95 Honda Prelude S: Click and won't start

Hi all:
My 95 Honda Prelude S (auto transmission) sometimes won't start. It
happened randomly twice this two weeks. When I turned the key to start,
I hear click... click... click... and the car will start only after a
few tries (5-7 times). All lights were on inside the car, and the radio
and clock worked fine when the key is at ON position. Advanced Auto
Parts checked the battery and alternator, and they are all good. Pls
help.

-Amy

 

Start with the checks on the main relay, per
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/startproblems.html#mainrelay

 

------------------------------

You may need an ignition switch (you know about the recall?) but if it's
activating the relay under the dash and you hear the fuel pump cycling,
but there's no engagement of the starter solenoid (under the hood) it
won't spin. SEARCH this group or google.com (groups) for 'starter and
solenoid'.

'Curly'

 

Sorry I am not clear on the problem. The clicks happened more than
three times. It's a continously click click click click click click
(about one second interval each) when the key is at START position. The
car started after I turned the key a few times (5-7 times). Happened
only twice this past two weeks. All electronics ( clock, radio, a/c)
worked fine inside car when the key is at ON position.

 

My local honda dealer says there is no recall on ignition switch for 95
Honda Prelude S. They wanted $95 just to diagnose the problem. I
searched the group for "starter and solenoid" and still not clear what
the problem is; there are mixed reviews from the search results.

 

Two things come to mind.

Low battery voltage and bad contact on the starter selenoid.

The former can be cause by a bad alternator (or loose beld) to prevent a
full charge going to the battery or even loose battery connections and
the former can be trouble shot by wacking the starter then attempting a
start. (I nursed a bad starter selenoid for nearly a year on an old
Civic by banging the starter with a jack handle).

Sometimes brutality pays off...

JT

 

if it clicks, it's either the starter solenoid or a weak battery lead
connection.