Ignition wont start car

Hello, I have a major but simple problem that I can't figure out.
Thieves tried to steal my car an 1984 honda prelude. They were not
successful, but they messed up my ignition switch. Now every-time I
turn my car on I have to make sure that I don't leave the ignition on,
therefore, I need to move the ignition switch back to a proper
position. I have learned to live with that issues, but recently I
let my mother borrow my car, she did not know about the problem with
the ignition switch staying on. She was warming the car up for a
while, and one of the grounded cables for the battery completely burnt
its insulation. I changed that specific cable, I changed the spark
plugs, I looked closely to see if there are any other burnt cables but
everything seems fine. The battery works because everything else in
the car turns on. But every-time I try to turn the keys all I here is
a barely audible click but the car does not turn on. Please somebody
save me some bucks by telling me what I need to change. Thank you.

 

You say that the key has to be manually brought back -- do you mean that the
start position will be active unless you bring the switch back manually?
If that is so, what is happening is that your starter was still running
while the car was running. I'd imagine that your starter motor is most
likely burned as they are not made for 100% duty.

A starter usually has two 12V contacts: one for the motor and one for the
relay. Make sure you see 12V on both contacts when you attempt to start the
car. If either voltage is missing, you have a problem in your ignition
switch or wires leading up to it.

If you do see 12V on both and the motor is not turning, your motor could be
bad or its gear is somehow jammed where it cannot move. In this case you
will have to remove the starter and possibly bench test it.

Hondas are 'packed' under the hood, so the trick is usually to get the thing
out (and the new one in). If you've never done it before, it may take some
time to do, but it is technically not a hard thing to do.
Just make sure you disconnect the battery when you do anything like this --
12V goes directly from the battery to the starter and you will do some
unintentional welding if you don't.
It is probably a good idea to get a repair manual to get definitive
instructions on replacement on your particular car.

While you're at the junkyard looking for a starter, I'd also see about
replacing that ignition switch so it can't happen again.

Hope this helps.

Remco