YACT: Car won't start; engine doesn't make noise

[Alphathree33]

From time to time, the following happens with my car:

Key in ignition - no problems

Turn key to stage 1 or 2:

- The engine and oil lights come on (normal)
- The radio/air/wipers/lights/whatever come on (normal)

Turn key to stage 3 to "start" the car:

- I hear a "bzzzzzz" (NOT a "cranking", just a soft buzz)
- Car does not start or make any "engine" noises

Sometimes this doesn't happen for a week, some times it happens three times in a day (like today.) It seems to be related to the cold, although I haven't noticied a specific pattern.

I had Honda look at it (it's a 91 civic), but they couldn't reproduce the problem and said it could be one of a number of things.

I had a new battery put in the car about a year ago as well as spark plugs/tune up. It is full-up on oil and gas.

 

[Injury]

I had a problem that sounded similar a few weeks ago.

It turned out to be the starter soleinoid(sp)...

Does the buzz sound electrical or mechanical (like something moving)

 

[desy]

The hum
Does it sound electircal like a solenoid problem 'chatter' tic a tic a , or mechanical like the starter gears not enguaging?

 

[Alphathree33]

Originally posted by: Injury
I had a problem that sounded similar a few weeks ago.

It turned out to be the starter soleinoid(sp)...

Does the buzz sound electrical or mechanical (like something moving)

I am fairly sure it is an 'electrical' sound, although something very small moving very fast (aside from electrons =) could probably make that sound too.

 

[Pepsi90919]

main relay

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
From time to time, the following happens with my car:

Key in ignition - no problems

Turn key to stage 1 or 2:

- The engine and oil lights come on (normal)
- The radio/air/wipers/lights/whatever come on (normal)

Turn key to stage 3 to "start" the car:

- I hear a "bzzzzzz" (NOT a "cranking", just a soft buzz)
- Car does not start or make any "engine" noises

Sometimes this doesn't happen for a week, some times it happens three times in a day (like today.) It seems to be related to the cold, although I haven't noticied a specific pattern.

I had Honda look at it (it's a 91 civic), but they couldn't reproduce the problem and said it could be one of a number of things.

I had a new battery put in the car about a year ago as well as spark plugs/tune up. It is full-up on oil and gas.

Sounds like the solenoid is busted. The starter is cranking but doesn't engage.

 

[iamwiz82]

Sounds like your starter is borked.

 

[Alphathree33]

Okay, the hum basically sounds like there is a bumble bee in my ear.

 

[Pepsi90919]

:|

 

[desy]

Well a wrecker should have a starter for you with solenoid and they aren't too hard to change out.
Give it w whirl

 

[njmodi]

Do you hear any clicking at all when you turn the key to actually "start" the car? It sure sounds like a dead starter. Try this: find your starter, use a wrench or mallet or 2x4 and give it a firm whack... try to start the car again.

 

[se7en]

I would check the starter out 1st b4 anything else as long as your sure its not the battery. You can also get ghetto with it and bang the starter around a little. Get a 1" socket wrench and bang on a time or 2 sounds crazy but its worked for me on more than one occasssion.In my case knocked off a little corrosion and got it cranked ( still had to replace starter) up so I could at least drive TO the parts store :beer:

thats just my crazy luck with starters tho

 

[Alphathree33]

Originally posted by: se7en
I would check the starter out 1st b4 anything else as long as your sure its not the battery. You can also get ghetto with it and bang the starter around a little. Get a 1" socket wrench and bang on a time or 2 sounds crazy but its worked for me on more than one occasssion.In my case knocked off a little corrosion and got it cranked ( still had to replace starter) up so I could at least drive TO the parts store :beer:

thats just my crazy luck with starters tho

LOL I thought the other guy was kidding when he was telling me to hit my starter.

Well really I want to have it done right, I usually pay for Honda to do it. I trust myself to recompile a Linux kernel, not install a new start (or hit it with something. ;-)

Maybe I'll just tell Honda to replace the starter even if they're not sure that's 100% the cause... hwo much does a new starter cost?

 

[Quixfire]

Like more of the posters before me it sounds like a failing starter solenoid on the starter motor. But before we condemn the starter assemble let us first cover the basics.

Weak or poor battery cable connections can cause a starter solenoid to make a buzzing noise due to insufficient current flow. I would clean and inspect both the battery and starter cable connections.

A weak or discharged battery can also create the same system as poor cable connections. I would have the battery and charging system checked for proper operation.

If both of these condition check out ok then I would remove the starter and have a local shop test the solenoid or starter motor for proper operation.

Honda Civic/CRX/del Sol 1984-1995 Starter Repair Guide

 

[Alphathree33]

Originally posted by: Quixfire
Like more of the posters before me it sounds like a failing starter solenoid on the starter motor. But before we condemn the starter assemble let us first cover the basics.

Weak or poor battery cable connections can cause a starter solenoid to make a buzzing noise due to insufficient current flow. I would clean and inspect both the battery and starter cable connections.

A weak or discharged battery can also create the same system as poor cable connections. I would have the battery and charging system checked for proper operation.

If both of these condition check out ok then I would remove the starter and have a local shop test the solenoid or starter motor for proper operation.

Honda Civic/CRX/del Sol 1984-1995 Starter Repair Guide

I'm almost certain the battery is fine although I can't discount the connections to and from the battery.

I don't even know where to find the "starter cable connections". =) Nor how to clean them, although I've been told that Coca Cola works wonders.

REMOVE THE STARTER... hahehehehhe.... you're talking to a guy who just learned how to put oil in his engine two weeks ago and that's because he learned to check it two weeks ago and found out that it needed some.

I think almost definitely I'm going to take it into Honda and just have them, as you say, replace the starter and check assoicated connections.

If it was related to the starter, why does the problem seem to be sensitive to the cold?

 

[Quixfire]

Cold temperatures reduce electrical current flow therefore increasing the chance a weak or poor connection or a bad solenoid could cause a failure.

 

[Alphathree33]

Originally posted by: Quixfire
Cold temperatures reduce electrical current flow...

Hey! That's something I know a bit about...!