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2000 Civic Ex wont start, next day it starts once. then wont start again.
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hondaguy99
Novice
Dec 8, 2014, 2:57 PM
Post #1 of 11
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2000 Civic Ex wont start, next day it starts once. then wont start again.
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I have a 2000 Honda Civic Ex and heres my situation
1. Started the car ( no previous issues ) drove 2 miles to a friends house.
2. After hanging out for an hour went to leave, clicked my alarm to get in and no power, not even a light in the car will come on, cant start
3. Hook up cables to jump, ( plenty of juice to battery ) no power at all getting to the car. Not even an interior light. wont start.
4. Called a tow truck, towed me home.
5. Next day I go to take the battery out and and hit my alarm remote out of habit notice the car has power and starts right up.
6. So I drive a mile to the store. Come out of the store, hit alarm and it works.
7. Get in the car and again no power at all not even alarm anymore.
Any idea what this could be?
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 8, 2014, 3:12 PM
Post #2 of 11
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Re: 2000 Civic Ex wont start, next day it starts once. then wont start again.
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Probably a cable connection problem somewhere.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 8, 2014, 3:24 PM
Post #3 of 11
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Re: 2000 Civic Ex wont start, next day it starts once. then wont start again.
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OK - Believe it or not this should be fairly easy and thanks for a pretty dang good description of what's going on and what was tried I still question (jumping it) a little.
1st is the notation that it can behave as if there's no battery power at all whatsoever. That's good info for the hunt. The jump might or might not have actually brought power at all to what would be outside of the clamps at the battery usually most people will only use battery not to engine block which could ad an "if" to this.
The clamps and cables right at the battery and possible even larger gauge wire under insulation may be all but cut and not visible? If so WHEN nothing at all responds it might by wiggle and tug on both wires to get any response.
This could also be at other ends of the cables as well particularly positive cable on way to starter motor.
Weak link for many cars less than 30 years old is wire and lead (Pb) for battery clamps and copper are both on their way out or totally out as model years go on and do not hold up like the heavy stuff also part hazmat metal and copper expensive the replacement stuff lacks. Not just my opinion I see it even on this general type vehicle when they were not so old.
This is being so dramatic for you, you should be able to just use a test light with an Incanscent bulb not LED for this and see right where the total break is when it doesn't light. If really hiding itself on where feel along insulation of cable wires for a soft area or area that just bends way too easily.
Actually I hope for you that you can force this to misbehave totally so you absolutely know you've found it. Start looking and follow those cables right on to where they go,
T
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hondaguy99
Novice
Dec 8, 2014, 3:36 PM
Post #4 of 11
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Re: 2000 Civic Ex wont start, next day it starts once. then wont start again.
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ok thank you, Im going to head back to the car and try that. If not get it towed to my mechanic tomorrow. Maybe if I go back tomorrow it will magically work again like it did when it sat for a day. I thought maybe the battery got charged a bit while sitting if that makes sense. probably not possible, lol
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Dec 8, 2014, 3:42 PM
Post #5 of 11
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Re: 2000 Civic Ex wont start, next day it starts once. then wont start again.
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If a battery was so dead and can be from usually shorting inside itself when you tried to jump it the cables would near certainly react like you touched them together shorted out.
Test light the posts only and forget the clamps to see if anything shows if in question. Bet not the issue or would never be intermittent IMO and experience,
T
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hondaguy99
Novice
Dec 8, 2014, 4:00 PM
Post #6 of 11
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Re: 2000 Civic Ex wont start, next day it starts once. then wont start again.
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is there something i can get at walmart or pep boys that can test the battery real quick without removing the batter and taking it in? Something cheap?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Dec 8, 2014, 4:18 PM
Post #7 of 11
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Re: 2000 Civic Ex wont start, next day it starts once. then wont start again.
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Hmmm? Walmarts in my area stock different levels of test equipment for auto or general use but would have something you could use.
Even a voltmeter (cheap something) might show some good info for this. Not sure if they will have exactly what I would look for but should have something useful to get started for now if doing this right now AND better tool specific places closed.
NAPA for example would have what I'm thinking of and closed now EST. Oddly some Walgreens by name carry some automotive junk and open late or later.
Arggh. If you had a junk vehicle or really in a hurry and not really a great idea you could find a glove box or trunk/hatch light with two wires and cut it off for a test light but if you did that on your car you then have to at least seal that up real nice if going to do without that light or prep for a proper fix later.
I really doubt you will find much for sure without actually going to a place vs their websites for non auto specific places off hours? Happy hunting,
T
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hondaguy99
Novice
Dec 8, 2014, 6:15 PM
Post #8 of 11
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Re: 2000 Civic Ex wont start, next day it starts once. then wont start again.
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Ok I watched this video link deleted ............. not allowed and it says the voltemeter should show at least 12.60. I tested the battery and it came to 12.05 so Im pretty sure its the battery as when I turned my inside light on to check for power the first time it went i noticed it was already in the on position which i sometimes do but hadnt driven the car in 2 days, so that light was on for 2 days.
I ruled the battery being dead out because when we jumped it i got NO power at all in the car during the jump. The only thing it could of been maybe is the negative terminal cable clamp is lose and maybe thats why.
Also the car started the next day. I know this doesnt make sense but ive had a car not start because of a battery before and the next day it had enbough juice to start it. can a battery get a bit of charge back if it sits overnight?
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Dec 8, 2014, 6:47 PM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Dec 8, 2014, 6:55 PM
Post #9 of 11
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Re: 2000 Civic Ex wont start, next day it starts once. then wont start again.
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You can't determine the quality of a battery using a voltmeter. The most reliable way to test a battery is with conductance testing. These testers can run over $1000 so I would bring the battery to an auto parts store and most will test it for free.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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hondaguy99
Novice
Dec 8, 2014, 7:53 PM
Post #10 of 11
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Re: 2000 Civic Ex wont start, next day it starts once. then wont start again.
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well yea Im going to do that. Thinking back to the day it wouldnt start the first time I do remember that inside light switch already being on so I know it drained the battery. Just the fact that it had NO lights or power in the car during the jump and that it started the next day threw me off into thinking it wasnt the battery.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Dec 9, 2014, 2:09 AM
Post #11 of 11
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Re: 2000 Civic Ex wont start, next day it starts once. then wont start again.
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Just some points to clarify or confuse:
*A light was left on in this car and battery found discharged. Any surprise with that?
*Yes - a battery can get some life back when that issue is taken out of the problem but unlikely to start an engine. Plain temperature adds power to assorted battery types.
My own point with jumping and cables: Most are totally cheap junk and a sure connection isn't so sure then the actual gauge of jumper cables plus clamps are marginal at best. Nobody would pay for what superior ones have to cost. If clamps alone can't squeeze a u-bolt battery clamp without the OE battery bolt they are subject to make a lousy connection and mess up knowing why a jump start didn't work or add power at all. Any connection can only be as good as its weakest link,
T
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