The car is having trouble starting up ,70 percent of the time it starts right up. the other 30 percent, it randomly won’t start its
Car wont start some times for no reason on certain days it will start with one crank of the engine,other day's it will crank and crank but wont start unless I give it a little push start I don't think it's the starter because the engine cranks, dont think its the battery because the car won't start even after a long drive giving the battery a good charge frome the alternator.thank you for your help any advise will do!
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hey there thanks for writing in about your 1998 Honda Accord. This could be a few things. A faulty ignition switch, a failing crank sensor, or possibly other faulty sensors could be the cause. To have this taken care of, consider having a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your car’s location to diagnose and repair the hard start issue.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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The most common reasons a Honda Accord won`t start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter. Search our network of RepairPal Certified shops near you to speak with a technician about your issue.
A weak or dead 12v battery is most likely the cause of your Accord not cranking or cranking very slowly. Ensure the battery in your vehicle is in good condition. A battery with 12.5 volts should be used. Alternatively, you can jumpstart it if you don`t have a voltmeter.
The simplest way to reset the anti-theft system is to press the alarm on your key fob. If a single press doesn`t do it, press it five times. Then hit the lock button.
If your vehicle won`t start, it`s usually caused by a dying or dead battery, loose or corroded connection cables, a bad alternator or an issue with the starter. It can be hard to determine if you`re dealing with a battery or an alternator problem.
If your vehicle won`t start but you hear a rapid clicking sound when you turn the key then you may have a problem with your battery or alternator.
If your car won`t start, but your battery is fine, chances are you have a bad alternator. This is another charging system issue, like a dead battery, that won`t let you start your car.
Slow cranking could be the result of several possible conditions, and as you`ve suggested, the fault might reappear or worsen. Possible causes are a degraded or defective battery, faulty electrical connection, a charging system problem, a bad starter or battery rundown when parked.
You hear a single click
Usually, this points to a faulty relay or solenoid, or a bad or jammed starter motor. Solution: Rock your car back and forth or tap the starter motor with a hammer and try starting the engine again. If this works, you are good to go!
The starter relay makes a clicking sound, but the engine does not rotate, which indicates that the starter motor is not receiving enough current from the relay. This may also be a sign of low or exhausted battery power. Only when it transmits enough current to the starter, the relay starts to work.
The crankshaft position sensor monitors the position and speed of the crankshaft and other parameters that play an important role when starting the engine. If the crankshaft position sensor is having a problem, the vehicle may have intermittent starting issues or not start at all.
When the starting motor tries to start the engine, it could make a grinding sound if it isn`t working properly. A poor starting motor, a broken starter solenoid, or a loose connection between the starter motor and the battery might cause this issue.
When your engine cranks but won`t start or run, it could mean your engine is having trouble producing a spark, getting fuel, or creating compression. The most common causes are problems in the ignition (for example, a bad ignition coil) or fuel system (for example, a clogged fuel filter).
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
The car is having trouble starting up ,70 percent of the time it starts right up. the other 30 percent, it randomly won’t start its
ANSWER : Hey there thanks for writing in about your 1998 Honda Accord. This could be a few things. A faulty ignition switch, a failing crank sensor, or possibly other faulty sensors could be the cause. To have this taken care of, consider having a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your car’s location to diagnose and repair the hard start issue.
My car will not start Intermittently. I purchased a new battery 2 weeks ago and yesterday the car wouldn’t start. Got a jump and
ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
The car crank but won’t start
ANSWER : Hi there. This does sound like an issue with the wiring. If the check engine light is coming on every now and then this means that when it does not come on there is no power to the computer. This can be the wiring harness issue or an ignition switch problem. I would have to test for voltage to the computer when the problem is occurring to be able to find where the issue lies. If you need assistance, a certified YourMechanic technician can be dispatched to your location to inspect your vehicle’s non-start issue and suggest any necessary repairs.
Map sensor car won’t start up good ?
ANSWER : Your MAP sensor is an important input for your computer. It helps determine the load on the engine to calculate the correct amount of fuel to inject. It sometimes takes a few seconds for the vehicle to realize that the sensor is not producing a good signal.
At that point, it will use other methods to determine the fuel rate, such as pre-programmed fuel maps, throttle position, etc. I would suggest replacing the MAP sensor and retesting. If you would like to have it checked first, a certified technician from YourMechanic will be able to scan your vehicle and test components to determine the root cause of your starting issue before making a repair.
Car won’t start. The check engine light, battery light, and oil change light are coming on. I tried jumping the car and nothing happened. Why won’t my car start?
ANSWER : Hi and thanks for contacting Your Mechanic. If sometimes your vehicle will start with the new alternator and sometimes it won’t, then there is a loose connection in your charging system. Check all of the wires to the alternator and to the battery. Make sure that the battery cables are clean and tight. Make sure that the wires to the starter are clean and tight. A loose ground to the ignition system will cause the vehicle to not crank over. Check all of the ground wires from the battery to the starter. Make sure that they are clean and tight. If you need further assistance troubleshooting your no start situation, then seek out a technician, such as one from Your Mechanic, that can assist you.
car hesitates when trying to start the car ,but when started then i shut car off and start again it will start right up
ANSWER : Hi there:
Sometimes when you have problems starting an engine initially it is caused by a restriction in fuel flow; caused either by clogged fuel injectors or the throttle body that needs to be cleaned. Once the fuel starts to flow and engine warms up, it’s much easier to start. However, it could also be an air filter, EGR valve or other components that causes this issue as well, which is why it’s best to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection so they can pinpoint the source of this issue.
Car intermittently won’t start
ANSWER : Hi there. An intermittent no start condition, can be difficult to diagnose. Replacing the fuel filter would not hurt anything, especially if it hasn’t been replaced in the last 30,000 miles. Diagnostic procedures should be performed, at the time of no start, to confirm whether there is a loss of fuel, of spark or both.
Assuming the Check Engine Light is not coming on, leads me to believe the ECM (engine control module)/computer is not recognizing the fault. There are many possibilities for a no start condition: a faulty ignition switch, fuel pump relay, fuel pump, ignition coil, ignition module, crankshaft position sensor, camshaft position sensor.
Replacing components without diagnoses can be expensive and time consuming without resolution. I recommend having your vehicle’s intermittent no start diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, so that this can be repaired correctly.
Why does my car struggle to start every 4th to 5th time?
ANSWER : It sounds like your starting issues may be linked to a problem with air metering or fuel delivery. A clogged or malfunctioning idle air control valve may show some of the same symptoms you are describing. The idle air control valve can be stuck in a cold start position which may work well if the car has been sitting a few hours, but as the engine warms up there must be a regulation in airflow. Consider hiring an experienced technician like one from YourMechanic who can come out for a closer look at your hard start situation and offer a more personal diagnosis.
