I've been having trouble starting my 96 Accord ex 5 speed. It began when the temperature started falling in the winter, but now even on relatively warm days 50's it has trouble starting. Here's what hppens. I get in the car and put the key in and turn it. All the lights come on and the stereo comes on, when i step on the clutch and i turn it to start the ignition the radio turns off like it should but the starter does nothing. I don't even get the sound of the starter turning over. I sit in the card for between 30sec to 5 minutes with the radio on and try again and it will start right up. I usually try to start it every 30 sec or so and it will take 2-5 more tries. Sometimes it will make just a click, sometimes i can hear the starter turn over one time then stop. usually i know that i'm close to getting going when that happens. if I wait 30sec it will sart on the next try.

First i thought it was the battery, but it's only about 18months old and is rated for 575 cold cranking amps which the original battery was too. The fact that it's still doing it in warmer wather and that when it does start the starter doesn't give that labored sound of being underpowered has made me question whether it is the battery. I had them check the battery at autozone and they said it was fine.

Any advice or experiences would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

Try having someone hit the starter lightly with a hammer while you try to turn it over. If it works.. you need a new starter. Mine is doing the same thing... plenty of power, alternator and battery are fine... starter is going.

 

I thought that it may be something like that. If it is the starter then wouldn't it start if I just turn the key repeatedly? why do i have to wait for several minutes? Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely try tapping the starter and post ther results here.

 

Im not sure.. but my car starts slowly now. It was just plain dead the other day, so we push started it, and it has started.. slowly ever since. But everything else was tested, leaving only the starter at fault.

 

The reason you have to turn the key repeatedly is the contacts in the starter are bad you will need to replace the starter it is a common problem with Honda and Acura.

 

theres your answer

 

Thanks everybody. Replaced the starter $120 at Autozone and all is well. Was that a good price? doesn't really matter i needed to replace it. I was push starting it all the time for the last few days.