Starter sluggish at start up.

[Mike Dodge]

I searched the forum for this one, so hopefully I didn’t have kid vision while I was looking and went right past it.
My wife’s 2006 Honda Civic LX just started this weird thing with the starter. When you go to start it, the starter cranks sluggish like it would when the battery is low or dying. So having replaced the battery 4 months ago, I brought it back and insisted on a new battery as it is under warranty. So I got a new battery and it still does it.
I’m leaning towards the starter solenoid, or the starter. I wanted to check with you guys first as I have watched several youtube videos on changing the starter and it is tucked away so no one can get to it.
Any suggestions or thoughts before I remove it?
Thanks,
Mike

Topic

[Alex]

Before you throw a starter at it, check the battery voltage, battery connections, power cable to the starter, and ground cable to the battery. Anything corroded, loose, or burnt looking could be a problem area. If the power meant for the starter is getting lost to a bad connection, the car could crank slowly like what you have, or even not crank at all.

Eric’s Diagnosing Starter Problems video goes over the main things to look at before replacing a starter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKjdnQ0sHQc

This No crank / No start video features a car with a weak start / intermittent no start due to bad connections:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ze7pzrhRIs

If the voltage drop test and all the wiring is good, then there could be a mechanical problem that is presenting an unusually heavy load to the starter. If the AC compressor clutch is sticking on, that will create a huge load for the starter but once the car starts, everything will seem fine. A seized or failing accessory could cause these startup symptoms, but would likely create a lot of noise and be pretty obvious once the engine is running.

Assuming the wiring is good, you could try removing the serpentine belt(s) and cranking the engine. If the engine cranks much faster (at or close to normal speed), then something on the belt is restricting the engine at startup. Don’t run the engine very long like this, as you won’t have any alternator or water pump, etc without the belt(s). If there is more than one belt, remove one belt at a time to try to isolate the problem accessory.

Report back what you find here, and good luck!

[Andrew Phillips]

Short the two large terminals on the starter with a beefy screwdriver or similar. It will make a healthy spark so don’t panic. If the starter motor spins normally, the electrical connection on the starter may be loose or there is high resistance on your positive battery cable. Check it from the battery terminal all the way down to the starter for corrosion or damage. If the starter motor is still sluggish to spin then the starter needs to be replaced.

[EricTheCarGuy]

Great suggestions above. Additional information on solving these types of problems here.

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-no-start-problems

Please keep us posted on your progress.

[Mike Dodge]

Now I don’t have to try to figure out why the starter is turning slowly. Now it won’t turn at all. My wife took it to the store and AAA brought it back.
I tested the battery and it is holding at 12.67v.
I would like to do the screw driver jumper test like we use to do on the old American cars but some jerk off engineer who designed these motors and placement of the starter, didn’t care about the next guy who had to replace them.
I couldn’t get a screwdriver in there if I wanted to, it is on the back side of the motor, under the intake behind the drive axle half shaft and the exhaust.
It looks like you need to be a contortionist or need a plasma cutter to get in there.
I can’t do the starter voltage drop test because I can’t get to the starters electrical without removing it. Crap placement and design.
Is there a relay to check or should I just get to removing it?

[Andrew Phillips]

In this case, I would just pull the starter. If there was any question it might still be good, the parts store can test it for free, but I’ll bet it’s gone bad, so you’d have to pull it anyway.

[Mike Dodge]

I went a head and pulled the starter and took it apart the brushes were so far run down they were cracked and almost dust. Installed new one and it works perfectly
. Thanks guys for the help.

[Andrew Phillips]

Great! Glad you got it working.

[Author]

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