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Honda sometimes starts, sometimes doesn't
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tmontoya
New User
Aug 22, 2010, 1:27 PM
Post #1 of 2
(1381 views)
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Honda sometimes starts, sometimes doesn't
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1998 Honda Civic (bought used with 90K miles)
99,800 Miles
Problem: When I turn the key in the ignition, I am not getting any response. There is no electrical response. There is still electrical power in the car though because the emergency blinkers turn on. It is just that the dashboard doesn't light up and the engine does not turnover.
This problem has occurred on and off over the past three years.
Here are the repairs I have tried over the past few years to try to fix this problem: new distributor, new main relay, new distributor cap, rotor and wires, new ignition switch (safety recall).
I actually didn't have the problem for like a whole year then it acted up again recently. Here is the latest sequence of events: Saturday: I drove 22 miles, stopped for an hour, drove 7 miles, stopped for an hour, drove 15 miles, stopped for 20 minutes, couldn’t start the car again. Had the problem described above. I waited until Sunday. Sunday: I was able to start the car. I drove 30 miles. Stopped. Immediately tried to restart the car and was able to. Waited 5 minutes and was UNABLE to start the car. Left the key in the ignition for 4 minutes and the electrical suddenly came on. I was able to start the engine. I turned it off. Waited 5 minutes. I tried to start the car again. There was no electrical for like 4 seconds then the electrical came on. I was able to start the engine. I turned it off and immediately restarted it again. An hour and a half later, I tried again and the car restarted immediately.
What do you think might be going on?
Thanks.
(This post was edited by tmontoya on Aug 22, 2010, 1:28 PM)
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Sidom
Veteran
/ Moderator
Aug 22, 2010, 4:13 PM
Post #2 of 2
(1372 views)
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Re: Honda sometimes starts, sometimes doesn't
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These intermittent electrical problems can be tough to trace down...
Basically what you would have to do is make sure you have a complete system wiring diagram handy. During the failure take note of exactly which systems have power and which ones don't. Then to start off, look at the diagrams and see if they share any common power or ground sources. If they do, that is the circuits where you would start.........
As always before even starting any of this you would make sure you had a good battery (load tested) and all power & ground connections off the battery are clean & tight.....
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