92 Honda Civic No Crank

My son called last night and said that his car would not
start using the starter, but could be started by having
friends push it and start by popping the clutch. I though
that it may be the battery, but just want to know what else
to look at before I travel 80 miles to go look at it, is there
any relays or something that is common that goes out on these?

TIA

Kevin

 

wrote in

Low battery, poor cable connection at terminals. Poor cable connection at
starter, solenoid bad, all the usual Bendix starter problems.

Does it just click or chatter when he tries to crank it?

Tell your son to charge the battery (or swap it for a known-good one),
clean off all the cable connections INCLUDING the fat and skinny cables
that go to the starter.
Also check the engine ground strap to make sure it's clean and connected,
and the ground at the thermostat housing.

After doing all that, try again.

 

I just talked to him again and asked if it clicked when he
turned the key, none.... He had a friend try to jump start
it, still no luck, so looks like it may be the starter.

Kevin

 

Or likely the ignition switch at the column.

 

How do you test for the switch being possibly bad?

Kevin

 

I had a similar problem on my Acura Legend - it would start, but die as soon
as you released the key. I pulled the back of the ignition switch off
(the part with the wires) and took it apart. The old grease had hardened and
was blocking the connection when the switch was on (but not in start).

This may be something similar or bad starter/solenoid.

 

http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/startproblems.html#ignitionswitch

 

Thanks for everyone that replied to my question, I purchased
a rebuilt starter but before changing it out, I checked to see if I
had
12v on the small lead on the solenoid when the key
was turned on to the start position, and then checked to make sure
that the block had a good ground, after that was all checked I pulled
the starter (looked a lot different than the one in the car, solenoid
was
almost twice the size) took it to the local AZ, one dead
starter...changed
and, life is good again, and a 17 year old has wheels once
again........

Again, Thanks
Kevin