are at
www.slhondaparts.com but they rarely help for what you need to know.
Search www.tegger.com and see if there's anything about starter removal.

'Curly'

Hey Curly,

Starter is out -- howcum Honda uses two (2) different size bolts
to mount the starter??

Contacts in Solenoid are truly fried. Plunger bad too.

Trying to order kit online now.

Many thanks

nick