I seldom use the car (3-4 trips a week at most of no more than 5 miles
per). Six weeks after replacing the battery, the car once again
wouldn't start. Wouldn't even turn over. Just got a clicking from the
engine. Interior and dash lights worked fine, though. After a few
attempts at starting, the headlights were weak; I charged the battery
back up and still had the same problem starting. A friend led me
through some testing which seemed to indicate a dead starter. So I
pulled that, got a refurbished one, and put it in.
Now the car still won't start, but has come up with a new failure mode:
When I turn the key to position II, I get rapid clicking from under the
left side of the dash, somewhere above the fusebox. Basic Googling has
turned up a couple posts that suggest the main relay. Any other
possibilities? What testing can I do?
Thanks much,
Sasha
'Curly'
'Curly'
> goo...@quietquake.com wrote:
>> About 2 months ago my 1993 Civic VX Hatchback just plain wouldn't
>> start one day. Took out the battery (7 years old by that point), put
>> in a new one, started like a champ.
>>
>> I seldom use the car (3-4 trips a week at most of no more than 5
>> miles per). Six weeks after replacing the battery, the car once again
>> wouldn't start. Wouldn't even turn over. Just got a clicking from the
>> engine. Interior and dash lights worked fine, though. After a few
>> attempts at starting, the headlights were weak; I charged the battery
>> back up and still had the same problem starting. A friend led me
>> through some testing which seemed to indicate a dead starter. So I
>> pulled that, got a refurbished one, and put it in.
>>
>> Now the car still won't start, but has come up with a new failure
>> mode: When I turn the key to position II, I get rapid clicking from
>> under the left side of the dash, somewhere above the fusebox. Basic
>> Googling has turned up a couple posts that suggest the main relay.
>> Any other possibilities? What testing can I do?
>>
>>
> -----------------------------------
>
> Follow the black wire from the battery to where it bolts to ground.
> Unbolt and clean it, putting some petroleum jelly on it.Then clean
> both battery terminals in a glass of warm water with a teaspoon of
> baking soda dissolved. Put petroleum jelly on them as well and put it
> back together.
>
Ditto. And clean the battery terminal posts as well, with some
sandpaper.
Finally, check the battery's State-of-Charge:
http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq4.htm
Just because you get 12V when you check it doesn't mean it's fully
charged!
--
TeGGeR®
The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
<goo...@quietquake.com> wrote in message
news:1162150316.6...@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Mine did that just 3-4 weeks ago. The rapid clicking sound. Car would
> not start. Happens that for some resaon, my 12v connector on the
> positive terminal had become a bit loose. I still have trouble
> explaining why all the lights would turn on fine but a soon as I
> cranked it, it would die.
Because the lights are low-draw devices. The starter is a high-draw device.
Bad connections can make the starter draw every available amp the battery
has, leaving nothing for anything else.