It's not too hard to pull the starter and take it down to the local auto parts store for testing.

The sputtering is probably because the ECU is in "limp" mode.
A few things to do:
-pull the ECU fuse for 5 minutes (to reset the ECU)
-inspect and clean all the grounds (valve cover, thermostat*, transmission, main body, negative battery terminal) One dirty or corroded ground could have you chasing ghost problems for a long time.
-if the negative battery cable looks iffy, think about replacing it with one from honda.
*the ground at the thermostat is the main ground for the ECU.
-clean the positive battery terminal
-check the positive cable connection to the starter