ignition problem?

JackHammer · 10-19-2002, 01:20 PM

My bro has this 97 Accord and recently when he starts the car you hear a hesitation. Just this morning the car just didn't start. I was thinking that it might be the battery but the indicator is telling me it's good. Anyways I took the car down to R&S Strauss and they tested the battery for me. THe guy said all is good. I then told him about the problem with the car and he told me that he thinks it's the starter that's causing the problem. Dude said that it'll cost about $250 to change the starter but he recommended not changing it until the starter ultimately dies. How hard is it to change a starter? I'm thinking a Helms manual and some tools I can do it.

np-complete · 10-20-2002, 04:28 PM

Changing a starter is really not that hard. With that said, it really depends on how difficult it will be to get access to the starter itself. I only have experience with V-8 American cars, so what I say may not apply.

A starter usually has two components: the starter itself and a starter solenoid. On some cars, these two components are integrated, others not. If, after looking at your manual, you determine that you have two separate components, it may make sense to try to replace the solenoid first. Sometimes these are mounted to the firewall and, in general, are relatively cheap.

I would start there and clean the terminals on the solenoid and especially the connectors on the starter itself. A lot of times, it is just corrosion that causes these problems.

You said the battery was good - how about the cables? Cleaning off the ends with a wire brush can work wonders.

On a final note, waiting for whatever it is to die and then replacing it is not exactly sound advice. You have to realize that parts invariably die at the most inopportune time. So, you can count on a tow bill to somewhere that knows your car is broken and you may or may not get taken advantage of. And then if the part is not stock (for whatever reason) then you could end up with two days without a car.

Of course, taking it somewhere and having someone replace parts until the problem is fixed is not cheap or efficient. You don't want to spend a lot of money on a 6 year-old car. Definitely get the car manual because it should have troubleshooting techniques as well as parts replacements instructions.

JackHammer · 10-24-2002, 12:57 PM

Thanks. My bro is just going to change the battery for now. He said the other day the car didn't start up again. He had someone jumpstart the car and it worked. If it's the starter, then why would a jumpstart start the car? Any recommendation on what battery to get? I thinking the DieHard GOLD from SEARS.

np-complete · 10-24-2002, 04:09 PM

It really sounds like it is a connectivity problem or your current battery may not have enough juice to activate start the car. You said he had the battery checked out already and it was good? Did they actually use a load tester to check whether it can hold a load? In many instances, a battery can produce 12 volts after being charged, but will fail quickly under load. If it is the original battery, then 6 years is great and it probably time for a new one. I would really check the cables though. Corrosion on one (or both) ends of the cable could cause this problem (as could a weak battery).

Ladogaboy · 10-24-2002, 04:16 PM

Also, when was the last time you cleaned the connectors on the battery cables and the battery posts? That can cause similar problems too.

JackHammer · 10-24-2002, 04:42 PM

THe cable and the connecting posts look clean. No crusty build up. The guy at R&S Strauss used this voltmeter-like device. A handheld thing with two wires coming out of it. He attached those wires to the battery while the battery was still connected to the car. He checked the battery while messing with the throttle. This is the original battery. THe diehard gold looks good to you?

np-complete · 10-24-2002, 06:41 PM

A voltmeter is not a good device for determining battery condition. You really need to determine if the battery can hold a load. Batteries are lead-acid based and after a while the constant charging and discharging cycle can reduce the total amount of charge a battery can hold. When batteries get really old, the plates inside your battery actually dissolve and no electrical energy is created. At this point, I would go ahead and replace it if the connectors look good and you are able to start with a jump. The diehard is a good battery as are AC Delcos and Champions. If you have an Interstate dealer near you, those are pretty good batteries as well.

Small cars don't require massive amounts of cold cranking amps (CCAs) to start the car, somewhere around 500-600 CCAs should be fine for your car unless you live in Alaska or somewhere like that.

JackHammer · 11-02-2002, 07:47 PM

Thanks yo. My bro changed the battery and everything is now peachy keen.

10-19-2002, 01:20 PM	#1
JackHammer Commander Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: The Toilet Capital of America Posts: 1,328	ignition problem? My bro has this 97 Accord and recently when he starts the car you hear a hesitation. Just this morning the car just didn't start. I was thinking that it might be the battery but the indicator is telling me it's good. Anyways I took the car down to R&S Strauss and they tested the battery for me. THe guy said all is good. I then told him about the problem with the car and he told me that he thinks it's the starter that's causing the problem. Dude said that it'll cost about $250 to change the starter but he recommended not changing it until the starter ultimately dies. How hard is it to change a starter? I'm thinking a Helms manual and some tools I can do it. __________________ "I'm very sorry for your loss. Your mother was a terribly attractive woman." -Royal Tenebaum "Oh yeah. Oh yeah. I would do everything to her, I don't care what she looks like. I would wreck that chick." -Brian from the Family Guy after Peter asked him whether he would have sex with Lois.

10-24-2002, 04:16 PM	#5
Ladogaboy Admiral Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Hiding amongst the minnows Posts: 6,843	Also, when was the last time you cleaned the connectors on the battery cables and the battery posts? That can cause similar problems too. __________________ It is not enough to merely touch the face of god; you also must open your eyes so that you may see your palm.

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10-20-2002, 04:28 PM	#2
np-complete Ensign Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 7	Changing a starter is really not that hard. With that said, it really depends on how difficult it will be to get access to the starter itself. I only have experience with V-8 American cars, so what I say may not apply. A starter usually has two components: the starter itself and a starter solenoid. On some cars, these two components are integrated, others not. If, after looking at your manual, you determine that you have two separate components, it may make sense to try to replace the solenoid first. Sometimes these are mounted to the firewall and, in general, are relatively cheap. I would start there and clean the terminals on the solenoid and especially the connectors on the starter itself. A lot of times, it is just corrosion that causes these problems. You said the battery was good - how about the cables? Cleaning off the ends with a wire brush can work wonders. On a final note, waiting for whatever it is to die and then replacing it is not exactly sound advice. You have to realize that parts invariably die at the most inopportune time. So, you can count on a tow bill to somewhere that knows your car is broken and you may or may not get taken advantage of. And then if the part is not stock (for whatever reason) then you could end up with two days without a car. Of course, taking it somewhere and having someone replace parts until the problem is fixed is not cheap or efficient. You don't want to spend a lot of money on a 6 year-old car. Definitely get the car manual because it should have troubleshooting techniques as well as parts replacements instructions.

10-24-2002, 12:57 PM	#3
JackHammer Commander Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: The Toilet Capital of America Posts: 1,328	Thanks. My bro is just going to change the battery for now. He said the other day the car didn't start up again. He had someone jumpstart the car and it worked. If it's the starter, then why would a jumpstart start the car? Any recommendation on what battery to get? I thinking the DieHard GOLD from SEARS.

10-24-2002, 04:09 PM	#4
np-complete Ensign Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 7	It really sounds like it is a connectivity problem or your current battery may not have enough juice to activate start the car. You said he had the battery checked out already and it was good? Did they actually use a load tester to check whether it can hold a load? In many instances, a battery can produce 12 volts after being charged, but will fail quickly under load. If it is the original battery, then 6 years is great and it probably time for a new one. I would really check the cables though. Corrosion on one (or both) ends of the cable could cause this problem (as could a weak battery).

10-24-2002, 04:42 PM	#6
JackHammer Commander Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: The Toilet Capital of America Posts: 1,328	THe cable and the connecting posts look clean. No crusty build up. The guy at R&S Strauss used this voltmeter-like device. A handheld thing with two wires coming out of it. He attached those wires to the battery while the battery was still connected to the car. He checked the battery while messing with the throttle. This is the original battery. THe diehard gold looks good to you?

10-24-2002, 06:41 PM	#7
np-complete Ensign Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 7	A voltmeter is not a good device for determining battery condition. You really need to determine if the battery can hold a load. Batteries are lead-acid based and after a while the constant charging and discharging cycle can reduce the total amount of charge a battery can hold. When batteries get really old, the plates inside your battery actually dissolve and no electrical energy is created. At this point, I would go ahead and replace it if the connectors look good and you are able to start with a jump. The diehard is a good battery as are AC Delcos and Champions. If you have an Interstate dealer near you, those are pretty good batteries as well. Small cars don't require massive amounts of cold cranking amps (CCAs) to start the car, somewhere around 500-600 CCAs should be fine for your car unless you live in Alaska or somewhere like that.

11-02-2002, 07:47 PM	#8
JackHammer Commander Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: The Toilet Capital of America Posts: 1,328	Thanks yo. My bro changed the battery and everything is now peachy keen.

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