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Ok ... I bought my 2k2 Civic Si (CDN coupe model) and the car has only about 2000 km on it and it is displaying problems with starting. I got an after market alarm (viper) installed about 3 weeks ago and my amp and cd player hooked up about 2 weeks ago. I don't think that is the problem. But here is what happens (happend twice so far)

1) I live in Canada, cold here winter about -15 degrees celsius.
2) I had a full tank of gas
3) get in and turn the key to the accessory part, dash lights come on ... kenwood cd player begins to flip around.
4) try to crank it to start and nothing ... no sound at all ... just a click ... click ... nothing
5) then freak out ... take the key out stick it in and try again ... and then it works fine ...

This happened to me twice so far ... I dont think its the battery cause the interior lights (dash lights and cd player were powered)
Dealership said that I could bring it in but they couldnt really tell me what the prob is ... unless it does it in front of them (gotta lov'em eh)
The weird thing is that I dont even get a cranking sound to start the car ... just a click thats all. Other possiblities they said was that it could be the starter, ingnition switch, alternator or battery or ELECTICAL PROBLEM ... Now I am f**king scared they are gonna try to pin this on the aftermarket alarm and Cd player/amp I got installed (did them at shops so I didnt do it myself). They better not tell me its f*****g void warrenty or I am gonna rip someones throat out. I could say that it isnt any of those aftermarket stuff because those were installed long time ago (3-2 weeks) and there was no problem... Yesturday was the first cold night so ... I was thinking that was the problem but come on this is a Honda Civic these things supposed to start every time like clockwork. WTF !!!

I know there was another post about this and read through it but it seemed like everyone was at least crankin' mine dont, also they were in hot areas and mines cold ... so anyone got an solutions ???

L8tr

 
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replace your starter motor.

 
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The same symptoms happened to my friend's WRX when we installed his turbo timer. It ends up that we blew a 50amp relay that is linked to the ignition. You'll want to make sure that all the relays in that black fuse box under your hood are still in good shape. I think all you have to do is check for continuity. Start by finding a larger relay with a "IGN" label.

 
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But if its a fuse doesnt that mean that it wouldnt start the second time ... trying ???

 
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if the actual fuse blew, your car wouldnt start another time afterward.

 
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Sounds like it could be the alarm. I had a similar problem after having an alarm installed on an integra quite some time ago.

 
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But see this is the thing that I dont get ... if it were the immoblizer screwing up by the alarm ... then the car wouldnt be able to start every time. Because the immobilizer would kick in every time ... But it doesnt ... it only doesnt start every so often. I will have to look next time it does that to see if the green key light comes on ... meaning the immobilizer is kicking in ... I was freaking out so much that I didnt even bother to look ... it was so cold I just wanted to try again to see if it would start.

 
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I think it could be the alarm myself

Nick

 
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I got my alarm installed 3 weeks ago and only happened twice so far where it didn;t start ... If the alarm would be the problem it woulda started right after I got it installed ... also ... the car doesn't have feelings ... so if it were the immoblizer it cant say to itself yah start this time ... but then not start this time... electronics just dont work that way ... either it works all the time or it doesn;t work at all. Also, you guys say replace the starter motor ... but ... ok my car only got 2000 km on it ... dont you think alittle early for that to be going ...

 
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First check the basics, for one make sure that your alarm or head unit isn't drawing power from your battery causing it to be low on power when you try to start it. It sounds like you're having battery problems, the clicking you hear is probably the starter trying to engage but doesn't have enough amps to turn it. Then after you let it set for a few seconds the battery will "re-energize" letting the car start. This does happen and I've seen it happen many time when I was a mechanic. Just because your interior lights are bright doesn't mean a thing other than your battery has enough power to turn them on but not start your car.

Take it to a shop and have them check for a "battery power drain" and go from there, no one on this site can figure out whats wrong with your car without looking at it, including me. Right now its just a guess, take it to a local shop and get it fixed correctly.

 
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Yah I like the sound of the explanation of the battery ... I will have to get that checked out. Also, the dealership told me that
1) you should never carry two ignition keys on the same key chain ... the chips might interfere with each other
2) when starting the car ... turn to the accessory part ... wait for flashing key symbol to stop flashing, a couple of secs, before trying to crank it. never had to do that with my accord but if that garantees starting well its fine with me.

I do have a sub and no capacitor hooked up ... it is only 1 12" hooked up to a kenwood KAC 923 (I think 220 watts per channel) I dont normally blast it but do notice a slight dimming of lights when I have the volume up and bass pumpin. I guess having a capacitor would help out right ???

 
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Yah I know about the 2 diiferent kind of keys on one ring, but normally the motor will crank but not start. Have the battery tested for a electrical draw first and then go from there. You can test for a draw with a test light or volt meter, just disconnect the positive side of the battery and run the test light or meter between the battery terminal and positive wire, make sure everything is turned off and all the doors are closed. If you show a bright light on the test light or more than 1.5 volts on the meter you have a draw. Also just to make sure you're doing it right just open the door and the meter or light should max out because the interior light switch is closed making a draw.

 
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Check the basics first. I had the exact same problem, and it turned out to be a loose battery connector. When they installed your alarm and stereo stuff, they may not have tightened it enough.

 
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[IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG]

You quoted yourself........i'll have to try that sometime. [IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG]

 
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Ok here is another update .. so the car didnt start again last night on the 1st try ... only on the third try.

1) stick in key, dash lights on
2) turn key ... no green light for immobilizer, lights all dim off as if no power ... release turning back to accessory, interior dash lights come back on
3) try reclutch and take key out ... 3rd time starts ...

Doesn't this sound like a low battery ??? How could I test it ... my uncle has a voltmeter ... to see if its low ... I need dumby proof directions please.
Also, this head unit (cd player) and amp with same sub was in my '99 accord and it never had any problems like this. Why would a civic have problems ... if it is drawing too much power ... what solutions do I have take them both out ... I paid $400 for my alarm and $100 for the install of my cd player and amp I dont want to just take them back out. Can I just tell Honda to give me a new battery ... or go get a Heavy Duty battery from Canadian Tire or something ???
L8tr

 
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Update ... I booked an appointment next week on Tues for the place that installed my alarm system ... they say they dont do anything to the factory immobilizer ... but have really good customer service and said they would take a look at their install to make sure nothing was wrong ... also cause viper has a lifetime warranty.

So phew that kinda eased my mind about it being the alarm causing the problem.

I still think it might be the battery ... but not sure how to test it yet.

 
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Update #2

Ok I will feel really dumb if this is what the problem is ... basically the mechanic told me over the phone that if it was the battery the car would not have started on the 2nd or 3rd time ...

What he did say that 3 out of 5 times it is something dumb that is causing the problem. He asked if I had a rubber floor mat ... which I do ... he asked me to make sure it isn't stoppin the clutch from being completely depressed to the back wall of the car. I said ... yes the mat does sit behind the clutch. So he thought that before I did anything else try to move the rubber floor mat away from the clutch pedal.

So far yesturday it had no problems ... although only drove it twice (so maybe max only 6 starts) it hadn't done the symptoms that I was explaining. THAT IS f*****g GOOD !!!

Also, when I got home at night I decided to test out the problem at my house ... I just sat in the driveway, put car in neutral, and didn't clutch and tried to start the car. I got the exact symptoms that I had before when it wasn't starting. The dash lights come on, Cd player begins to flip around (motorized), but when I try to go to the start position for the car ... no cranking nothing ... the dash lights turn off as if it lost power and cd player begins to flip back around thinking a loss of power.

So, maybe because it was getting cold and the floor mat was slid up alittle bit higher than normal it was getting in the way of the clutch from being depressed all the way to the ground causing the car not the think the clutch was in and therefore wouldn't let me start. If this is it ... which I hope so ... boy do I feel like a retard.

I will have more updates if the problem persists.

L8tr

 
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Ah the Floor Mat!!!! but why would that cause a clicking sound? Unless the clutch switch was barely making contact, but that does make sence. Like evryone said before check the basics, but I don't think I'd ever think of a floor mat.

 
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Just try it ... without clutching ... get in your car put the gear in neutral ... stick key in and try to turn ... it will not do anything ... maybe I was thinking the clicking was happening but I really think it was either the lights on dash turning off or my cd player turning around (due to loss of power)

I got in and tested it out today ... to see how far the clutch has to be depressed to the ground before the car will start and it is almost right to the carpet. My mat, which was in the way, could have definetely been the extra space that would have cause the car to think that the clutch wasnt being depressed.

Try it for yourselves and you will know what I am talking about ... I think that was the problem ... so if ever this happens to you or someone you know ... be sure to check the floor mat isn't blocking the clutch from being fully depressed.

L8tr