rmo

I have a 2009 Honda Civic EX. Sometimes, the car doesn't start, but eventually it will. I took it to my mechanic who tested the battery, connectors, etc. and couldn't find any issues with the car. Also, sometimes the AC doesn't start, but it eventually will. What could be the potential causes of these issues? I do not know if it is just a coincidence, but both issues originally started happening at approximately the same time about 8 or so months ago.

ezone

Elaborate on "doesn't start" here.

About 300 separate things have to take place in order to get it started.
What DOES happen when it "doesn't start"?
What do you see? What do you observe?


Starting concern needs to be addressed first.

jordan1794

My 2006 just had the starter go bad.
Like ezone said though, need more info on what the car is doing when you try to start it and it fails to start.

rmo

When I put the key in the ignition, power comes on to the car, but the engine doesn't start. I just hear a clicking sound. I am starting to think it might be a bad starter. In terms of the AC, when I turn it on, no air comes out, but if I leave it on for a couple of minutes, air will start coming out. It is not specific to heat or AC or the fan speed as no matter what setting I put it on, it still occurs.

jordan1794

If it was the starter it would just click once, and nothing would happen.
(Just happened to me like two days ago)

Sounds like you could have a connection issue, have you checked your battery for corrosion on the wires, and checked the grounding wire to the chassis from the battery?

It COULD be the started, but my starter never clicked multiple times before failing, the car would just start rough for a while, then would fail at starting more and more frequently until the starter went out completely

If it is the starter it cost me about 550$ (including 85$ for tow, 150$ for labor, and 300 something for the starter itself)

ezone

Click sound comes from where? Engine compartment or the dashboard?

Certainly could be a starter problem.
Easy enough to test if you really want to get into it.



So it sounds like the HVAC fan (interior, blower fan) doesn't run at first? Begins to run after you hit a bump or something?

If so, I'd probably wait for it to quit then see what makes it come on.
If you tap on the fan motor under the dash does that make it start running?
If tapping on the fan motor gets it to run, it probably needs a fan motor.

mikey1

first, check the battery voltage to see if it is fully charged

if it is, test to see if the starter is getting power,

if the starter is getting power but not cranking, you have a faulty starter

rmo

The clicking sound appears to be coming from the engine compartment. As for the AC, there is no consistency to it. Sometimes it comes on after I've been driving for a while. Yesterday, I was parked and it wouldn't come on, but eventually did 30 seconds later while I was still parked.

rmo

Yeah, I am suspecting it is the starter. Last night it wouldn't start and I had to have it towed and the tow truck driver, after examining the car, said it was most likely the starter. I have a mechanic looking at it tomorrow.

ezone

So when you say AC, you mean the blower fan, yes?

rmo

Yes, the blower fan.

ezone

Ok, that's what I thought. Like I said earlier: Catch it when it doesn't work, then tap on the fan motor. If it then runs, it's a bad fan motor.

rmo

Where is the fan motor located? As for my other issue, it was indeed the starter.

ezone

Blower housing, far passengers side of the dash. Can be seen and reached from the floor area, but some cars may have a flat plastic panel covering the bottom of the dash.

This pic may not be the exact same car, but all are pretty similar





Catch it when it's not working, then tap or knock on the bottom of the fan motor with your hand. (Palm or fist, whatever just to jar it a bit.)
HTH