I have encountered this problem for a while now and it has gotten worse: when my car sits for a period of time and I go to start it, it will not even turn over. There is a fast clicking noise near my left foot under the kick panel and the instrument lights dim. It has come to the point where I have to hope it will engage the starter for about 5 minutes before it decides to start. THis started a few days ago and happened very seldom but now it happens everytime I decide to start the car. Could this be a main relay that is shot and needs to be replaced? I just want to make sure before I go over to Honda and shell out $50 for a new one. Also, how hard is it to replace?

 

What happens when you turn the key, anything? Relays are supposed to click. I had a problem with my clutch switch. I would turn the key and nothing would happen except for instrument lights coming on...wouldn't even try to crank. Sometimes it would do this, sometimes it would start...very intermittent. Depending on the position of the clutch pedal, just moving it a few millimeters would let the car start.

 

relays are lik 2 bucks at any 12volt install shop.. doesnt need to fit right relays are relays they are only 4 or 5 wires.. so screw honda's 50$ one.

 

When I turn the key, the engine doesn't even crank. There is a beeping like when the car first starts up and there is a fast clicking noise coming from the kick panel. The instrument lights also dim and brighten at random. I found that if I have my headlights on and turn the key for about 5-30 seconds while it is clicking, it will decide to turn the starter motor on. There isn't an issue of it not turning over but that the starter isn't even being told to start even though the key is turned to the start position.

 

Sounds like either your battery's shot, or the big power cables are loose/dirty/corroded.

Put a voltmeter directly on the battery posts next time this happens. (Not on the clamps or wires, directly on the posts.) If the battery voltage drops real low (below 8), it's bad. If the battery voltage stays relatively good while all the clicking is happening, then look for bad cable connections somewhere.

 

The problem was happening every time I started the car lately but today it hasn't happened yet. I will take a look at the battery cables tomorrow while I am doing my weekend project. I will keep you posted.

 

Mine did that too. I could move the clutch pedal alittle to get it to start. Then it wouldn't even crank. I took the starter out and took it to Autozone, they said it was fine. I reinstalled it and haven't hed the problem. It must have been corroded wires to the starter.

Junk yard for the realy. And not all relays are the same. My BMW has a "s" load of them and beleive me, there ARE differences even between relays with the same pin count.

 

either it could be just corroded wires, or the PGM-FI relay (located near the left kickpanel) is starting to go south.

 

check ur battery terminals clean em up and tighen them down.. check all of your grounds.. it sounds like u have loose connection it happend to me yesterday on a company car it was like a 2004 civic...