car wont turn over

[mncivic98]

Im new here. We just bought a 1998 Honda Civic sedan with 166,000 miles and a 5 speed manual trans. I'm not sure which model it is, the only badge on the trunk is the Honda logo.
Anyway, the car has damage on the passenger front corner. The core support is pretty bent up. But the price was right. I'm hoping to fix it up to drive as a work commuter. It for sure needs a new front clip.
The problem Im having is that when I turn the key in the ignition to the on position, the dash lights come like they should but when I try to turn it over nothing happens. But the car starts if I have it in neutral and I jump the starter. But when it is running, there is a clicking coming from under dash on the driver side and the brake lights flash for a while. I was thinking maybe the clutch safety switch was bad but I don't think it would make a clicking sound. Are these cars equipped with a factory security system? If so, maybe that has something to do with it? Can it be disabled? Any other ideas?

Thank you in advance for any help or advise.

 

[mncivic98]

Any ideas? I have searched and I can't seem to find any answers.

Symptoms:
1.) turn key on, all normal lights and chime come on
2.) turn key to start, nothing happens
3.) will start if starter is jumped from the battery
4.) clicking coming from under driver side dash when a door opens
5.) parking lights flash when a door opens

Any help is appreciated. I'm new to hondas. This is the first foreign cars I've owned. I would like to know where to start. I want to fix this car asap so I can drive it. Its already driving me nuts.

Thanks.

 

[Swerv]

Bang on the solenoid with a hammer and report back sir

 

[lethal6]

Bang on the solenoid with a hammer and report back sir

Don't do this. Why would you recommend this caveman troubleshooting method? How about advising proper testing of the starter instead? Banging on a good starter can destroy it. So if the solenoid was NOT the problem you now need a new starter AND you still haven't fixed what was wrong.

By the way this doesn't even point to a starter problem. Not yet. By his description it sounds like the clutch switch.

Also the clicking sounds like a different issue. Looks to me like you purchased a problem car and a lot of it will probably end up tracing back to the damage from the accident.

 

[Swerv]

Don't do this. Why would you recommend this caveman troubleshooting method? How about advising proper testing of the starter instead? Banging on a good starter can destroy it. So if the solenoid was NOT the problem you now need a new starter AND you still haven't fixed what was wrong.

ugh forum people

 

[lethal6]

ugh forum people

Exactly and you are one of the worst type. The kind that gives terrible information.

 

[my93civic]

There's nothing wrong with banging on the starter. I just did this on my accord and it was a bad refurbished starter. Replaced it and problem solved. Banging on the starter is an old school way of diagnosis, there are better ways of checking things though

 

[lethal6]

There's nothing wrong with banging on the starter. I just did this on my accord and it was a bad refurbished starter. Replaced it and problem solved. Banging on the starter is an old school way of diagnosis, there are better ways of checking things though

Yes there is and yes people have been banging on starters since before you were born. That doesn't make it ok.

Either way, none of this is helping the op. Let's focus on that please.

 

[mncivic98]

By clutch switch I'm assuming you are talking about the clutch safety switch, correct? Can I bypass it or does it have to be replaced? If I can bypass it, how?

As far as the clicking sound and lights flashing, its like someone hit the panic button on a key fob. I never got one with the car.

When I turn the key to the start position, I can hear a click right around the fuse block under the dash.
And I don't hear anything from the starter.
If I can't figure this starting issue, I might just try to rig up a push button or a toggle switch to start the car. The S2000's have a turn key w/push button start, correct/

I really appreciate everyone input/advice/help

 

[lethal6]

By clutch switch I'm assuming you are talking about the clutch safety switch, correct? Can I bypass it or does it have to be replaced? If I can bypass it, how?

As far as the clicking sound and lights flashing, its like someone hit the panic button on a key fob. I never got one with the car.

When I turn the key to the start position, I can hear a click right around the fuse block under the dash.
And I don't hear anything from the starter.
If I can't figure this starting issue, I might just try to rig up a push button or a toggle switch to start the car. The S2000's have a turn key w/push button start, correct/

I really appreciate everyone input/advice/help

Just replace it. The work you are going to go through by bypassing it will far outweigh the labor to just change it out. Ghetto rigging stuff can lead to problems down the road and is never a recommended approach to fixing a vehicle unless you are in a huge pinch, only then should it be utilized and only as a temporary fix until you can make proper repairs.

The clicking and flashing sounds like someone put an aftermarket alarm in the vehicle. Thoroughly search under the dash for a control box and remove it. Either that or go to a place and have them install a new alarm. Tell them there is an existing one you want removed and they will dig it out and replace it with one that actually works like it should.

That being said, this starting issue can be and is highly likely to be related to this aftermarket alarm, especially if it utilizes a kill switch which most of them do. This is why it helps to give ALL the information in a clear manner right from the beginning, the problem could have been solved in the first reply had this been correctly documented.

Again, rigging it is NOT the way to go. Fix it right.

Yes, s2000s have a push button start. So do most new cars. That doesn't fix your problem though. If the alarm has a kill switch on it, the button won't bypass this.

 

[mncivic98]

The rigging solution was, like you said, temporary. I will look under the dash for a control box when I get some time.
Do some civics come with a factory anti-theft system at all?
Is there a for sure way to make sure its a control box and not something that is actually supposed to be the car?

Thank you for the reply.

 

[my93civic]

It'll most likely have an aftermarket name on it

 

[mncivic98]

I contacted the lady I bought the car from. She forgot to mention the car has an alarm on it. The previous owner had it installed. However she lost the key fob. I looked and found a wiring harness with two relays plugged in the end. That took care of the lights flashing and clicking but the car still won't turn over.
If I follow this harness, could it possibly lead me to the control box? Do a simply unplug the control box to start the car or what do I need to do with it? The wiring harness looked newer than anything else under the dash witch is the reason I went after that one.

 

[lethal6]

I contacted the lady I bought the car from. She forgot to mention the car has an alarm on it. The previous owner had it installed. However she lost the key fob. I looked and found a wiring harness with two relays plugged in the end. That took care of the lights flashing and clicking but the car still won't turn over.
If I follow this harness, could it possibly lead me to the control box? Do a simply unplug the control box to start the car or what do I need to do with it? The wiring harness looked newer than anything else under the dash witch is the reason I went after that one.

Yes. Follow to the control box. You can unplug it, BUT you are going to need to find out if it has a kill switch (or relay) attached. You can start by just unplugging the control box and then try to start. If it is an internal kill switch you are good to do with the box removed. If it is an external one attached to one of the outputs, you are going to have to find it and rewire it back to stock to take the switch out of the loop.