Honda Car Forum

Hi, I have a 91 accord lx with about 165k miles on it. It's been
driving fine for the year I've had it, until this weekend. I drove it
for 100 miles in very cold weather and it was fine. Two mornings later,
I started the car to warm it up. Ten mins pass and I go outside,
vehicle is dead after having started fine. All the dash lights were on,
but when I turned the key, nothing. No clicks, no sounds of turning
over. We let it sit for a while, put some isopropyl into the gas tank
thinking maybe the fuel lines were frozen, but still nothing. All the
fuses have been checked, fluids, etc. We don't know what to do with it.
I have acess to people with some auto knowledge, but they can't figure
it out either. Alternator/battery both perfect. I wanted to see if
anyone on here might have an inkling as to what it could be. I'm trying
hard to get this taken care of without bringing it into a shop, because
of minimal funds. Thanks.

nvoght@nmu.edu wrote in
news:1140742112.472333.70130@p10g2000cwp.googlegro ups.com:

> Hi, I have a 91 accord lx with about 165k miles on it. It's been
> driving fine for the year I've had it, until this weekend. I drove it
> for 100 miles in very cold weather and it was fine. Two mornings later,
> I started the car to warm it up. Ten mins pass and I go outside,
> vehicle is dead after having started fine. All the dash lights were on,
> but when I turned the key, nothing. No clicks, no sounds of turning
> over.


<snip>


Turn on the dome light. Now turn the key to START. What happens to the dome
light?

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Nothing happens to the dome light. It doesn't dim or anything....

Can you measure the battery voltage and report back?

What did you do to determine that the battery and alternator are perfect?

Check battery connections while out there. Clean with baking soda and water.
Make sure connecting bolts are snug.

Anything under 12 volts means the battery is drained, for one. What caused
it to drain is another matter.

Hondas generally don't need to sit more than a minute even in extreme cold.

<nvoght@nmu.edu> wrote
> Hi, I have a 91 accord lx with about 165k miles on it. It's been
> driving fine for the year I've had it, until this weekend. I drove it
> for 100 miles in very cold weather and it was fine. Two mornings later,
> I started the car to warm it up. Ten mins pass and I go outside,
> vehicle is dead after having started fine. All the dash lights were on,
> but when I turned the key, nothing. No clicks, no sounds of turning
> over. We let it sit for a while, put some isopropyl into the gas tank
> thinking maybe the fuel lines were frozen, but still nothing. All the
> fuses have been checked, fluids, etc. We don't know what to do with it.
> I have acess to people with some auto knowledge, but they can't figure
> it out either. Alternator/battery both perfect. I wanted to see if
> anyone on here might have an inkling as to what it could be. I'm trying
> hard to get this taken care of without bringing it into a shop, because
> of minimal funds. Thanks.
>

Well, I can't check the voltage at the moment because the vehicle is in
the garage of my BF's house. However, the Battery is brand new, all the
connections clean and snug. I recently had my vehicle at my mechanic's
when I thought the alternator had gone. He tested the new one put in
there, so we know that's not the problem. He tested to make sure
nothing was draining the battery. It's just odd that this would happen
all of a sudden, when the vehicle was running perfectly before....

I hear you, but the symptoms sound too much like a dead battery. I'd get a
multimeter out there and check the voltage on it a.s.a.p. Clean and snug up
terminal connections, too. Or try a jumpstart.

Then of course more troubleshooting is needed, since you say the battery is
new.

Could you clarify: Is the alternator also new?

If not, then we may have something more to pursue...

<nvoght@nmu.edu> wrote
> Well, I can't check the voltage at the moment because the vehicle is in
> the garage of my BF's house. However, the Battery is brand new, all the
> connections clean and snug. I recently had my vehicle at my mechanic's
> when I thought the alternator had gone. He tested the new one put in
> there, so we know that's not the problem. He tested to make sure
> nothing was draining the battery. It's just odd that this would happen
> all of a sudden, when the vehicle was running perfectly before....

We did try jump starting it, and that didn't work either. All the
lights work fine, so I think the battery is ok. The alternator isn't
brand new, but it was just tested....maybe 10 days ago as working
perfectly. Before, when my old battery would die on me, when trying to
start the car there would be at least some clicking noises. But now,
when I go to turn the key, the radio and dash lights all turn on, but
the engine doesn't make a sound....

The lights and radio working don't prove that the battery is putting out the
12+ volts needed to start the car, but since you tried a jumpstart, that
does suggest it's not the battery.

I'd be digging here next:
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/start...l#click-click1

Keep checking back. Plenty of regulars here with lots of experience.

<nvoght@nmu.edu> wrote
> We did try jump starting it, and that didn't work either. All the
> lights work fine, so I think the battery is ok. The alternator isn't
> brand new, but it was just tested....maybe 10 days ago as working
> perfectly. Before, when my old battery would die on me, when trying to
> start the car there would be at least some clicking noises. But now,
> when I go to turn the key, the radio and dash lights all turn on, but
> the engine doesn't make a sound....

nvoght@nmu.edu wrote:
> Hi, I have a 91 accord lx with about 165k miles on it. It's been
> driving fine for the year I've had it, until this weekend. I drove it
> for 100 miles in very cold weather and it was fine. Two mornings later,
> I started the car to warm it up. Ten mins pass and I go outside,
> vehicle is dead after having started fine. All the dash lights were on,
> but when I turned the key, nothing. No clicks, no sounds of turning
> over.

ignition switch? main relay? igniter? im sure someone here would know

Elle wrote:
> The lights and radio working don't prove that the battery is putting out the
> 12+ volts needed to start the car, but since you tried a jumpstart, that
> does suggest it's not the battery.

and the fact the lights didnt even dim when the key was turned, meaning
no draw.