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Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it ForumIf you've got a problem you just can't figure out, a noise you can't diagnose, or a Check Engine Light that won't go away, ask about it here!
So I bought my civic a couple months ago to be my "reliable" car and from the beginning is had starting issues... It would not start every 4th or 5th time, but if I let it sit for 15 min or so then it would start right up. About a month ago I cracked my rear rotor (it never ends with this thing, I swear) and it had to sit for about a week and a half till I got the new one. When I went to start it up to move & fix the rotor it wouldn't start again, but this time the clicking that it made was much different from its previous clicking, and no amount of letting it sit would make it start. It sat for another week or so and when I tried again to start it it didn't even click, like the battery was dead, though the dash lights came on. I've tried to jump it several times and it had zero effect, not even to bring back the clicking noise. Just dash lights, nothing more. I'm tempted to go buy a new battery or even try putting the battery from my other car in to see if it will start then, but if there's a larger issue that's killing the battery I don't want to waste the money on another battery that will be pointless or worse yet kill the battery in my other car and still be in the same boat. I replaced the main relay awhile back thinking that was the issue, and when that had no effect I thought perhaps it was the starter but no amount of whacking it with a ratchet made it start (which I was told it would if it was a starter issue). Needless to say, I'm at a loss. I think at this point I prolly just need to take it to the shop but I'd like to at least have an idea of what's going on first so I don't have to add a hundred-dollar diagnostic to the bill. Can anyone give me an idea of what may be going on here? Many thanks!
"Marge, anyone could miss Canada! All tucked away down there."
Joined: Feb 2016
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Re: 96 civic won't start
Originally Posted by halo5ive
So I bought my civic a couple months ago to be my "reliable" car and from the beginning is had starting issues... It would not start every 4th or 5th time, but if I let it sit for 15 min or so then it would start right up. About a month ago I cracked my rear rotor (it never ends with this thing, I swear) and it had to sit for about a week and a half till I got the new one. When I went to start it up to move & fix the rotor it wouldn't start again, but this time the clicking that it made was much different from its previous clicking, and no amount of letting it sit would make it start. It sat for another week or so and when I tried again to start it it didn't even click, like the battery was dead, though the dash lights came on. I've tried to jump it several times and it had zero effect, not even to bring back the clicking noise. Just dash lights, nothing more. I'm tempted to go buy a new battery or even try putting the battery from my other car in to see if it will start then, but if there's a larger issue that's killing the battery I don't want to waste the money on another battery that will be pointless or worse yet kill the battery in my other car and still be in the same boat. I replaced the main relay awhile back thinking that was the issue, and when that had no effect I thought perhaps it was the starter but no amount of whacking it with a ratchet made it start (which I was told it would if it was a starter issue). Needless to say, I'm at a loss. I think at this point I prolly just need to take it to the shop but I'd like to at least have an idea of what's going on first so I don't have to add a hundred-dollar diagnostic to the bill. Can anyone give me an idea of what may be going on here? Many thanks!
Check the wires at the battery clamps for corrosion. My girlfriend's car had a no start issue and that was the problem. Also check all your grounds and battery and starter connections, make sure they're clean, tight, and shiny.
Everything looks pretty good, the connectors and terminals are nice and clean and it's on there tightly. It looks like one or two of the individual wires in the terminal wire have broken on the ground wire but that's about the only thing I can see wrong.
An interesting development: I was testing to see if I still had dash lights while not hooked up to jumper cables, and for a sec it tried to crank. But just for a sec. Jiggling the key around in the ignition will make the door ajar beep either turn on or off (depending on whether it's on or off at the time). Could it be an ignition switch /coil issue? How do I test for that?
"Marge, anyone could miss Canada! All tucked away down there."
Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Barrie, ON Canada
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Re: 96 civic won't start
Originally Posted by halo5ive
An interesting development: I was testing to see if I still had dash lights while not hooked up to jumper cables, and for a sec it tried to crank. But just for a sec. Jiggling the key around in the ignition will make the door ajar beep either turn on or off (depending on whether it's on or off at the time). Could it be an ignition switch /coil issue? How do I test for that?
Ignition switch could be worn out, I had to replace that on the same car for a different no start issue. If you remove the steering column trim you'll be able to see the ignition switch and where the wires connect to it
An interesting development: I was testing to see if I still had dash lights while not hooked up to jumper cables, and for a sec it tried to crank. But just for a sec. Jiggling the key around in the ignition will make the door ajar beep either turn on or off (depending on whether it's on or off at the time). Could it be an ignition switch /coil issue? How do I test for that?
Sounds like an ignition switch problem. Wiggling the key shouldn’t make anything happen, so something must be loose.
The ignition switch is the one that's in the column, looks like a big plug right? Sorry my car knowledge is pretty limited... Not completely non - exist nt, but limited hahaha
The ignition switch is the one that's in the column, looks like a big plug right? Sorry my car knowledge is pretty limited... Not completely non - exist nt, but limited hahaha
Yes. It’s on the end of the thing you put the key into. It’s a large plug with fairly thick wires going to it.
"Marge, anyone could miss Canada! All tucked away down there."
Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Barrie, ON Canada
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Re: 96 civic won't start
looks something like this
when i changed the one in my girlfriend's car, i had to move a couple wires to the new connectors, just used a small flat blade screwdriver to remove them from the connector shell.
this is what the inside of the old switch looked like:
