My car is not starting. Any ideas? - Honda Prelude Forum

lumesan · 08-16-2009, 09:39 PM

HI:

My 5th gen when I turn and hit the clutch to turn it on is not doing nothing, I tried another battery in case it was the battery but nothing, the lights and everything works except is not starting.

HEEEEEEEEELLPP

thanks Luis

pIERCE · 08-16-2009, 09:46 PM

Many things could be the culprit.

The neutral start switch could be bad(maybe)...the starter soleniod could be bad...(I don't knwo if the prelude has something like that, never thought about it)...but mainly the starter could be bad.

Wiring could also be an issue. Have you cleaned the battery terminals and clamps?

doh22a4c · 08-16-2009, 09:53 PM

Quite simple actually.

Do this:

1) Looking at the engine from the front of the car, locate the starter motor. It's on the left-most end of the transmission right next to the clutch/flywheel inspection hole (next to the engine code stamp).

2) Unplug the little wire connected to the top (smaller section) of the starter. DO NOT unbolt the larger wire.

3) Turn ignition switch to ON (II) and put gear lever in NEUTRAL (very important . . . stressing again NEUTRAL!!!!!)

4) Verify shift lever is in Neutral, lol, jk

5) Attach a wire (AWG 12 or so) to the connector on the starter where the wire you just unplugged normally goes. You can just hold it on the contact if you like or crimp a female spade to the end of your wire.

6) Connect the other end of the wire to the car's POSITIVE battery post.

7) Let us know what happens and we'll take it from there.

indylude18 · 08-16-2009, 10:24 PM

Before you do anything else, call a Honda dealership and check to see if your ignition recall has been done yet. They will run your VIN so have it handy. If it hasn't been done yet it is a 100% free service at the dealer.

pIERCE · 08-16-2009, 10:32 PM

^^Great call! Totally forgot about that recall....

lumesan · 08-17-2009, 03:13 AM

doh22a4c I just did that and nothing happens, I think is the starter. I will call honda and check that recall, now that I remember I called one day and gave them the vin number but they never said anything about recalls.
thanks

jonbar87 · 08-17-2009, 08:49 AM

or you can just go here, https://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/login.asp?brand=Honda create yourself a username and password, then log in and see tons of information about your car...including weather or not the recalls have been done. we actually had two on our cars:

Description 1997-98 BALL JOINT
Date 4/30/1999
Type Safety Recall Campaign
Status Fixed

Description 1997-99 HONDA IGNITION SWITCH
Date 5/17/2002
Type Safety Recall Campaign
Status Fixed

both mine have been done

Rodmunch · 08-17-2009, 09:31 AM

^ Beat me to it.

doh22a4c · 08-17-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumesan

doh22a4c I just did that and nothing happens, I think is the starter. I will call honda and check that recall, now that I remember I called one day and gave them the vin number but they never said anything about recalls.
thanks

If it didn't at least turn over, the ignition has nothing to do with it. There may still be a recall on your car that you could pursue just to have it done, but the starter motor is the culprit here. Make sure the large wire is securely bolted to the starter. If it is, replace the starter, I think there are also some auto parts places that rebuild them, or so I've heard. May or may not be worth looking into.

Good Luck

Kronn 98SH · 08-17-2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doh22a4c

If it didn't at least turn over, the ignition has nothing to do with it. There may still be a recall on your car that you could pursue just to have it done, but the starter motor is the culprit here.

BULLSHlT. When my ignition switch went out, the car would only start sometimes. The times when it did not start, it did absolutely nothing. The ignition switch is most likely the problem.

OP, automatic or manual? If manual, simply push-start the car to get where you need to go.

As for finding out about the recall. In my area it's faster to simply call the dealership. This might not be the same in your area. Either way, have your VIN handy.

indylude18 · 08-17-2009, 04:48 PM

x2

doh22a4c · 08-17-2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kronn 98SH

BULLSHlT. When my ignition switch went out, the car would only start sometimes. The times when it did not start, it did absolutely nothing. The ignition switch is most likely the problem.

OP, automatic or manual? If manual, simply push-start the car to get where you need to go.

As for finding out about the recall. In my area it's faster to simply call the dealership. This might not be the same in your area. Either way, have your VIN handy.

Before you go on your rant, you should read my ENTIRE post.

I was instructing the poster on how to jump the starter motor and connect its solenoid directly to battery power, thereby BYPASSING the starting circuit. . .which includes the ignition switch, for the uninitiated. Therefore, if the starter did nothing, it had nothing to do with the ignition switch because that circuit was just bypassed.

Read first, buddy.

pIERCE · 08-17-2009, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doh22a4c

Read first, buddy.

Bad choice of words. That was a little too snide...

...here we go, again.....

lumesan · 08-17-2009, 10:31 PM

well I called advanced auto parts and they have one in stock for $113.49 + the old one, I would try push start the car but were I live is not easy and the car is too heavy for me. Want to read something funny the same thing happened to my crx but he would start using the cable to the battery. so after the prelude I have to check crx too.
thanks a lot guys.

Rodmunch · 08-18-2009, 12:52 AM

Did you check about the recall?

Kronn 98SH · 08-18-2009, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pIERCE

Bad choice of words. That was a little too snide...

...here we go, again.....

No, no. He's right. I am guilty of not fully reading his posts. It becomes a habit when you are use to seeing someone with <10 posts pretend like they know something. Sorry dude.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodmunch

Did you check about the recall?

Answer this please.

lumesan · 08-18-2009, 08:16 AM

I forgot to check for the recall, when the same thing happened on my other car I was so upset that I forgot. but Im calling today and getting the starter.
thanks

lumesan · 08-18-2009, 01:37 PM

Well I called Honda dealer this morning I know a guy there and Im still waiting for him to call me back, I bought a new starter and now the car is running again. Tomorrow I will stop by the dealer to see if there is any recall. thanks a lot guys for your help now I have to see whats wrong on my crx.
again Thanks.

Luis

Kronn 98SH · 08-18-2009, 04:34 PM

Wow. So basically, you just ignored everything everyone here said. How much did you pay for that new starter?

lumesan · 08-18-2009, 04:55 PM

Well I called Honda a few times and they said they were going to call me, never happened and I needed to fix it because both cars were not runing and since the prelude has a/c and the crx doesnt + is hot here in in Florida so I decided to buy it, it was the easy and faster desition for the moment. but if the recalls are not done I will take the car to Honda. I paid $89.00 for a new one.

Thanks everybody for the help.