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On my 1998 Honda Passport 4X4 3.2L V6 recently, I turn the key and all I hear is a “tick / click” sound. All dashboard lights work and while turning the key to start the lights do not dim. So I pulled out and charged up the battery for 24 hours and reinstalled it. Same situation occured, “tick/click” sound when I turn the key. Next I cleaned all battery terminals and connections, checked all fuses and relays and they were all fine. I had very recently changed the fuel filter but I doubt that was an issue because the truck ran for about two weeks afterwards. I removed and cleaned the battery cable that leads to the starter and applied dielectric grease to the solenoid connector. Finally I remember seeing a video on ETCG about tapping the starter several times and after doing that the truck started right up! It was all good until last night when we had temps off -6 degrees in NJ. So I first tried jump starting it and nada, then I tapped that starter again and started right up. I took it to Autozone to get my battery tested for voltage and load, also tested the alternator with ohmmeter and everything checked out perfect. At this point its logical to theorize the problem is the starter thats failing. Do you agree or did I miss something?
Can my starter be taken apart for cleaning and re-installed?
I suspect this no crank no start issue will happen again. I’d hate to beat that starter up like if it owes me money, lol. I appreciate any help and advise you can offer.Czr =)
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Starter is definitely the issue here. Hitting it will only get you by for so long. I would go ahead and replace it.
I believe that Passport uses a Denso starter. You can buy new contacts for the solenoid on that starter from Amazon, and then simply take the cover off the solenoid, put the new contacts in, and put it back together, and it should be good as new.
Definitely the starter, no question.
Many times when starters go, the electrical contacts (called brushes) go inside the starter. You can purchase these brushes separately and then just open the starter and replace them. You would probably need to get the brushes on the internet though.
In my experience, on the Nippon / Denso starters very rarely do the brushes wear out. Nearly 100% of the time with those starters, if you have a click, and no crank, it is the contacts in the solenoid assembly that have failed. Since you can usually manage to get the cover off the end of the solenoid without even removing the starter from the engine, that would definitely be the first place to look. Added bonus, when you get in there and see that those contacts are all worn down, it’ll cost you less than $20 for the new ones.
It does sound like a starter issue. Given the effort to replace it, I would go for a reman instead of trying to repair it yourself. Good luck and keep us posted.
I have a 99 Passport with the same problem. Had a new starter installed, no crank no start. Only sound is the clicking from the thing installed on the top right firewall and from relays. The old starter tested inconclusive…wouldn’t fire for the test.
Wondering if it is the wire running from the battery to the starter? Maybe it shorted and took the starter down and it won’t work now without replacing the line.
Anyone out there have this problem that was not the starter?Always start with the battery. Make sure it is fully charged and have a load test run to verify the health of the battery. It may not be able to supply enough current (cranking amps) to turn the starter motor.
Turn on the headlights and try to crank. What happens to the headlights? Do they dim a little? Dim a lot? Go completely out? No change at all?
Also check the battery cables themselves. Make sure the terminals are clean and shiny and tightly secured to the battery. Corrosion can build up between the battery post and the terminal and cause electrical resistance which can prevent the car from starting.
Lastly, it is sometimes helpful to create your own thread for your specific problem so that your situation and symptoms don’t get mixed up with the original post.
I had a no crank no start on my 2007 Frontier that ended up being due to deterioration of a small rubber pad on the back of the clutch pedal that depresses a switch on the firewall when the clutch is pressed. The rubber pad dry rotted and fell out, meaning the interlock switch on the firewall wasn’t being depressed, which meant the truck didn’t recognize that the clutch was pressed and wouldn’t crank. Thanks to the Frontier forums I was able to track this down pretty quickly. If you have a no start no crank on a manual transmission vehicle, you might want to take a look at the back of your clutch.
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