Honda Car Forum

My 1987 Acura Integra with 160,000 miles was running fine earlier
today. Now it won’t start. Here’s what happens. Turn key, panel
lights come on as normal, something begins to run (I think it is the
engine fan). It is running at a high pace and very loudly. There is
no click and the engine does not start. When the key is turned to
off, the "fan" (Starter, perhaps?) keeps running for about five
minutes at high speed and then quits. It almost sounds like the
engine is running, but it isn’t. Is the start stuck? Is it a timing
belt issue?

Thank you for your thoughts.
Jolie

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"jblan54" <UseLinkToEmail@AutoForumz.com> wrote in message
news:1_505833_a6e495da27437c0068362ab51a2c2f6c@aut oforumz.com...
> My 1987 Acura Integra with 160,000 miles was running fine earlier
> today. Now it won't start. Here's what happens. Turn key, panel
> lights come on as normal, something begins to run (I think it is the
> engine fan). It is running at a high pace and very loudly. There is
> no click and the engine does not start. When the key is turned to
> off, the "fan" (Starter, perhaps?) keeps running for about five
> minutes at high speed and then quits. It almost sounds like the
> engine is running, but it isn't. Is the start stuck? Is it a timing
> belt issue?
>
> Thank you for your thoughts.
> Jolie
>
Not the timing belt, which would show up as the engine giving more-or-less
normal cranking sounds (maybe faster, but certainly stopping when you
release the starter) but no firing.
Nothing comes to mind... it will help if you can determine whether a
particular fan is running loudly or if the sound could be coming from the
pump in the gas tank, or from the engine itself (which would suggest the
starter is spinning but not engaging - don't know why it would continue for
5 minutes, though).

(Presuming the sound isn't coming from the starter...) Quick and easy to
try - if it is an automatic, see if it will crank when the gearshift is in
Neutral. The safety switch on the gearshift will prevent the engine from
cranking, and the switch may not be working in "Park" now.

If the sound is coming from the starter, it has to be a stuck solenoid.
There is a bulge on the side of the starter that houses the solenoid. A
modest whack with a hammer (like cracking a walnut, but use less bounce)
often frees the solenoid, but if that gets it working now it only tells you
the solenoid is actually jamming. DIYers usually clean and relubricate the
solenoid, but professionals prefer to replace the starter to limit their
responsibility in the event the problem returns. Rebuilt starters (and
alternators) have earned a bad reputation for reliability, and genuine Acura
starters are expensive. Kind of a devil's choice if it comes to that.

Mike

Sounds like a worn out battery that won't turn over the engine but will run
electrical components. Try jumping it.

Doug

"jblan54" <UseLinkToEmail@AutoForumz.com> wrote in message
news:1_505833_a6e495da27437c0068362ab51a2c2f6c@aut oforumz.com...
> My 1987 Acura Integra with 160,000 miles was running fine earlier
> today. Now it won't start. Here's what happens. Turn key, panel
> lights come on as normal, something begins to run (I think it is the
> engine fan). It is running at a high pace and very loudly. There is
> no click and the engine does not start. When the key is turned to
> off, the "fan" (Starter, perhaps?) keeps running for about five
> minutes at high speed and then quits. It almost sounds like the
> engine is running, but it isn't. Is the start stuck? Is it a timing
> belt issue?
>
> Thank you for your thoughts.
> Jolie
>
> --
> Posted using the http://www.autoforumz.com interface, at author's request
> Articles individually checked for conformance to usenet standards
> Topic URL:
> http://www.autoforumz.com/Acura-runn...ict108271.html
> Visit Topic URL to contact author (reg. req'd). Report abuse:
> http://www.autoforumz.com/eform.php?p=505833

"Doug Holtz NOSPAM" wrote:
> Sounds like a worn out battery that won't turn over the engine
> but will run
> electrical components. Try jumping it.
>
> Doug
>
> "jblan54" <UseLinkToEmail@AutoForumz.com> wrote in message
> news:1_505833_a6e495da27437c0068362ab51a2c2f6c@aut oforumz.com...
> > My 1987 Acura Integra with 160,000 miles was running fine
> earlier
> > today. Now it won't start. Here's what happens. Turn key,
> panel
> > lights come on as normal, something begins to run (I think
> it is the
> > engine fan). It is running at a high pace and very loudly.
> There is
> > no click and the engine does not start. When the key is
> turned to
> > off, the "fan" (Starter, perhaps?) keeps running for about
> five
> > minutes at high speed and then quits. It almost sounds like
> the
> > engine is running, but it isn't. Is the start stuck? Is it
> a timing
> > belt issue?
> >
> > Thank you for your thoughts.
> > Jolie
> >
> > --
> > Posted using the http://www.autoforumz.com interface, at author's request
> > Articles individually checked for conformance to usenet
> standards
> > Topic URL:
> > http://www.autoforumz.com/Acura-runn...ict108271.html
> > Visit Topic URL to contact author (reg. req'd). Report
> abuse:
> > http://www.autoforumz.com/eform.php?p=505833

Mechanic determined the starter was bad and was making a grinding
noise when the engine cranked. As for why the fan also ran for a few
minutes before shutting off, it isn’t certain.

I was able to pop the clutch to start it even though the starter was
bad. I drove the car to the mechanic and awaited the Monday morning
verification that I had a bad starter. Repair cost just under $300.

Satisfied that I will get more miles yet from this old 1987 Integra,
From Arlington, VA,
Bye!