Starter Motor Problem - Not Stag

[DJT]

One for the electrical guys.

My 'old banger' 2000 Honda Civic 1.4 hatchback has developed a starter problem. A couple of times lately on turning the key, all that happens is a rapid clicking sound. Of course this first happened the other day when SWMBO needed it to get to work after I had taken our other car to Cornwall for a days golf It has since done it to me too so I can't blame her

I've checked out starter motors at EuroCarParts and other places, but don't really want to spend a hundred beer tokens on the car, especially as the exhaust is starting to blow as well....

Is the starter motor easily dismantled and serviced?

[stagmuffin]

sounds like a solenoid issue Dave ,im guessing it wont be major surgery to remove and strip and clean contacts . if you can find it that is ? got to be worth a shot to try.
steve

[V Mad]

Cant offer any experience on moderns, but on a classic car, this would suggest a marginal 12 volt supply problem. The voltage drops when the solenoid connect the battery to the starter; this voltage drop causes the solenoid to 'drop out'; which in turn lets the voltage rise, so the solenoid activates again and the whole process repeats rapidly causing the hammering sound.

Possible battery is weak; or the earthing is poor.

[DJT]

Thanks for the responses. Battery was new just before Christmas (after the previous one let SWMBO down after I had taken the other car to Cornwall for a days golf - can you see a pattern emerging here......?) and it is charging well. I also cleaned all the connections (+ve and earth) in the engine bay. I'll get underneath and check the ones on the starter itself.

The ever helpful Haynes manual says to take the starter to a specialist for testing - no help about dismantling it and servicing it yourself

[jleyton]

If you can sort a Stag I'm sure you can sort a Civic Dave

Good luck.

Cheers

Julian

[grumpy2]

May well be the alternator? Giving flat battery after a few runs. Check for 14.4 v running

[GDPR]

Honda ignition switches fitted between 98 and 2001 were substandard and subject to recall... yours may have missed it - I would suspect the switch heavily as my 2000 Accord ate 2 switches in 8 years - about £35 as I remember and about 30 minutes to fit...

[Staggard]

I guess you could check out Russ's diagnosis by taking a wire from the solenoid to the battery (guess you knew that) beat's the s**t out of pulling the starter only to find it's the switch. Cheers Graham

[DJT]

Cheers again.

Plenty of juice out of the alternator and in the battery.

Ive removed the starter, stripped it and cleaned all the contacts - battery connection, ignition connection, motor to solenoid connection and solenoid contacts. Also cleaned the gear assembly and confirmed plenty of meat on the motor brushes. All back together and it still works , but then it started first time this morning with frost on the car. If that doesn't cure it permanently, then I'll have to think ignition switch. Would the Honda dealer still be able to check if it had a new switch under warranty?

I guess the next real test will be when I have a day away golfing and take the Audi, leaving SWMBO with the Honda. I'm sure it is her negativity towards it that is causing it to fail on her

[DJT]

OK, that didn't work for long. It was OK first thing this morning, but later on it would only make the chattering noise again. Ran a seperate wire from battery positive to the starter ignition connection and this made no difference. Put the car in gear with handbrake off and rocked it back and forth in case the starter had jammed, but still no joy (unlikely I know with a pre-engaged starter - more an old inertia starter problem, but worth trying). Took the starter out again and bench tested it with jump leads from battery and a trigger feed wire. It span Ok. Put it back in and still chattering. At least the Honda starter motor can be remove from above in less than 10 minutes

Here is a link to a video (which doesn't show anything but the noise is clearly heard). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSY28...ature=youtu.be

Starter u/s? Or ignition switch? Or something else.................

The worst bit about this is the smug "I told you so" look from SWMBO....

I had to take the Stag out this evening instead - shame...........

[milothedog]

OK, that didn't work for long. It was OK first thing this morning, but later on it would only make the chattering noise again. Ran a seperate wire from battery positive to the starter ignition connection and this made no difference. Put the car in gear with handbrake off and rocked it back and forth in case the starter had jammed, but still no joy (unlikely I know with a pre-engaged starter - more an old inertia starter problem, but worth trying). Took the starter out again and bench tested it with jump leads from battery and a trigger feed wire. It span Ok. Put it back in and still chattering. At least the Honda starter motor can be remove from above in less than 10 minutes

Here is a link to a video (which doesn't show anything but the noise is clearly heard). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSY28...ature=youtu.be

Starter u/s? Or ignition switch? Or something else.................

The worst bit about this is the smug "I told you so" look from SWMBO....

I had to take the Stag out this evening instead - shame...........

Dave, try monitoring the battery voltage when it happens.

Ian.

[DJT]

Dave, try monitoring the battery voltage when it happens.

Ian.

Thanks Ian. I'll see if I can get my hands on a suitable voltmeter.

[V Mad]

If batt voltage OK then also check voltage at starter when cranking.

[DJT]

Update:

Thanks to all who have responded, both on and off Forum. I have tested battery voltage, both static and cranking, and all is fine. Also done continuity checks throughout the system as suggested by Ian (Milothedog). I've also carried out the tests on the ignition switch as described in Haynes manual, all seems fine. The 'chattering' noise is clearly heard on this short clip: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kSY288gfInE

I popped into my local Honda dealer the other day and the guy at the service counter couldn't have been more helpful. He checked the Honda system for all info on my car and was able to tell me that it hadn't been the subject of any recalls, so hadn't been missed, nor had it had any warranty work done when still under Honda warranty.

His diagnosis, listening to the above clip, was that the starter was faulty and suggested that I get one from a motor factor. He was realistic enough to know that I wasn't about to pay Honda main dealer prices for a new one from him. He also runs an old Civic

New motor ordered and should be in today. At least I can now remove a Honda Civic starter motor in less than 10 minutes without having to scrabble around on the floor

[DJT]

4 days with a replacement starter motor (£64 from a local factor) and the problem has gone away

Thanks to all who offered advice and suggestions.