Rep Power: 0

Hi there, my 98 civic ex is giving me a major headache right now. When I turn the key to start the car, nothing happens, just silence, no sounds from the engine. The gauges light up, the radio turns on, I hear the relay click from the glove box when it is in the II position, but nothing happens when i turn the key to the III position. it would start up a few days ago, and intermittently do what it does now, but would start up after a few tries. I opened up the distributor and it looks fine (brand new actually). I dont have to equipment to test out a lot of the electrical components. I pulled out my battery and it starts my dad's car right up. Was wondering if there was anything else I should try before handing it over to my mechanic. Is it potentially a wiring problem? Thanks in advance for the replies

 
Rep Power: 0

Check the battery terminals (connectors going to the battery). See if the wires are attached into them firmly, and whether any of it's badly corroded. Clean both the battery posts and the terminal insides until they're both silver. Test the car.

If that fails, find the starter and make sure the wires are attached to it firmly. Even if they are, try to start it again. If it starts, there may be a short.

If that fails, what you test next is up to you (lots of options). You could swap someone else's battery into your car and test it. I tend to go for the starter next. To test the starter, you have a simple test and a harder test. The better (harder) test is to remove it and drive it to autozone in another car, and get them to test it in their machine (for free). The simple test is to lightly hit it with a hammer while the car's in neutral. Test if it changed the situation any. If not, maybe hit it a little harder. Not too hard or you'll break the expensive piece. This test may not prove that it's breaking, because it doesn't always work.

I would guess it's most likely the starter, but that's a raw guess. I'd test the other things first. Your starts easily then slowly gets harder and harder/irratic to start, then failing to start completely symptoms sound like a starter that's toast. Another sign of a starter going bad (not foolproof): It tends to become a lower and lower pitch sound when starting, until it goes bad.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks for the quick reply, here are some more details, the car never would crank and crank, whenever it would start up, it would be turn the key, crank once, then fire, and its ready to roll. AAA just sent someone to look at it before I tow it, and he noted that it is the original starter on there, and that the wiring on the car is a bit loose. I have the means to pay for a professional repair, and my mechanic hooks it up, so its going to him. I also described what was happening to my mechanic over the phone and he said it's most likely the starter.