Car won't start - Clicking starter - loose ground?
06-05-2006, 02:00 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Car won't start - Clicking starter - loose ground?
So I parked my car yesterday, ran into Starbucks for 5 mins to score a drink, came back out and my car wouldn't start.
When I turn the key all the way, the starter clicks, and the relay clicks. When I turn the key to "on" I hear all kind of whines and hums, the dash lights flicker, the "open door" noise disappers, basically everything goes haywire.
-Battery is good (and fully charged)
-Starter is good
-Grounds are good (t-stat housing/chassis/tranny/valve cover)
-Main relay is good
-All fuses are good
What the hell happened? When I push start the car, it runs fine.
When I turn the key all the way, the starter clicks, and the relay clicks. When I turn the key to "on" I hear all kind of whines and hums, the dash lights flicker, the "open door" noise disappers, basically everything goes haywire.
-Battery is good (and fully charged)
-Starter is good
-Grounds are good (t-stat housing/chassis/tranny/valve cover)
-Main relay is good
-All fuses are good
What the hell happened? When I push start the car, it runs fine.
06-05-2006, 03:21 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Re: Car won't start - Clicking starter - loose ground? (Turbogixxer)
I know, but I'm stumped. It's a new battery with new terminals and the grounds are all aftermarket 4 gauge with gold terminals.
All I can think of is that it's not the negative side but the positive side. Where does the 12+ power go after it enters the underhood fuse box?
All I can think of is that it's not the negative side but the positive side. Where does the 12+ power go after it enters the underhood fuse box?
06-05-2006, 03:25 PM
#5
Honda-Tech Member
Re: Car won't start - Clicking starter - loose ground? (EnzoSpeed)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EnzoSpeed »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I know, but I'm stumped. It's a new battery with new terminals and the grounds are all aftermarket 4 gauge with gold terminals.
All I can think of is that it's not the negative side but the positive side. Where does the 12+ power go after it enters the underhood fuse box?</TD></TR></TABLE>
it goes to the fuses. You have a 4 guage wire that goes from teh battery to the starter to power the motor. I would check that wire.
Try to crank the motor (12v to the s-termial on the start) and measure the voltage going to the starter. You hcan always run a battery test, record the data, then place the postive side connector of the tester on the 4 guage wire at the starter and see the data. A big difference in data means the wire is bad. That will cause your problem.
All I can think of is that it's not the negative side but the positive side. Where does the 12+ power go after it enters the underhood fuse box?</TD></TR></TABLE>
it goes to the fuses. You have a 4 guage wire that goes from teh battery to the starter to power the motor. I would check that wire.
Try to crank the motor (12v to the s-termial on the start) and measure the voltage going to the starter. You hcan always run a battery test, record the data, then place the postive side connector of the tester on the 4 guage wire at the starter and see the data. A big difference in data means the wire is bad. That will cause your problem.
06-05-2006, 03:27 PM
#6
Honda-Tech Member
Re: Car won't start - Clicking starter - loose ground? (EnzoSpeed)
could be the starter just took a ****..........try tapping the starter with a hammer and see if it starts?
OR it could be a bad ignition switch.......i have see a few of those go bad recently.....
OR it could be a bad ignition switch.......i have see a few of those go bad recently.....
06-05-2006, 04:04 PM
#7
Thread Starter
Re: Car won't start - Clicking starter - loose ground? (non-VTEC)
The problem is definitely not the starter or ignition switch.
Power is not looping somewhere, like there's a short. The lights are dim and the hazards won't even turn on (relay just buzzes). But the battery is fully charged.
Basically, all the symptoms of a dead battery but the battery is a one year old Optima yellow top and it's fully charged.
I just doubled checked the grounds, as well as the power wires going to the starter and fuse box.
Power is not looping somewhere, like there's a short. The lights are dim and the hazards won't even turn on (relay just buzzes). But the battery is fully charged.
Basically, all the symptoms of a dead battery but the battery is a one year old Optima yellow top and it's fully charged.
I just doubled checked the grounds, as well as the power wires going to the starter and fuse box.
Trending Topics
06-05-2006, 04:06 PM
#8
Honda-Tech Member
Re: Car won't start - Clicking starter - loose ground? (Turbogixxer)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EnzoSpeed »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The problem is definitely not the starter or ignition switch.
Power is not looping somewhere, like there's a short. The lights are dim and the hazards won't even turn on (relay just buzzes). But the battery is fully charged.
Basically, all the symptoms of a dead battery but the battery is a one year old Optima yellow top and it's fully charged.
I just doubled checked the grounds, as well as the power wires going to the starter and fuse box.</TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Turbogixxer »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Battery cables and connectors.</TD></TR></TABLE>
How did you test everything? IF you charge the battery or think it is charged?
Power is not looping somewhere, like there's a short. The lights are dim and the hazards won't even turn on (relay just buzzes). But the battery is fully charged.
Basically, all the symptoms of a dead battery but the battery is a one year old Optima yellow top and it's fully charged.
I just doubled checked the grounds, as well as the power wires going to the starter and fuse box.</TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Turbogixxer »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Battery cables and connectors.</TD></TR></TABLE>
How did you test everything? IF you charge the battery or think it is charged?
06-05-2006, 04:20 PM
#9
Thread Starter
Re: Car won't start - Clicking starter - loose ground? (Turbogixxer)
I checked all the wires with a multitmeter. I had the starter tested at AutoZone. I tried charging the battery, but my charger goes straight to trickle because it's already fully charged.
06-05-2006, 04:26 PM
#10
Honda-Tech Member
Re: Car won't start - Clicking starter - loose ground? (Turbogixxer)
Go to autozone and have them check it this way.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Turbogixxer »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You hcan always run a battery test, record the data, then place the postive side connector of the tester on the 4 guage wire at the starter and see the data. A big difference in data means the wire is bad. That will cause your problem.</TD></TR></TABLE>
It sounds like a connection problem.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Turbogixxer »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You hcan always run a battery test, record the data, then place the postive side connector of the tester on the 4 guage wire at the starter and see the data. A big difference in data means the wire is bad. That will cause your problem.</TD></TR></TABLE>
It sounds like a connection problem.
06-07-2006, 12:08 PM
#12
Thread Starter
Re: Car won't start - Clicking starter - loose ground? (EnzoSpeed)
I smell a ninja edit
I've contacted Optima. Trying to get a refund. Apparently the model 51 yellow tops are notoriously defective.
I've contacted Optima. Trying to get a refund. Apparently the model 51 yellow tops are notoriously defective.
06-07-2006, 12:44 PM
#13
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Car won't start - Clicking starter - loose ground? (EnzoSpeed)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EnzoSpeed »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I smell a ninja edit </TD></TR></TABLE>
I got pwned by this: <TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EnzoSpeed »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When I push start the car, it runs fine. </TD></TR></TABLE>
and then had nothing to contribute. 
</TD></TR></TABLE>I got pwned by this: <TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EnzoSpeed »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When I push start the car, it runs fine. </TD></TR></TABLE>
and then had nothing to contribute.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
turkeyslow
Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000)
16
04-30-2008 09:24 AM
