my civic won't start

[jbum]

my civic today didn't start. i didn't hear the usual turning over sound from the engine. all i heard were clicks.

i had it push started eventually and the engine started fine. that tells me that the battery and alternator was fine.

however, whenever i braked or used the turn indicator, the speedo will fall to 0.

anyone know what this means? i think the first part means i probably have a bad starter. but does that usually show up with the speedo falling to 0?

 

[NSX01]

Your ECM maybe bad. Common problem with civic.

 

[jbum]

i have some more observations. i tried to start the car again tonite and i found where the clicks are coming from. from inside the car, i hear somewhere behind the dash to the left of the steering wheel. from outside of the car, with the hood, i hear it from the fuse box on the passenger side of the firewall.

also, i remember that the windshield wipers were a bit shaky last night. they seemed sluggish and not smooth. i think this is related to the problem i'm having. the radio went off and on a few times while i was driving it today.

 

[jbum]

Your ECM maybe bad. Common problem with civic.

ECM? what's that?

edit: used to seeing ECU, not ECM.

 

[Carguy!]

Try charging up your battery, it sounds like your alternator might be bad if you have been driving the car recently.

The clicks you are hearing are from the solenoid, it is basically a big relay that powers the starter motor. When your battery isn't strong enough to run the starter motor you will hear clicking of the solenoid. Basically when the solenoid engages it supplies power to the starter motor, but the battery is too weak and the voltage drops low enough for the solenoid to disengage, then the voltage jumps back up and the whole process starts over providing a clicking sound.

It sounds like whenever you used anything that drew power from the battery you had problems, that sounds like your alternator wasn't putting out anything. Check the tension of your belt to the alternator also.

Good Luck!

 

[ANYTIME]

i had it push started eventually and the engine started fine. that tells me that the battery and alternator was fine.

That tells me that the cars runs. If the alternator and battery were doing there job, all of the other electronics wouldn't have been effected like you mention. Easiest thing to do would be getting a volt meter and see what volts the car is putting out at idle. Should be around 13.6. I would do this after I charged the battery and with no electrical items on. How old is you battery? My batteries seem to take a dump at 4 years (daily driven ones)

 

[Joseph]

i have some more observations. i tried to start the car again tonite and i found where the clicks are coming from. from inside the car, i hear somewhere behind the dash to the left of the steering wheel. from outside of the car, with the hood, i hear it from the fuse box on the passenger side of the firewall.

sounds like the main relay. Thats a common problem with alot of the honda/acura's

 

[jbum]

sounds like the main relay. Thats a common problem with alot of the honda/acura's

isn't the main relay for the fuel pump if i'm not mistaken?

 

[jbum]

That tells me that the cars runs. If the alternator and battery were doing there job, all of the other electronics wouldn't have been effected like you mention. Easiest thing to do would be getting a volt meter and see what volts the car is putting out at idle. Should be around 13.6. I would do this after I charged the battery and with no electrical items on. How old is you battery? My batteries seem to take a dump at 4 years (daily driven ones)

anytime,

where are you suggesting i take the reading? at the battery terminal posts?

 

[Andrie Hartanto]

If you hear clicks, it is most likely battery.

 

[Dave Hardy]

What year is your civic? It sounds like main relay and/or bad grounds.

Main relay is not just for the fuel pump. It powers the ECU, as well as a few other goodies as well.

 

[jbum]

What year is your civic? It sounds like main relay and/or bad grounds.

Main relay is not just for the fuel pump. It powers the ECU, as well as a few other goodies as well.

My civic is a '93 dx. I'm gonna try to eliminate the most obvious first. I was in a hurry and didn't get the chance to jumpstart it. I'll do that first and see what happens.

 

[Malibu Rapper]

If you hear clicks, it is most likely battery.

Yep, mine does that whenever my battery runs low. You either have a bad battery that won't charge or an alternator that isn't charging the battery...

 

[jbum]

yes, i had time to try a jumpstart finally and you know what, the car starts.

now, i can take the battery to autozone or kragen to test the battery, right?
if that's not the problem, how do i test the alternator to see if it's outputting enough voltage?

 

[Malibu Rapper]

You will need a voltmeter to test the alternator. A cheap $7 Harbor Freight multimeter is accurate enough to do this. If you have a really good alternator you will see in the 14.4v range. 13.6-14.4 is about normal.

 

[jbum]

You will need a voltmeter to test the alternator. A cheap $7 Harbor Freight multimeter is accurate enough to do this. If you have a really good alternator you will see in the 14.4v range. 13.6-14.4 is about normal.

so i just check the ends while the engine is on?

 

[Carguy!]

so i just check the ends while the engine is on?

Just take the meter and put the red lead on the positive side of the battery and take the black lead and put in on the negative side of the battery while the car is running. You can also have someone rev the engine to see if the voltage rises with the rpm's.

 

[jbum]

thanks folks for helping me out...

the car seemed fine during the day (but i didn't drive it since i was still at work). i finally got off work and jumpstarted it and went to turn the lights on. the engine almost dies. i turn the lights off quickly and try the wiper. the wiper doesn't budge.

this is a sign of a bad alternator right?

 

[jbum]

thanks folks for helping me out...

the car seemed fine during the day (but i didn't drive it since i was still at work). i finally got off work and jumpstarted it and went to turn the lights on. the engine almost dies. i turn the lights off quickly and try the wiper. the wiper doesn't budge.

this is a sign of a bad alternator right?

thanks for eveyone's help. the car was at work all this time because i wasn't able to get it towed back home where i can tinker with it.

anyways, turns out the alternator is bad. i tried to drive the car after jumpstarting it, but it soon die after a block. replaced the alternator this afternoon and the car is well and alive.

 

[GPWNSXVA]

Wish I could have read this earlier since I run an auto shop specializing in this type of problem... if you have any problems in the future just gimme a call... I get great prices on all alternators and starters for all kinds of things from your lawnmower, jetski, motorcycle, tractor, crane, car, truck, rv, etc.. etc... etc..

That goes for anyone on NSX Prime for that matter.

www.blauto.com 757-596-0512
Ask for Brad

 

[jbum]

how much for an alternator for a '93 civic dx? 1.5L engine. I'm just curious.

 

[GPWNSXVA]

Probably 100 or less plus shipping