Honda Car Forum

95 Integra LS (92K mi) - New battery, New ignition switch (Key
cylinder), Verified working main relay and fuel pump.

A few times a week, there is dead silence when I turn the key. I would
do this a few times and sometimes on the 3rd - 10th try, the car would
start, sometimes not. Any ideas on where to start?

On 24 Nov 2006 19:36:57 -0800, "Challenged" <ubdumass@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>95 Integra LS (92K mi) - New battery, New ignition switch (Key
>cylinder), Verified working main relay and fuel pump.
>
>A few times a week, there is dead silence when I turn the key. I would
>do this a few times and sometimes on the 3rd - 10th try, the car would
>start, sometimes not. Any ideas on where to start?

That happened to my '94 GS-R a couple years ago. It gradually got
worse and worse. Turned out to be the starter.

Challenged wrote:

> 95 Integra LS (92K mi) - New battery, New ignition switch (Key
> cylinder), Verified working main relay and fuel pump.
>
> A few times a week, there is dead silence when I turn the key. I would
> do this a few times and sometimes on the 3rd - 10th try, the car would
> start, sometimes not. Any ideas on where to start?

Sounds like a zorched starter solenoid.

I don't know anything about a 95 Integra. Sometimes the solenoid can be
changed seperately from the starter, others are integral, and the whole
kaboodle must be exchanged. In a pinch, you may be able to disassemble
the solenoid and (partially) repair the contacts by scraping them to
bare metal.

Thanks for the feedback. I have done my share of research and have
come up with either:

1) Starter Solenoid (Can someone tell me which part this is in the
link?)

http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...All&vinsrch=no

or,

2) Ignition Unit Assembly

http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...All&vinsrch=no

How do I go about troubleshooting this issue? Thanks in advance. I'll
make sure post the learnings for this group.

Challenged wrote:

> Thanks for the feedback. I have done my share of research and have
> come up with either:
>
> 1) Starter Solenoid (Can someone tell me which part this is in the
> link?)
>
> http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...All&vinsrch=no

I don't see it. Look at one of the 'integra starter solenoid' units on
Ebay. It looks like the units are possibly stand-alone, physicaly
removed from the starter. This is a good thing in that it will likely
be easier to access.

> How do I go about troubleshooting this issue? Thanks in advance. I'll
> make sure post the learnings for this group.

Working or not, the solenoid should make a slight metalic 'clunk' when
the key is turned. If not, then an ignition system problem becomes
slightly more likely. Even then, I'd first beep out the solenoid's
input coil and check the wiring around it.

Moderate tapping on the solenoid will often get it to work. If that
doesn't help try this: The classic way of hotwiring (completely
bypassing) a bad solenoid is to turn the ignition on and short the two
solenoid output terminals with a screwdriver. Crude but effective - the
starter WILL get +12v.

On 11/24/06 9:36 PM, in article
1164425817.660599.168690@14g2000cws.googlegroups.c om, "Challenged"
<ubdumass@yahoo.com> wrote:

> 95 Integra LS (92K mi) - New battery, New ignition switch (Key
> cylinder), Verified working main relay and fuel pump.
>
> A few times a week, there is dead silence when I turn the key. I would
> do this a few times and sometimes on the 3rd - 10th try, the car would
> start, sometimes not. Any ideas on where to start?
>

What do you mean "new ignition switch (key cylinder)"? Did you replace the
actual switch or just the key cylinder? If just the key cylinder, I would
say you probably replaced the wrong part. Check the switch.

E Meyer,

I replaced the switch, not the cylinder. I made the notation to avoid
confusion, as there are many parts that start with the word "ignition".

Thanks.

Challenged wrote:
> Thanks for the feedback. I have done my share of research and have
> come up with either:
>
> 1) Starter Solenoid (Can someone tell me which part this is in the
> link?)
>
> http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...All&vinsrch=no

That link doesn't show the solenoid... on this picture:
http://autozone.com/images/cds/gif/l...3d801a9097.gif
it's the smaller cylinder on the right side of the assembly (this is for an
88-93 Integra, but shouldn't be too different).

The solenoid is basically a combination of a high-current relay (to feed the
starter motor itself) and a mechanical throw-out that pushes the starter gear
into position to mesh with the flywheel.

> 2) Ignition Unit Assembly
>
> http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...All&vinsrch=no

That would have nothing to do with the engine not turning over - that just
controls the spark.

> How do I go about troubleshooting this issue? Thanks in advance. I'll
> make sure post the learnings for this group.

Challenged wrote:
>95 Integra LS (92K mi) - New battery, New ignition switch (Key
>cylinder), Verified working main relay and fuel pump.
>
>A few times a week, there is dead silence when I turn the key. I would
>do this a few times and sometimes on the 3rd - 10th try, the car would
>start, sometimes not. Any ideas on where to start?
This has also happened to my freind. The problem is a simple little thing
called a starter clutch/sylonide. It engages the starter gear with the
flywheel which then turns the motor over.
Poofy

Matt Ion wrote:
>> Thanks for the feedback. I have done my share of research and have
>> come up with either:
>[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>>
>> http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...All&vinsrch=no
>
>That link doesn't show the solenoid... on this picture:
>http://autozone.com/images/cds/gif/l...3d801a9097.gif
>it's the smaller cylinder on the right side of the assembly (this is for an
>88-93 Integra, but shouldn't be too different).
>
>The solenoid is basically a combination of a high-current relay (to feed the
>starter motor itself) and a mechanical throw-out that pushes the starter gear
>into position to mesh with the flywheel.
>
>> 2) Ignition Unit Assembly
>>
>> http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...All&vinsrch=no
>
>That would have nothing to do with the engine not turning over - that just
>controls the spark.
>
>> How do I go about troubleshooting this issue? Thanks in advance. I'll
>> make sure post the learnings for this group.
No if the solenoid is bad the starter will still run, still creating some
type or sound, it just wont engage with the flywheel. The solenoid has
nothing to do with any electrical current what so ever at any given time
during engine operation. It is like a little slide for the starter gear to
rest on and move into position with the flywheel to start the vechile.

Just thought you should know,
Poofy