NO Crank / NO Start 1990 Honda Accord

[Doug]

I’ve got a 1990 Honda Accord that wont crank over. I’ve done the obvious (clean the battery terminals, check the starter,etc.) but can’t make her happy. About the car: this is a 1990 Honda Accord 5 speed manual I’ve owned now for 26 years, and it’s been a great car. I’ve replaced the little rubber plug that presses in the clutch safety switch and replaced the starter. Both times seemed to have fixed the car but then my daughter to say the car wont start. I HATE intermittent problems. I’ve finally got the car in my possession with the problem occurring. Yep, it wont start. I pressed the clutch and turned the key several times and it’s not starting. Next I tried turning the key to the start position first THEN press the clutch. No start but I am hearing several relays by the pedals open and close. The first appears to disengage the radio, the second appears to disengage the A/C, and I have no idea what the third one does. With the problem still occurring I put a volt meter on the terminal at the starter itself to see what was happening and found I’m only getting 5 – 6 volts when the key is turned to the start position. Did I mention I HATE intermittent problems? I put a jumper wire from that starter terminal up to the battery and it turns right over every time so for the time being that wire still hangs if the key wont start it.

Hopefully I’ve provided enough info to answer any questions to my dilemma. My question now is:

Does this sound like a neutral safety switch?
Does this sound like that third relay and if so what is it?
Does this sound like a bad ignition switch (this was replaced about 5 years ago for another reason)?

This doesn’t seem to be consistent to outside temperature but after watching a video on old solders I’m thinking it might be that, but where?

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

Topic

[Shaun Flichel]

Try jumping (bypassing) the clutch switch. Just don’t forget it may crank and drive away from you with it bypassed.

[none]

This might actually be a really simple one to diagnose once the no crank condition comes back. 6 volts at that S terminal on the solenoid is good evidence for where to start. The wiring diagram says there’s a starter relay under the center of the dash. I don’t know exactly where that is, but once you find it, you’re going to look for battery voltage on the back side of the relay at the black and white wire with key in crank position. You don’t have to press the clutch for this test. You do have to press the clutch pedal for the black and red wire. With the key in crank position and clutch to the floor, the black and red wire should have battery voltage. If you can hear the starter relay clicking with this test, but the starter still doesn’t crank, you can pretty much rule out the control side of the relay and its circuit. I think you’re down to that relay having burnt contacts or that black and red wire has a problem. Here’s a wiring diagram and good luck! Keep us posted.

Attachments:

• 90hondastartcct.png

[Joseph C]

[quote=”shaun” post=162097]Try jumping (bypassing) the clutch switch. Just don’t forget it may crank and drive away from you with it bypassed.[/quote]

Jack not ramp the drive wheels (front) up on both sides or otherwise off the ground (like on a lift,) that won’t happen.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

[Doug]

Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll give these a try and post my results.

[Author]

Replies