Calling all car mechanics/fundis for suggestions

[Kamikaze]

Hey guys and girls.

My parents' car won't start. This started happening a couple weeks ago on a hot day when the car was started and stopped about 8 times while traveling around. The starter motor is not turning over. It's not even making a sound from the motor itself - similar to having no electric power. In the interim, the starter motor was removed, repaired (had signs of burning inside) and tested at the shop thereafter to ensure it's working perfectly now. It was reinstalled today. When I turn the key, I hear the petrol pump priming and thereafter the starter motor solenoid making a loud click, but the starter motor doesn't even make a sound. So the exact same symptoms remain as before the starter motor fix.

I replaced the battery from an identical car (my own) and still no luck. It's definitely not the battery as mine is less than a year old and works perfectly fine in my car. The rest of the electronics, like radio and electric windows, in the broken car works fine with either battery.

It's an automatic, so it can't be push started to at least get the car to the mechanic. We are making arrangements for a flatbed truck next week, but this is just baffling me so much that I thought I'd ask the awesome carb community.

Details about the car:
2009 Honda Accord CU2 2.4
Automatic
110000KM's

Any ideas or suggestions would be highly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[rinners]

Checked fuses?

 

[Kamikaze]

I did check the fuses with the help of the manual book. But I couldn't find one specific to the starter motor.

That's a good reminder though. I'll do some research on the web to identify the exact fuse responsible for the starter motor.

 

[Kamikaze]

Fuse Box Diagram Acura TSX (CU2; 2009-2014)

Fuse box diagram (location and assignment of electrical fuses) for Acura TSX (CU2; 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014).

fuse-box.info

That is the exact fuse boxes in the car (it's called an Acura TSX in the states) but I don't see anything relating to the starter motor.

 

[🇹🇭🇪 🇩🇴🇳]

If you say you hear the click that indicates the starter motor is chowed bud, Start motors also get jammed...

If this was a Golf, you would hit that bitch with a spanner and you'd be good

 

[Gurshick]

That still sounds like a busted starter tbh. You said repaired, had this happen to 2 family members, one was a starter and other a alternator, test on the bench show it "works" but in the car it wouldn't crank and alternator would charge.

The other reason is quite scary, a seized engine, but thats is super unlikely I think.

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[AndyX-25]

The other reason is quite scary, a seized engine, but thats is super unlikely I think

You make a point. Best way is to put it in 4th gear and push if forward and see if the fan turns at all. You can make a mark on a belt or just have someone watch the fan/belt area.

Its highly possible that the starter is also faulty, I've had rebuilt starters not work on me before. Sent it back, get it re-redone and then it works.

Also double check your battery terminals, sometimes those go faulty, new battery or not the connection may not be tight enough.

Hondas are very good. The motor won't just give kak unless you really haven't looked after it.

 

[Gurshick]

Wanted to suggest to try turning the moto over by hand but it's a autopatatic [emoji28]

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[AndyX-25]

autopatatic

Damn I didn't know... Best would be to get a spanner on the crank pulley. Or remove the starter and use a Tyre lever/big flat screwdriver to turn the flywheel( if the ring gear can be reached.)

 

[Kamikaze]

If you say you hear the click that indicates the starter motor is chowed bud, Start motors also get jammed...

If this was a Golf, you would hit that bitch with a spanner and you'd be good

I thought about the spanner whack haha. Though I would only do it on my own car.

That still sounds like a busted starter tbh. You said repaired, had this happen to 2 family members, one was a starter and other a alternator, test on the bench show it "works" but in the car it wouldn't crank and alternator would charge.

The other reason is quite scary, a seized engine, but thats is super unlikely I think.

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I also still have my suspicions about the starter motor. I think next time the mechanic comes by, Im going to tell him to unbolt the motor, but leave the power connected and then turn it over. It would at least give answers in a certain direction.

You make a point. Best way is to put it in 4th gear and push if forward and see if the fan turns at all. You can make a mark on a belt or just have someone watch the fan/belt area.

Its highly possible that the starter is also faulty, I've had rebuilt starters not work on me before. Sent it back, get it re-redone and then it works.

Also double check your battery terminals, sometimes those go faulty, new battery or not the connection may not be tight enough.

Hondas are very good. The motor won't just give kak unless you really haven't looked after it.

Yeah I highly doubt it's a seized engine. The car never gets driven hard and gets serviced annually according to the books.
Good point on the terminals. It was actually replaced by the mechanics about 3 years ago. From what I saw when the motor was removed and reinserted, all the cables from the battery to the motor is still fresh looking, but still definitely something to look into for sanity sake.

Wanted to suggest to try turning the moto over by hand but it's a autopatatic [emoji28]

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Haha! Yeah I wish I could do this and just get the car to the shop. But autoparalatic just messes up that idea.



So I found the starter relay fuse and removed it, after a moerse struggle. It seems fine as I don't hear the solenoid clicking while the fuse is removed. I plugged it back and the click resumed again upon turning the key.
So yeah, it seem like either the starter motor being completely busted, bad wiring to and from the terminals, or perhaps the solenoid clicks but doesn't actually make the connection. In either case it's something for the mechanic to figure out.

Thank you everyone for your input! I'll leave the thread open for now.

 

[AndyX-25]

Good luck bud. Let us know what you find 👌

 

[Kamikaze]

Thanks @AndyX-25. I will let you guys know as soon as the culprit is found. 👌

 

[aiccc]

Put car in neutral. Then try start.

1. check auto trans bypass/lock out switch
2. Get a thick cable and touch positive to starter positive terminal. When car is in neutral. (hand brake on)

Starter could have been misallignment. Or it was not reconned properly.

Auto have lots of 'protection' features.

That click is telling thou.

 

[aiccc]

on a hot day when the car was started and stopped about 8 times while traveling around.

Saw this. This is not a starter issue only !!!

 

[grantday]

Have you checked the ground wire?

 

[Kamikaze]

The car is now at the mechanic after being picked up with a flatbed today. I'll keep you gents posted.

 

[Kamikaze]

The problem is solved.

Apart from the burnt starter motor that needed fixing, the cabling that powers the starter motor was burnt as well. It seems like the cable just wore out and burnt the last bits that were still connected. The starter motor is below the intake, so to get to it and see anything, all of that has to be removed. It was rewired and the problem is gone now.

Thanks again for all your input, gents! Have a lekker weekend.

 

[Gurshick]

Glad it's sorted bud.

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