CRX wont start........

To say the least, I'm a little frustrated with this car. I just want the car to run/turn on, on command, like it use to. This car has been in the family since 1993 and has never been abused. (1990 CRX DX, 130k mi.)

I've researched several postings on the internet, and have yet to find anything like what's going on with this car,,,,,,a little similar, but not the same.

I've had other problems fixed, in the recent past, such as a bad distributor and a bad main relay. It seems like every time the car gets fixed, it works like a charm; then something else goes bad.

I'll try to keep it short:
The car runs fine, when it runs.
It normally had starting issues only if the engine was hot, especially on a hot day.
I never really had a problem with turning the car on and off because I would turn it on around noon, drive to work, and turn it off...
Then I would get off work in the evening, turn the car on, and drive home.
Over the past few months, it has gotten worse. The car would not always start up immediately, I would have to tap the key to the crank(start) position a few times before it would crank and start.
The battery is a relatively new Die Hard. It's kind of a mystery how the car would start/crank perfectly one minute, and then a short while later no more crank. Not even a click, such as a dead battery sound. The main relay sounds and clicks fine. Sometimes when I tap the key to the crank(start) position a few times, it will crank and then start. It got to the point, that one cool morning, I got in the car to go somewhere, then bam, no more start/crank.
I guess one of the mysteries is, when it doesn't want to start, I could always jump start it with jumper cables. The funny thing is, I could either jump start it, or wait for a good while and it would start. Now it really doesn't want to start, unless I jump start it.
I'm not sure what to do anymore. I normally fix my own cars, but I've been having to take this car to the mechanic because it seems like it is perpetually having some kind of starting issue.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Sounds like a faulty connection at the battery. Check the cable ends, clean them, check/clean grounds.

I do love how you claim 4 other cars in your sig, but disown the CRX.

Sounds like a faulty connection at the battery. Check the cable ends, clean them, check/clean grounds.

I do love how you claim 4 other cars in your sig, but disown the CRX.


I've always questioned the battery cable ends, because no matter how tight you tighten the little bolts, the cables were still loose. All you had to do was wiggle them side to side and the cables would come off. Since then, I cut small pieces of stranded copper wire 12 or 10 gauge I think, and stuffed it between the battery post and the battery cable end clamp, kinda like a shim. The cables are on nice and tight and they are free of any corrosion.

I would have claimed the CRX along time ago, but I don't know how to update it. At this point, I might have to disown the CRX entirely,,,,LOL

Get new cable ends, they don't cost that much. If you buy the red and black ones, makes sure to scrap the paint off from under the cable clamp. Currently you slapped a bandaid on something that needs stitches.

Yeah, if it works fine when you jump start it, then it has to be battery related. Almost might have your charging system checked too. New terminals would be the first step.

It's been a while, but I finally got around to finding out what the problem was. Actually, the nice Smog Check Technician helped me troubleshoot the car...

We determined that the battery was good, as well as the alternator.
The starter was also good.
The cables were on relatively good and free of corrosion.

He said nine times out of ten, it's going to be the ignition switch. I replaced the ignition switch with another (free)used one, and then all of a sudden, the car starts,,,on command.

Now the car starts up fine,,,,,,,except, sometimes, after driving it around for a while, then turning the car off. Attempting to turn the car back on a short while later, it will crank, however, it won't start up right away. After a few tries, it will start. That simply tells me that I need to get a NEW ignition switch.

When I finally get the NEW ignition switch, I will give the final update......

Final update...

I bought a NEW ignition switch from Honda (OEM). Installed it. Tied in the alarm kill switch relay, just the way it was wired in before.

Now, for the past few weeks, the car starts up just fine, rain or shine, hot or cold.

I'm just hoping it will stays like this for another long while, cuz gas prices are going up and my truck gets like 8-10 MPG.

Thanks for all the ideas..........