EK4 - not starting :(

[Han17]

Hey guys..

Ok so i've had problems with starting my car for a while but i thought it was just because of the sub i had in there. here is my problem:

car turns on fine.. all the usual beeps and noises. I go to start it and it doesn't even crank.

I tried jump starting it and push starting it but nothing worked. I called out RACQ and he checked all he could and everything was fine so he said its something between the starter motor (cable??) and the ignition that was at fault. Could it be the imobiliser?
He also tried starting it manually by running a wire from the battery to the starter cable i think it was and it wouldnt start.

Any suggestions or ideas before iI go to honda would be awesome! they havn'e been the best the last couple of times ive spoken to them...

thanks

[EK1.6LCIV]

sounds like a towing to a dealer is in order, have u washed the engine recently??

[Han17]

yeh i was hoping to get some input from here b4 i took it cos it really helped me last time :)

it was sat in the rain over the weekend due to the fact that I was in sydney.

[Han17]

im just praying its not the distributor!

[mars_panas]

could be one of your fuses under the hood that's causing the car not to start....

[Han17]

checked the fuses.. they all look good...

[EK1.6LCIV]

yea if its the dizzy ur up for a good expense, check the rotor in it I supose :D

[Han17]

ok thanks ryan..

if anyone else can think of something else let me know :)

[nd55]

> im just praying its not the distributor!

If it was the dizzy then the motor would turn over (crank) at least.

If it's the dizzy, then pull one of the plugs/use a spare, ground it carefully whilst a helper turns the key.

Be carefull not to touch any metal whilst doing this because you're playing with electricity. Another tip would be to only use one hand, other hand in your pocket.

Not even cranking means no power to starter motor, check fuses & relays.

> He also tried starting it manually by running a wire from the battery to the
> starter cable i think it was and it wouldnt start.

Did the starter motor kick over at least?

Nick.

[OMG.JAI xD]

Starter motor internal windings have shat itself.
Either the windings that pushes the solenoid in or the actual starter motor itself.
Probably worn contacts.

either get it reco'ed or get a 2nd hand one.

Might sound stupid but, push start only works with manuals and the key has to be in the ignition position. Just to clear it up.

[tayl51601]

Hope your not trying to start the car with the red key hahaha

Could also be a ecu problem.......... The car wont start if a wire or plug is loose.

[panda[cRx]]

main relays are relatively common with cars of that age. but yeh get it checked out before you spend any money

[Han17]

thanks guys i'll go through each of your comments and see what i can figure out. if non of it works looks like i'll be taking to to honda.


Did the starter motor kick over at least?
by this do you mean did it crank? - sorry if i sound stupid but if this is what you mean then yes it cranked but didnt quite start.

and also jason i did try push starting it and it didnt work. It almost started but didnt quite get there. does that mean my starter motor could be ok? and if so where could the fault possibly be if you havn't already said.


and just for clarification i wasnt using the red key :P

[Han17]

yeh I had a couple of mates helping me and we rolled it down a fair hill in 2nd gear etc so was done properly.

i'll have a look around for a used one. i just want to get it starting and then sell it. It's given me too much hassle already and its too unreliable to get me to work now too :(

[Han17]

yeh unfortunately Tafe got me travelling a lot and my baby didn't like it but I wasn't in a position then to get a daily driver.
But yeh i'm looking at getting the micra and keeping my Honda as my weekend car. I have found the honda i like and I'm just looking at getting the funds for it :)

[Sir_vtec]

i think its your starter motor. Check for loose cables connected to the starter motor. This is from experience.

From experience one of my cables was split causing it to not crank or click at all. If not then its definitely the starter motor.

[ek4-guy]

yeah i had a good laugh when i found out what it was.

lame.

it's actually a very nice car it's not your average example thats forsure

[Han17]

yeah i had a good laugh when i found out what it was.

lame.

why is it lame? its only to get me to work and back. its a perfectly good car for what I need it for.

[TODA AU]

Ok so i've had problems with starting my car for a while...


Your starter should be repaired / replaced - the solinoid is not enguaging.
The push start is not working because your spark plugs are fouled - replace them.
Your battery should be tested & replaced if nessesary.
At the same time you should get your service shedule up to date.

[ek4-guy]

why is it lame? its only to get me to work and back. its a perfectly good car for what I need it for.

i think he ment the other car you want

:thumbdwn: play nice Jase

[Han17]

well a delsol certainly aint lame.. :)

[Han17]

Jason, this post is to help me out with my EK-4 not to try have a dig at me or whatever your trying to do. so if you've got nothing decent to say dont bother posting anything.

[JasonGilholme]

You're the one that brought up your other car. If you didn't want to talk about it then shut up.

think of it this way. If you can't look after an EK4 which needs more maintenance then a regular car, how are you going to look after a del sol. which needs more maintanence again.

Forward thinking.

If you don't like my help then i'll just go delete my helpful posts.

should have kept my mouth shut in the first place. I knew it was a bad idea helping you.

[Han17]

yeh i brought it up but i never said "yeh have a good ol' laugh at me!!!"
just no need for it!

and yes you gave me some good advice but thats all you needed to do.

oh and yeh your help isnt needed.

[Han17]

update:

im talking to Nissan tomorrow to see if they'll take my civic as a part exchange. if not i'll certainly be taking what has been said and sorting it out myself.

thanks everyone :) i'll see how i go tomorrow.

[Han17]

Ok so a quick update I know it has been a while...

I had someone have a quick look at my civic and he reckons it is my after Market alarm system that I'd faulting. So I'm whipping that out and seeing if it works :) fingers crossed

[MikeyG]

it wont your ur alarm system and why are you takin your civic to a nissan dealer :confused: to trade in or mech??

[JDM EK9]

bro check ur battery cable and the connections to the + & - .....take a hammer and give it a few knocks on the both connectors and try... maybe its loose or even rusty, If not its ur distributor ...Sorry to hear that

[Riviera]

yeh I had a couple of mates helping me and we rolled it down a fair hill in 2nd gear etc so was done properly.

i'll have a look around for a used one. i just want to get it starting and then sell it. It's given me too much hassle already and its too unreliable to get me to work now too :(




soooooo mush easier to jump start in reverse bro, trust me u only need to be travelling like 3km/h lol

i had to do this at northlakes

reason being
the power cable on the starter motor wasnt completely tight so it wasnt
getting full power...

anther cause i found... all the earth were not getting full contact with chasis too
because of the respary...

[Riviera]

sorry if i sound stupid but if this is what you mean then yes it cranked but didnt quite start.

and also jason i did try push starting it and it didnt work. It almost started but didnt quite get there. does that mean my starter motor could be ok? and if so where could the fault possibly be if you havn't already said.


and just for clarification i wasnt using the red key :P


by the sound of this post the starter motor is ok....
its just not firing...

check plugs
check leads
check dizzy
check injector connections...


if its winding then just stopping soundz like new battery....
if your starter motor and battrery is fine it should just keep winding over,
do not wind them for too long though rouglhy 5 seconds is enough...
if nothings happening by then, well then nothings going to happen

[Han17]

took my car into Honda and found out the factory immobiliser was faulting so new immobilser and keys and it's all good :)