[Rj]

Thank you Bonnieman for your reply. I apologize for the late reply, just took a few days to get a hold of my new decent multimeter.

So followings are the responses as you asked + new things I noticed with the car.

1) Check Engine light is NOT on.
2) The crank speed is usual, just taking longer to start (only when the engine is cold). Else the car starts relatively instantaneously.
3) I replaced the spark plugs about a year ago, so they should be pretty new. But I have seen some engine oil around the head cover of the engine block. Will check if there is any of spark plugs submerged in oil.
4) Checked all the connections and they seems pretty tight. Still not being able to notice/figure out any grounding issue.
5) I checked the AC voltage and it about 60 mV when I turned the engine from cold, but fall to 30 mV after the engine warmed up.
6) I use K&N filter, it was a little dirty so cleaned it.

The issues that I have noticed recently.
1) When the car is at idle rpm is about 750. I turn the steering wheel to the left, the idle revs up to a little below 1000, momentarily.
2) There seems a leak in the steering system. The oil level has been dropping to about min level in about a 3-4 weeks.
3) Steering seems to have more play than usual, and car turn radius seems to have increased.
4) Car seems to be losing a bit of power while on road. Not stalling but seems like it is unable to put out the full potential and seems a bit choking.

I am not sure these issues are related, but possible ECM or relay issue?

[Rj]

Battery was ok! I am going to check other connections and possible grounding issues

[Rj]

@ Allhan

Checked the ignition coils and quite obviously the connection to cylinder 1 ignition coil was loose and almost off… Snapped it back on! Missfire gone…
Power balance test…… Ok..

Took the air cleaner module and checked for vacuum leaks if any….. Car stalled so no or no major vacuum leaks…

IACV was pretty clogged. Cleaned it for now and worked well. Don’t know if it will need replacing in the future though.

So far all fix, no codes. Car runs like a dream.
A little smoke from radiator and engine body. Seems like from burning of the spilled oil.

Thank you guys.

[Rj]

@ChrisKaye… Car Mileage ~136000.
I am planning to check the IACV in the morning.

@Allhan… Already changed the spark plugs and spark looked good too.

I will do the power balance test tomorrow, but I did run the engine with ignition coil to the cylinder 1 (closest to the Camshaft) disconnected. It seemed to run fine but definitely need to do closer inspection.

Also when I pulled my new spark plugs out to perform compression test, most of them were a little wet with what seems to be a gasoline/oil mix and hence seems like fuel injectors has some issues.

[Rj]

Thanks guys for all the suggestions, Y’all Rock!!
Special thanks to Eric, without whose profession help, I wouldn’t have been able to pin point the problem and !!fix it..!!

Yes, I replaced the starter and it works great. Didn’t drive it too much though, Airbag sign came on for a moment on my first trip and freaked me out.. Didn’t see it again though. Hopefully everything is fine.

Starter was faulty, I opened it and first of all saw a lot of black dust. Don’t know if that normal, but I am assuming it’s from the wear of the parts.

Armature had weird wear marks, presumably from contact with the permanent magnet.
But major problem, I think, was that the gear shaft was stuck and would not turn freely.

Replaced with the one from local autozone store.

Sticking out gear clutch seems to be normal for this 2006-2011 Honda Civic EX AT. Weird starter, the solenoid is inbuilt.

Anyways here’s a brief summary of my action on it.

Tools:

1) 3/8″ Ratchet with 4″, 6″ and 10″ socket extensions.
2) socket sizes: 10″, 12″, 14″.
3) Very useful: Rotator ratchet, got one for cheap from walmart, 20 bucks.

P.O.A
1) Jacked up the car and secured on jack stands.
2) Got the passenger tire and splash guard off.

3) Got underneath the car and removed the intake manifold bracket. Secured with two 10″ and one 12″ bolts.
This is a must for easy work around.
4) Got the Bottom 14″ bolt fastener off the starter, from the passenger side.

5) Top bolt was tricky. Many claim to get it from passenger side wheel, using a swivel socket.
I got it from behind the front subframe, using 6 inch extension socket and long ratchet.
Note: Remove the cables from the harness clamps, it makes the job much easier.
6) Got the starter out from the passenger side opening.

**Note** Working from behind the front subframe is recommended.
Advantages: Better view of the starter, more space to move your tools and hands around, Positive voltage drop and other electrical checks possible taking the starter out.

Installation (Easy)

7) Got the starter in place, through the passenger side tire area.
8) Secured the top 14″ bolt, working from behind the front subframe, using 6″ extension socket and a slimmer 3/8″ ratchet. (Barely enough clearance, 4″ socket extension is recommended that I didn’t have at that moment).
9) Secured the bottom 14″ bolt ** Piece of cake**
10) Double secured both the bolts with torque wrench.. Top bolt: 33 lbf-ft; bottom bolt: 47 lbf-ft.
11) Secured the positive battery and solenoid wires. Checked for voltage drop and battery voltage.
12) Secured all the cables on the harness clamps.
13) Put back the intake manifold bracket.
14) Put splashguard and tires back on..

Attachments:

• IMAG0837.jpg
• 10155360_10152738614853222_8707993901501737138_n.jpg

[Rj]

Thanks guys for all the suggestions, Y’all Rock!!
Special thanks to Eric, without whose profession help, I wouldn’t have been able to pin point the problem and !!fix it..!!

Yes, I replaced the starter and it works great. Didn’t drive it too much though, Airbag sign came on for a moment on my first trip and freaked me out.. Didn’t see it again though. Hopefully everything is fine.

Starter was faulty, I opened it and first of all saw a lot of black dust. Don’t know if that normal, but I am assuming it’s from the wear of the parts.

Armature had weird wear marks, presumably from contact with the permanent magnet.
But major problem, I think, was that the gear shaft was stuck and would not turn freely.

Replaced with the one from local autozone store.

Sticking out gear clutch seems to be normal for this 2006-2011 Honda Civic EX AT. Weird starter, the solenoid is inbuilt.

Anyways here’s a brief summary of my action on it.

Tools:

1) 3/8″ Ratchet with 4″, 6″ and 10″ socket extensions.
2) socket sizes: 10″, 12″, 14″.
3) Very useful: Rotator ratchet, got one for cheap from walmart, 20 bucks.

P.O.A
1) Jacked up the car and secured on jack stands.
2) Got the passenger tire and splash guard off.

3) Got underneath the car and removed the intake manifold bracket. Secured with two 10″ and one 12″ bolts.
This is a must for easy work around.
4) Got the Bottom 14″ bolt fastener off the starter, from the passenger side.

5) Top bolt was tricky. Many claim to get it from passenger side wheel, using a swivel socket.
I got it from behind the front subframe, using 6 inch extension socket and long ratchet.
Note: Remove the cables from the harness clamps, it makes the job much easier.
6) Got the starter out from the passenger side opening.

**Note** Working from behind the front subframe is recommended.
Advantages: Better view of the starter, more space to move your tools and hands around, Positive voltage drop and other electrical checks possible taking the starter out.

Installation (Easy)

7) Got the starter in place, through the passenger side tire area.
8) Secured the top 14″ bolt, working from behind the front subframe, using 6″ extension socket and a slimmer 3/8″ ratchet. (Barely enough clearance, 4″ socket extension is recommended that I didn’t have at that moment).
9) Secured the bottom 14″ bolt ** Piece of cake**
10) Double secured both the bolts with torque wrench.. Top bolt: 33 lbf-ft; bottom bolt: 47 lbf-ft.
11) Secured the positive battery and solenoid wires. Checked for voltage drop and battery voltage.
12) Secured all the cables on the harness clamps.
13) Put back the intake manifold bracket.
14) Put splashguard and tires back on..

Attachments:

• IMAG0837.jpg
• 10155360_10152738614853222_8707993901501737138_n.jpg

[Rj]

So guys I got the starter out.

Seems like the problem with the override clutch. Bendix isn’t engaging whenever I touch the starter terminal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqCPwreUmP4

Suggestions?

[Rj]

So guys I got the starter out.

Seems like the problem with the override clutch. Bendix isn’t engaging whenever I touch the starter terminal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqCPwreUmP4

Suggestions?

[Rj]

Thanks guys.
So finally I was able to get to the solenoid wire..
I saw the battery voltage and the voltage drop.. Everything seems fine before the starter, plus the bendix seems to be stuck above..

Got a heck of the time to get the top screw off… I did it with a rotator ratchet, a 6 inch extension socket, obviously a 14mm socket and last but not the least a lot of muscle power…
Recommend this video for good leverage place to work on the top screw, especially..

Still trying to get the positive cable out.. Then the starter be out of the car.
Will post further pictures once I am done replacing the starter on the weekend.

[Rj]

Thanks guys.
So finally I was able to get to the solenoid wire..
I saw the battery voltage and the voltage drop.. Everything seems fine before the starter, plus the bendix seems to be stuck above..

Got a heck of the time to get the top screw off… I did it with a rotator ratchet, a 6 inch extension socket, obviously a 14mm socket and last but not the least a lot of muscle power…
Recommend this video for good leverage place to work on the top screw, especially..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEfjBv2DTxo

Still trying to get the positive cable out.. Then the starter be out of the car.
Will post further pictures once I am done replacing the starter on the weekend.

[Rj]

I recently replaced battery like 8 months ago and tested it again today. Battery seems fine.

12 v at starter is my next step, as soon as I get to the starter… It’s a little b**** to get to on my car.

[Rj]

I recently replaced battery like 8 months ago and tested it again today. Battery seems fine.

12 v at starter is my next step, as soon as I get to the starter… It’s a little b**** to get to on my car.

[Rj]

Thank you for the reply. So today the car would not crank at all or barely crank.

Cranking voltage drop due to none to a little cranking varied but I did get a reading of 0.32 V a couple of times.

[Rj]

Thank you for the reply. So today the car would not crank at all or barely crank.

Cranking voltage drop due to none to a little cranking varied but I did get a reading of 0.32 V a couple of times.

[Author]

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