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honda civic starter problems

by Marjorie Upton Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Other Common Electrical System related problems of Honda Civic

Problem Category Number of Problems
Electrical System problems 439
Ignition Switch problems 162
Ignition problems 59
Alternator/generator/regulator problems 45
Apr 4 2022

Full Answer

How do I know if my Honda Civic starter is bad?

If you hear a high pitched whirring sound, it may indicate that your Civic’s starter is bad, or it could mean that the starter is turning, but not making contact with the flywheel. This is often caused by starter bolts that were not torqued tightly enough, or a broken flex plate/flywheel tooth. 2. Won’t Start

Why does my Honda Civic not start when I accelerate?

If the starter is turning slowly, but not fast enough for your Civic to start, it could very likely be a bad battery that is at fault (as opposed to a bad starter). If you aren’t sure if it’s the starter or not, here’s a whole article on diagnosing why your Civic won’t start.

How do I know if my Honda Civic has a problem?

As a driver of Honda Civic, you need to familiarize yourself with your vehicle's overall performance. Yes, your car will throw some error codes on the dashboard indicating a problem whenever it occurs; you need to know when the vehicle does not sound or feel good.

Why does my Honda Accord have a starter problem?

Accord and Crosstour owners claim Honda typically blames the starter problems on “maintenance,” “wear,” or “user induced” issues not covered under warranty.

How do I know if my Honda Civic starter is bad?

Engine Won't Turn Over: The first sign of a bad or failing starter is the most obvious – if you turn the key or press the start button and nothing happens, there's a good chance you have a damaged solenoid, a burnt-out starter motor, or an electrical issue with the battery.

What are the symptoms of starter problems?

Still, look for these seven symptoms that your starter is going bad.#1: Engine Won't Turn Over. ... #2: Noise - Clicking, Grinding, or Whirring. ... #3: Intermittent Issues Starting the Vehicle. ... #4: Starter Stays On After Starting. ... #5: Smoke. ... #6: Starter Engages But Motor Won't Start. ... #7: Battery.

What causes a Honda Civic not to start?

The most common reasons a Honda Civic won't start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter.

How do you check a starter on a Honda Civic?

1:293:34Honda Civic No Crank No Start Diagnosis How to Check ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUm cover in this piece right here but this is your control wire you have to pull that rubber boot upMoreUm cover in this piece right here but this is your control wire you have to pull that rubber boot up. And then stick your piece on. There. And hey it's working.

How do you tell if it's your starter or battery?

Last, Check The Starter The battery sends a burst of energy to the start which uses this energy to turn the engine over and get it car started. If you put the key in the ignition, but only hear a click when you turn the key, you've got a problem with your starter.

Can a starter fail without warning?

Constantly dripping oil can make its way into the internals of the motor and cause it to fail. In such a case, the starter may completely die out without any warning signs.

Why won't my Honda Civic start but has power?

Honda Civic Won't Start But There Is Power Again, the problem may come down to a poor alternator, starter, spark plug, or a block or clog in the fuel line. Even if the ignition electronics and ignition lock are defective, the radio and interior lighting work as usual.

How do you fix a failed starter?

0:381:53How to Fix a Car Starter - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStep 3 gently tap the starter cylinder with a wrench. And test the ignition system to see if thatMoreStep 3 gently tap the starter cylinder with a wrench. And test the ignition system to see if that solves the problem step 4 label both sides of the wires connecting the starter with masking tape.

How much does a starter for a Honda Civic cost?

The average cost for a Honda Civic starter replacement is between $434 and $737. Labor costs are estimated between $109 and $138 while parts are priced between $325 and $599. This range does not include taxes and fees, and does not factor in your specific model year or unique location.

How long does a Honda starter last?

How long does the starter motor last? On average, a starter motor lasts for 100,000-150,000 miles.

How do you know if its the starter or solenoid?

Let someone turn on the ignition key or press the starter button. Observe the light — if it doesn't turn on, the solenoid is likely failing to transfer power and might need replacement. However, if the light turns on but there's no clicking sound or starter engagement, the issue lies with the car starter.

How do you test a starter to see if it's good?

9:5514:58How to Test and Troubleshoot a Starter Problem - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe positive cable goes on its starter. Then we're to crank the engine the positive side crankingMoreThe positive cable goes on its starter. Then we're to crank the engine the positive side cranking test you don't want to see any more than 0.7 volts here. So if you see more than 0.7 volts here then.

What is the mileage of a 1997 Honda Civic?

The contact owns a 1997 Honda Civic. The failure mileage was 112000 and the current mileage was 113000. The vehicle was having trouble shifting from first to second gear and the engine light turned on. The vehicle was taken to the dealer.

Is there a charge for reconnecting after market remote starter?

Consumer received a recall notice regarding a defective ignition switch, when consumer arrived at the dealership, she was informed there would be a charge to reconnect the after market remote starter on the vehicle, or the started would be left disconnected, consumer took the vehicle to another dealer and was assured there would be no charge.

Why won't my Honda Civic start?

Your Honda Civic won't start because of different reasons, including a bad battery, a faulty starter, or a broken alternator. In some way or situations, your starting problem with your Honda Civic is related to the fuel system. More specifically, you need to check for a clogged fuel filter, a broken fuel pump, or a damaged timing belt.

How to tell if alternator is bad on Honda Civic?

When your Honda Civic alternator goes bad, there are plenty of common symptoms, including: A dashboard warning light was indicating an issue with the alternator. This warning light usually says either “ALT” or “GEN.”. Your vehicles headlights might be very dim or flicker.

How to tell if Honda fuel pump is bad?

When your Honda Civic fuel pump goes bad, you will notice some of the common symptoms of a bad fuel pump, including: The fuel tank will make weird noises. Your vehicle will find it difficult to start. The Honda Civic engine will start sputtering. The engine will stall.

How much does it cost to change a fuel filter on a Honda Civic?

On average, changing the Honda Civic fuel filter costs between $246 and $276. Labor costs range from $112 and $141, while parts needed won't cost you about $135. Like the issue would be a clogged filter, the fuel pump might also be clogged or damaged, preventing the fuel from reaching the engine. Therefore, your Honda Civic won't crank ...

How to tell if Honda Civic battery is bad?

Common symptoms are indicating that your Honda Civic battery is failing. Some of these symptoms include: The headlights are very dim. The vehicle makes clicking noises every time you turn the key. The engine takes a long time to crank. You might need to press the gas pedal to start your Honda Civic.

How much does it cost to replace an alternator on a Honda Civic?

On average, installing a new alternator for your Honda Civic costs between $447 and $804. Parts costs range from $329 and $655, while labor costs range from $118 and $145.

How much does it cost to replace a Honda Civic battery?

On average, replacing the Honda Civic Battery costs between $161 and $171. Labor costs range from $27 to $35, while parts costs are about $137.

What happened to the 2007 Honda Civic?

The contact stated that once the vehicle was powered off and the key was removed from the ignition, the vehicle would fail to restart. The contact could restart the vehicle if the key was not removed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who stated that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 66,378.

How many turns does it take for a car to start?

The electric power will come on (dash board icons, headlights, etc. ), but it will not crank. It takes from 2 to 7 turns of the key, before it cranks and starts. This problem occurs sometimes once a week, sometimes 2 or 3 times.

How much does it cost to replace a Honda starter?

Those complaints describe the cost to replace the starters, typically between $400 and $900.

Did Honda conceal the fact that the starters were not assembled?

Not only did Honda allegedly actively conceal the fact that particular components within the starters were not assembled and manufactured correctly, the automaker also forgot to mention the existence of the alleged defect would diminish the resale value of the vehicles, according to the plaintiff.

Has Honda recalled starters?

Despite the complaints, Honda hasn't recalled the cars to permanently fix the starter problems and has done nothing to reimburse customers who have incurred out-of-pocket expenses to repair the starters. The Honda lawsuit claims if customers would have known about the defective starters, those consumers would have purchased different cars.

Why is my Honda Civic not starting?

There are a few reasons why your Honda Civic may not be starting, such as a bad starter , a bad battery, bad alternator, and more.

What causes a Civic to not start?

1. Bad Battery. The battery is responsible for providing the voltage necessary to crank your Civic’s engine over when it is not running. When the battery begins to give out, it will provide enough voltage for a start, but not enough for a quick start. You can almost FEEL it struggling to turn the engine when this happens.

What is CCA on a starter?

When the weather is nice outside the battery is able to provide it’s full cranking amperage. CCA is the number of amps that a battery can provide to the starter at 0°F for 30 seconds while maintaining 7.2 V plus. CCA is always a lower number.

What does a battery light on a Honda Civic mean?

The battery light is a good indication that you were going down the right path with your diagnosis, but it is not guaranteed that the battery is good if it is not on. 2. Corroded Battery Post. A corroded battery post can easily create a condition where your Civic hesitates to start.

Why does my Honda Civic turn over so slowly?

Your Civic may be turning over slowly due to a worn starter motor. When you turn the key, a powerful electromagnet is activated that forces the starter gear to engage. Once this happens, the starter turns the flywheel fast enough fast enough that the engine can take over.

How to tell if battery cable is bad?

A bad battery cable can also have the same exact affect. The way that you tell that the battery cable is bad is to check the voltage as it leaves the alternator, and check it again as it enters the battery.

How to test alternator voltage?

You can test the alternator yourself pretty easy with a multimeter. Before you start the vehicle, hook a multimeter to the battery. Get the voltage number, now go ahead and start it and test it again.

Honda Civic Beeping

Some owners of Honda Civics have found the audio unit makes beeping noises randomly as if the soft keys are being pressed. This could be fixed by reducing touch screen sensitivity. The problem could also be due to an engaged parking brake, a seatbelt that isn’t connected, or lights left on.

Honda Civic Battery Keeps Dying

The majority of dead battery complaints on a Honda Civic are caused by the battery itself. Batteries that are weak, cold, or low on charge can cause the vehicle not to start. Other reasons the battery may be dying are faulty alternators, parasitic draws, or electrical loads left on (such as the dome light).

Honda Civic Engine Keeps Flooding

Civic engines are all now fuel injected instead of carbureted, meaning less flooding overall – however, they can still suffer from flooding due to a problem in the ignition or fuel system. To start a flooded engine simply press the gas pedal to the floor and start the engine.

Honda Civic Keeps Locking and Unlocking

The automatic locks on a Honda Civic are occasionally prone to locking and unlocking on their own. This can be contributed to a faulty component such as key fob, door lock actuator, switch relay, or control unit.

Honda Civic Keeps Honking

Almost always when a Civic honks at random, the horn button/switch needs to be replaced. It is also possible that the horn relay is shorted internally, or that the wiring is faulty. If your Civic honks rapidly multiple times when you turn on the ignition, the alarm system needs to be reset.

Honda Civic Keeps Blowing Alternator Fuse

Blowing the #15 alternator fuse on Civic was a common problem in model years 1996-2000. The issue was wiring rubbing and shorting against an intake support bracket, causing the fuse to blow.

Honda Civic Alarm Keeps Going Off

There are a few things that can cause the alarm to go off on a Honda Civic. Damaged door and hood switches are common causes, as well as faulty key fobs. Body control module related issues can also be to blame, especially on 2016+ Civics with keyless access.

Dash Lights

The dashboard warning lights come on when you try to turn on your car, but the engine does not crank or spin over. This is a classic sign of a bad starter.

Clicking

If you experience the dreaded “clicking” noise when you try to turn the key, this is a good sign of starter failure. Keep in mind though that even if you do not get the clicking noise and nothing happens when you try to start the car, the issue may still be with the starter.

Slow Cranking

Another symptom of a failing starter is an engine that cranks over very slowly, the starter seems to drag or struggle to spin the engine over.

Smoke

Since there are so many electrical components connected to the starter system, if you try to turn on the car and the only result of this is a ton of smoke, you definitely need to put the key down and call a mechanic. This could be a sign of the starter causing the electrical system to overheat.

Oil-Soaked Starter

You may also want to take the time to pop open the hood and see if you can locate the starter. Sometimes, the oil system can spring a leak which soaks the starter, leading the starter to malfunction. If this is the case, you may be in for some very expensive repairs.

Starter Parts

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