'88 Honda Civic: Where is starter? Could it be a fuse? Where's fuse box?

Question

Our 88 Honda Civic started having starting problems a few weeks ago. Sometimes it starts just fine.... other times it just won't catch - but it's always eventually started after a few tries. It's been starting great last few days - then suddenly NOTHING. No Sound, not even clicking.... just turn the key and nothing happens at all. Battery has plenty of juice - that's been ruled out.

Questions: Could it be a fuse - or is it more likely the starter? Where are both of these located?

Anybody have a Rough Estimate of cost for parts and labor if it's the starter?

Answer 1

Okay... let's try to set you mind at ease. Yes, you do have a problem with the starter circuit but just what does that circuit involve?

Since you don't know where your fuse box is, I will just describe a few things.. you really should open your owner's manual and read it now and then. Lost it? Get another one at www.helminc.com Having it will help you sell the car later especially if the maintenance section has some data put in...

Even though Hondas are small, it take a lot of effort to turn an engine over using electricity... a lot of electricity means a big wire, almost as big as you little finger. That's why batteries are rated with words like 500 cold cranking amps. It is way to expensive and complicated to route that big wire all the way to the ignition switch so they install a starter relay. This relay sits somewhere in the engine compartment most likely between the battery positive post and the starter terminal... the shorter the better after all they make a heck of a lot of Hondas and why waste material?

The starter relay is controlled with low power 12 volts routed to the ignition switch. Cheap, little wires, easy to put in a wiring harness etc. It also keeps the massive arcs and sparks out of the inside of the car should the ignition switch fail! That's it. Battery, ignition switch, starter relay, and starter. Now, let's analyze your problem...

"... not even clicking..." You said the battery has lots of juice so let's take your word for that (though only a free load test at Autozone etc. could really answer that). The starter relay will make at least one click if everything is working right... most times you don't hear that click because immediately following is the noisy starter motor and an engine starting. However, in your case, one click should tell you a lot. It tells you the ignition switch is working and that's one item that's a pain to replace! That click also tells you the starter relay has enough power from the battery to connect the battery to the starter and keep it switched in. Weak batteries can make the starter relay chatter with a series of clicks. You say you don't even hear clicking. Make absolutely sure you don't even hear one click! If you hear that one click, the chances are the problem is your starter or the battery cable connection to the starter.

No click means the starter relay isn't getting enegized from the ignition switch.. Yes, it could be a fuse so get that manual out and look... or, if you are sitting in the driver's seat... the associated fuse should be in the fuse box in front of your left knee. There is another fuse box in the engine compartment too. Both are marked eluding to what they are.

Now let's look at the starter... all electric devices on your car need two wires (positive and negative) but most have only one, the positive one. That's because they use the metal of the car as the second, negative wire. The negative post of the battery has a cable connected directly to the chassis. Saves big money on wire at the factory. However, your starter is mounted to the engine and the engine is held in the car by rubber engine mounts... rubber doesn't conduct electricity so the factory puts in a wire connecting the engine to the chassis... usually bolted directly to the head on the right hand side looking at the engine from the front. Make sure that connection isn't broken or damaged in any way. You can do a quick check of this connection by simply attaching one lead of a jumper cable set from the negative terminal of the battery to a good metal connection on the engine. Try the starter with this jumper installed and see what happens.

Still in a lurch? That leaves only one culprit... the starter itself. Two bolts and an electrical connection... might be tough to get to though... it's all in the factory service manual that you can buy yourself from www.helminc.com.

This should steer you in some direction toward getting this thing fixed. Good luck!

Answer 2

if you don't know were your fuse box is. you definitely don't want to be messing with it or the starter. Take the car to a mechanic.

Answer 3

sounds like the starter has died,most likely not a fuse.Take it to auto electrician.

Answer 4

check under the hood