Will not crank

Do you have any electrical activity, ie, lights, wipers, radio? and if the lights are on and you crank on the key, do the lights go very dim? If the lights stay bright it sounds like the starter has gone bad but to be sure here is a guide you can run down to fix the problem.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair


Mark (mhpautos)

Yes, all electrical is working and when you try and crank it with the lights on, they do not go dim. Tried to get to the starter, but cannot figure that out either. it is underneath and cannot figure out how to get to it to test it. It does not even make a clicking sound when you try to crank it, nothing.

You will have to get under and test for power at the starter solenoid terminal, if power with key on crank, it will be the starter, if no power look at the transmission isolator switch. i do doubt that the ignition switch is faulty, but that can be checked as well.

Mark (mhpautos)

How do I get to the starter? there is a panel or something covering it up.

Where is the transmission isolator switch?

I have not done one myself, but if there is a splash shield under the engine bay this will unbolt and you should have good access to the starter. the isolator switch is normally on the transmission where the selector is. i will check this out to be sure.

Mark (mhpautos)

Isolator or range switch is located on the end of the transmission cover. see picture.

Mark (mhpautos)

The positive battery terminal on Odysseys like to corrode and actually split apart. I would ensure that both battery terminals are making clean contact with the battery posts. Even though it does sound like you have a starter issue, it does not hurt to start with the basics first.

Also, is there an easy way to get to the starter or do you have to get to it from underneath?

The positive was loose and did not want to tighten on the old battery. Does it have a "cover" on it that we can split open without hurting anything?

Also, there are two cables that come together on the positive side one goes to the starter and we do not know what the other one is.

To replace the starter remove the battery and the metal tray.

Honda odyssey 2006 starter clicks but does not turn over engine. Voltage is 12.8 until you try to start then it drops to 10. I believe it might be a relay, but which one?

I found the problem. Honda uses 1/4 inch copper cables to connect the ground and power to the engine. These cables easily corrode. Copper and water does not mix. The cable corrodes and turns into a huge resistor draining current. The power cable from the battery to the starter was corroded inside. You cannot tell until you take the cable off and check for resistance. The cable should read 0 ohm's anything else and the cable is bad. I replaced the cable on my van and the car works like a champ. No more intermittent starting, battery draining, or just plain not starting. The cables are a bad design by Honda and should be recalled.