Rep Power: 0

All,

My 2004 LX (223K miles) is having an intermittent no crank no start. Its done it a couple of times over the last couple of months. I turn the key over to start and nothing happens. Nothing from the starter or solenoid, nothing from the engine. Its like its completely dead. The green key light from the immobilizer is off, I have dash lights, the blower motor works, the radio works. Normally, it will start after I turn the key back and then try to start it again.

Last night, I went to get pick up food for the family. I ran in the restaurant, waited a couple of minutes and came out with my order. I turned the key, and no crank, no start. A friend of mine was in the restaurant, so I asked him for a jump. He came out, we hooked up the jumper cables and no crank, no start. So, its not the battery.

I got a ride home, ate supper and went back to where my car was sitting. I tried to crank it again, but no crank, no start. I tried several times, but no crank, no start. I started troubleshooting on my phone, but everything I checked appeared fine. I pulled the fuse for the fuel pump, and it was fine. I heard a relay clicking when I turned the key over before starting. I checked fuses in the fuse boxes and they did not appear blown. I gave up, and called AAA for a two.

While waiting for the two truck, I kept trying to troubleshoot my problem. It still would not start and nothing seemed to work. I read where someone said to check the ECU fuse, so I pulled it and it was fine.

About 10 minutes later, sitting in a cold car, I decided on a whim to try to start it. To my surprise, it started up fine. After three hours of sitting.... I cancelled the tow and drove it home. I shut it off and tried starting it in my driveway, and it started up fine each time.

I did some troubleshooting at lunch. Since I had replaced my negative battery cable, it checked it and its attached fine. I then noticed the thermostat housing to frame ground strap was not attached - I got the car used and I don't think it ever was since I owned it. I reattached it. Timing belt was replaced 30K miles ago by the same place that has done it in the past. Battery is ok. Charging system putting out voltage. I tested the starter a couple of months ago, and it tested fine then, but I need to pull it and check it now.

Tonight, I went outside and tried to make it fail. I started it at least 30 times. Once it tried to start, then quickly turned into a no crank, no start. However, it started up fine the try after. I could not get it to fail, it started every time but once. The only thing different I can remember from last night is that I didn't hear the fuel pump pressurize. I have the infamous cracked fuel pump and I'm just waiting for time to replace it. However, even if the fuel pump was not working, the engine should try to turn over.

Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this? I'm pretty well stumped and other than replace components with my fingers crossed, I don't know what to do.

 
Rep Power: 366

check electric connections and wires to the starter

 
Rep Power: 133

I'd concentrate on the starter too. Maybe sticking solenoid in starter.

 
Rep Power: 366

oh, yeah, wack it to unstick

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks everyone! I'll take a look at the starter.

Coincidentally, I did watch a video on YouTube this morning about starter removal. The symptoms the fella had with his starter that caused replacement were exactly the same as mine. So it looks like my starter is beginning to fail.

I'm not complaining. Its the original starter and it has 223K miles on it!

 
Rep Power: 366

still the wiring could be culprit, they are old enough to buy beer

 
Rep Power: 0

This just happened to me on my 05 Civic. 235k miles

I first switched 2 relays under the steering wheel to see if that was bad. If the relay is good, tapping on the starter will tell you if it's the starter.

Mine was the starter. I just changed it and made a quick video on how to change the starter out.

 
Rep Power: 0

I have an '04 civic LX sedan - 135,000 miles with the same issue (see below). How likely are the PGM-FI relays to be bad rather than the starter? Relays are cheaper/faster than a starter motor. I had an '89 Honda Civic that acted this way and the bad relay on that model was the problem but I read that this is less likely on models after 1996 ? Do I replace both PGM-FI 1 and 2 before swapping the starter? Does anyone have the correct part numbers for these? Checking at Autozone and searching online has been fruitless.


---- My version of the same intermittent no crank no start issue : Several weeks ago lights on the dash work but no sound, no crank, nothing. Try again and it started after 3 or 4 tries. Days later it wouldn't start in my driveway but jumping it worked. Then a week later jumping it did not work but waited an hour or two and it started. I had the battery checked and the starter motor checked and was told they are fine. A few days later it started kinda rough and I got a CEL code for bad cylinder 3 igniter or ignition coil - the large plugs that attach to the spark plugs so I replaced those as I'd had that happen a while back on a diff cylinder. It ran fine for another week or so but died today after turning it off and trying to restart again within 5 minutes. I tried waiting 30 minutes or so but no good. I came back 90 min later and the first turn of the key nothing, but the second turn it started up. I only drive it once or twice a week as I work from home so the frequency of the issue may be much higher if I was starting it several times a day. If it fails to start again, a YouTube video said to swap out the relays for the headlight relays to check if is starts to determine the relays are bad - Is this safe to do? And again part numbers for the PGM-FI would be appreciated - I saw someone refer to the fuel pump relay and a PCM relay but not sure these are the same as PGM-FI 1 and PGM-FI 2. Thanks for any direction - I added this here as the thread is fairly new but if a new thread is better let me know.

 
Rep Power: 0

I actually don't know. I'm sure you can test the relay's. I agree with starters being expensive. However. The one I got in the video above was around $84. With no core charge. Every where else was $150+ with a core. You might want to look at rockauto.com for a cheaper starter.

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