Engine Post your engine related problems in this section. Engines will cover from Fuel, Engine, Cooling, Exhaust physical related items.

Starter/Solenoid

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 9, 2020
  #1  
DaBrother's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered!!
 
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 98
Likes: 2
Rep Power: 0
DaBrother is an unknown quantity at this point
Question Starter/Solenoid

The '99 Civic DX started just fine yesterday. Today tried to start and guessing what hear is the starter turning.
Guessing the solenoid is not engaging. How do I make sure the starter is the problem before swapping out parts?

After looking at some posts will check with an OBD scanner.
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2020
  #2  
Colin42's Avatar
"Marge, anyone could miss Canada! All tucked away down there."
 
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 9,637
Likes: 1,283
From: Barrie, ON Canada
Rep Power: 222
Colin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to all
Re: Starter/Solenoid

Pull the starter out and test it with some jumper cables and a screwdriver
Reply
Old Feb 9, 2020
  #3  
DaBrother's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered!!
 
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 98
Likes: 2
Rep Power: 0
DaBrother is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Starter/Solenoid

Well should have done what I did after making a post. Got my wife to crack the car with the hood up. My hearing is not the best.
The engine does turn over. Can hear the relay click when turning the key. Read about listening for the fuel pump to run. Know I could not hear that. Will have to get her to listen for that. Guessing the best way to hear is to remove the gas cap.
Reply
Old Feb 20, 2020
  #4  
DaBrother's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered!!
 
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 98
Likes: 2
Rep Power: 0
DaBrother is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Starter/Solenoid

Wife cranked car. Got spark at plug. Cracked open the outlet at the fuel filter and there was gas. Sprayed startin gfluid in TB. Nothing.
Wondering if the spark may be weak and just need to replace wires, cap, and rotor. Maybe the coil.
And of course the plugs if changing out the above.
Reply
Old Feb 20, 2020
  #5  
Colin42's Avatar
"Marge, anyone could miss Canada! All tucked away down there."
 
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 9,637
Likes: 1,283
From: Barrie, ON Canada
Rep Power: 222
Colin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to all
Re: Starter/Solenoid

Start with plugs first, how do they look?
Reply
Old Feb 20, 2020
  #6  
Wankenstein's Avatar
OF top 99.5% creator (Formerly of the Puffinblunts variety)
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,634
Likes: 109
Rep Power: 210
Wankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud of
Re: Starter/Solenoid

Spark plugs and wires are rarely the issue... for a misfire possibly but not a no-start condition. As much as possible test first before throwing parts at an issue. Do a coil test as soon in video below but instead of the tester ETCG used you can use a long screw-driver to ground. I use one side of a battery jumper cables to hook ground to screwdriver shaft.

Try starting it as if you suspect the cylinders are flooded. Push the gas pedal down all the way. This disables the injectors and allows as much air into the cylinders as possible. I've had to do this with 6th gens before and after a few attempts it got the engine to run.

​​​​

Reply
Old Feb 20, 2020
  #7  
DaBrother's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered!!
 
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 98
Likes: 2
Rep Power: 0
DaBrother is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Starter/Solenoid

Thanks again for your help. Got a spark at the plug but think it is weak.
Wife still says to her knowledge the rotor button and distributor cap and plugs and wires have never been replaced. Replaced the plugs in 2017.
Have put about 18k on the car since then.
Reply
Old Feb 20, 2020
  #8  
Wankenstein's Avatar
OF top 99.5% creator (Formerly of the Puffinblunts variety)
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,634
Likes: 109
Rep Power: 210
Wankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud of
Re: Starter/Solenoid

IMO it doesn't matter the age of plugs or wires, it only matters if they are or are not providing quality spark. If the coil is weak it will most likely die during the coil spark/arc test ...but, if it does die it means it's not healthy anyway and needs to be replaced.

Last edited by Wankenstein; Feb 20, 2020 at 11:08 PM.
Reply
Old Feb 29, 2020
  #9  
DaBrother's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered!!
 
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 98
Likes: 2
Rep Power: 0
DaBrother is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Starter/Solenoid

Checked for spark at all four plugs with spark tester. Got a flash at each one.
Held a test light to coil and got a spark. Sprayed starting fluid in TB. Car did not even try to start. Nothing.
If I am getting spark at all plugs and engine does not even sputter with starter fluid, the injectors are not working???
Reply
Old Feb 29, 2020
  #10  
Colin42's Avatar
"Marge, anyone could miss Canada! All tucked away down there."
 
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 9,637
Likes: 1,283
From: Barrie, ON Canada
Rep Power: 222
Colin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to all
Re: Starter/Solenoid

Checked the main relay yet?
Reply
Old Feb 29, 2020
  #11  
DaBrother's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered!!
 
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 98
Likes: 2
Rep Power: 0
DaBrother is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Starter/Solenoid

Can here main relay click. Opened glove box and can here one click but also can feel the relay actuating or contacts opening and closing. Cracked the fuel line open at the outlet of the filter and gas spewed out.
Checked the coil again. Saw spark 4 times while wife was turning the key.

Still do not get any fault codes. Can see reading change for TP sensor as pedal is pressed and released.
Tried cranking while holding pedal to floor board. The second and third try sounded as if it was trying to start or just about to.

Last edited by DaBrother; Feb 29, 2020 at 04:02 PM. Reason: add commemts
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2020
  #12  
Wankenstein's Avatar
OF top 99.5% creator (Formerly of the Puffinblunts variety)
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,634
Likes: 109
Rep Power: 210
Wankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud of
Re: Starter/Solenoid

Originally Posted by DaBrother
Tried cranking while holding pedal to floor board. The second and third try sounded as if it was trying to start or just about to.
Could be a tough flooded situation? Add two teaspoons of motor oil to each cylinder and try cranking with pedal fully depressed.
The oil will temporarily increase compression to create better combustion for starting.

You may want to pull the spark plugs and blow them and the cylinders with compressed air prior to adding oil . Read this (especially reply #4): https://www.civicforums.com/forums/3...-no-codes.html
Reply
Old Mar 3, 2020
  #13  
DaBrother's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered!!
 
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 98
Likes: 2
Rep Power: 0
DaBrother is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Starter/Solenoid

Shoooee-weee. that white smoke was stinky.
It was a flood situation. Would have never guessed that but I had done what the guy in the link had done.
Start car, move it a few feet, cut it off. It was a bit cool that day.

Never would have figured that out. Thanks again for the help guys.
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2020
  #14  
Colin42's Avatar
"Marge, anyone could miss Canada! All tucked away down there."
 
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 9,637
Likes: 1,283
From: Barrie, ON Canada
Rep Power: 222
Colin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to allColin42 is a name known to all
Re: Starter/Solenoid

Glad you got it figured out
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2020
  #15  
Wankenstein's Avatar
OF top 99.5% creator (Formerly of the Puffinblunts variety)
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,634
Likes: 109
Rep Power: 210
Wankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud ofWankenstein has much to be proud of
Re: Starter/Solenoid

Props to ezone...where's he been?
Reply
Old Mar 7, 2020
  #16  
DaBrother's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered!!
 
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 98
Likes: 2
Rep Power: 0
DaBrother is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: Starter/Solenoid

Wish I was smart enough to figure it out. If not for you guys, would never know a fuel injected engine could be flooded.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
gabrown2
Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it Forum
2
Apr 11, 2015 08:22 PM
JohnnyBxo
8th & 9th Generation Civic 2006 - 2015
13
Nov 3, 2014 10:35 AM
2003civlxhockey
Florida
1
Jan 22, 2014 07:20 PM
fallout
Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it Forum
0
May 7, 2007 08:27 PM
Deu
General Honda Civic Forum Archive.
6
May 11, 2002 04:34 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:02 AM.