'99 Odyssey Won't Crank Over - Intermittent

A few days ago, the van would not crank over when trying to start. No
sound from the starter or relay either. Had it towed to a Honda repair
shop and everything checked out OK - battery, connections, alternator,
starter, etc... Also (of course) the van started right up for them.
Now this has happened a couple more times, so it's very intermittent.
It's in the repair shop again, but I suspect they will not find any
problems again due to the intermittent nature. From the first time it
was in the shop, they suggested that maybe it was the starter, but
wanted $400 plus to replace it. I have found referbs for about $140,
and new ones for about $250. Any ideas what else it might be? How
hard is it to replace the starter?

Thanks,
Mike

 

check this site out first;
http://www.nationsautoelectric.com/Nippondenso.html

It cost me $30 PPD to rebuild my starter's solenoid.
The hard part was getting the lower starter bolt loose in such tight
quarters.(Only two bolts hold the starter to the engine.)

 

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If there's absolutely no click, did you try moving the shifter to
NEUTRAL, as mentioned in the owner's manual? (surely the dealership
already told you to try that before TOWING). Even the tow truck operator
should have tried it.

Read this TSB: It also applies to just about every Honda ever built.

http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/tsb/civic/x94-010e.pdf

I just did the adjustment on my '97 CR-V and it helped a lot.

'Curly'

 

Did you also observe dash lights? The more you observe and try when failing
the better chance you have of finding the problem. Check with dealer on
recall on ignition switch problem. Visit www.odyclub.com and do some
searches on the problem.

 

There are several interlocks that prevent the ignition or starter
circuits from becoming live under certain conditions, and those should
be checked out first.

The neutral safety switch on the transmission is the first and easiest
to check. The car will start in park or neutral. If park doesn't work,
move it to neutral and try. Maybe the switch at the park setting isn't
working.

Also a culprit on an 8 year old car could be the ignition switch itself,
especially if you have a bunch of keys on your key ring.

They didn't check either of those things?

 

All,

Thanks for the replies. Just got word back from the repair shop, and
the problem is no longer intermittent. It's the solenoid. I've
tried google to a source a new one, but all I'm getting is a part
number for the Mitsuba solenoid (66-8504). Any ideas where to purchase
just the solenoid?

I've also found a new starter for $167. If I can't find the
solenoid soon, I'm just replacing the whole thing.

 

Did you read my last post?

http://www.nationsautoelectric.com/

 

That site only covers Denso, does it not?



Mitsuba solenoids going bad? I always thought the big Honda starter problem
was the contacts on Denso starters.

A replacement solenoid assembly may be purchased from a local rebuild shop,
but you'll have to install it yourself.

 

The original link I provided was for Denso,but IIRC,there were other brands
listed too.

I just checked,and the home page lists "starter parts","solenoid
parts","alternator parts",and whole units.