Rep Power: 0

Turn the key on my standard civic and nothing starts, can put the car in neutral and get a running start and am able to kick it in first gear and drive the car just fine. No check engine light ever comes on, turn car off and have a dead car again. Drove to auto zone and battery tests fine. any suggestions or ideas? Just hit 131000 miles

 
Rep Power: 512

what kinda sounds is it making when you try and start your car?

Your symptoms lead me to believe it's your starter. Unless someone else chimes in with something different *ahem ezone*, try smacking the **** out of the starter motor with say, the end of a ratcheting wrench or a 12" socket extension. Smack it a few times and try starting it. Happened to me back at about 127k, smacked the crap out of the starter and I've had no problems since (still on original starter after 165k miles)

 
Rep Power: 518

ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz ZZZZZZZZZzzzzHUH?
If smacking it doesn't help, I'd probably grab a test light next and diagnose why it isn't working.

 
Rep Power: 0

Oddly enough, Honda starters on powersports are prone to this too for some reason... usually ones with their electrical posts right in the wind. Perhaps on a Civic this is a case of some corrosion getting past the stock defenses (splash shield and rubber weather cap), and causing an open.

Usually when the starter's gotten to the 'knock me to wake me' stage, they need to be replaced or rebuilt, as tolerances have gotten a bit worn out. It's a liability after that, as you don't know when it'll happen again (probably a bigger deal on lowered cars, since they're a bit more hassle to jack up).

 
Rep Power: 518

Pssst: Starter's on top.
Lowered car just makes your back hurt a little more cuz you lean over farther.

 
Rep Power: 0

Ah, gotcha... forgot this was a Honda, where they actually give two sh*ts about service access by owners.

I've been traumatized by trying to maintain a '00 Escort, where it takes three hours to change a transmission mount due to frame stiffeners under the engine, which btw, also hold the mounts... etc. etc. etc. That car had its starter only accessible from underneath, as did my Paseo, apologies.

 
Rep Power: 512

Oh, the Toyota Paseo.. Brings back some memories... I had a '92 Paseo back in high school.. lol

/threadjack

 
Rep Power: 0

Yep -- 280K on that little tank, on its original clutch AND head gasket! Even had one cylinder with compression still within service limit. Jade D. Em still made hugely overengineered cars back in those days... #fellowjacker

How often do solenoids on 7th gens last, I wonder -- are they a common fail point? #welcomebacktotopic

 
Rep Power: 518

They are good up until the point that they go bad.

 
Rep Power: 0

Probably best not to define *all* solenoids. Or all parts.

Here's another question -- have you ever replaced a 7th gen solenoid? How about a MY2003 solenoid?

 
Rep Power: 518

For a customer, all repairs must be warrantable. It's gonna get the whole starter.



Although you can probably buy the set of contacts for the solenoid in your own unit for maybe $12 and DIY?

On my old Buick, it got an AC Delco solenoid ($26) back in about 2005, then it got a set of brushes ($4) around 2010, then it got a Bendix after I gave it to the kid. All on the original Delco-Remy starter.