my starter is not crank the engine over?

Hi,

If you are only getting one click, chances are the battery is weak or you have a lose connection.

Do me a favor, check the battery terminals for corrosion and tightness. Take a look through this link:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked

If the terminals are clean and tight, try load testing the battery to see if it is weak. Here is a link showing how that is done:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

Do this and let me know what you find.

Take care,
Joe

I did I tightened it and cleaned the connections first and the same thing one click. I borrowed a battery tester and the result after I turned it on. Is that good or weak?

Before I switched the test on.

Hi,

Okay, the battery test looks good. Since the starter clicks, either we have a bad starter or the engine is locked up not allowing the starter to turn it.

What we need to do now is remove the starter. Note: I am basing this on the idea that the click comes from the starter and not a relay. Please make sure the sound is the starter. It isn't an easy one to replace.

First, here is a link explaining how in general to replace a starter:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-starter-motor

Here are the directions specific to your vehicle for a starter replacement. What I want you to do is remove the starter and then take it to a parts store and have them bench test it. Most do it free of charge.

The attached pics correlate with the directions.

2007 Honda Civic L4-1.8L
Removal and Replacement
Vehicle Starting and Charging Starting System Starter Motor Service and Repair Removal and Replacement
REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT
Starter Removal and Installation

Removal
1. Make sure you have the anti-theft code for the audio system and the navigation system (if equipped), then write down the audio presets.
2. Disconnect the negative cable from the battery first, then disconnect the positive cable.


see pic 1

3. Remove exhaust pipe A.


pic 2

4. Remove the intake manifold bracket.


Pic 3


pic 4

5. Remove the harness clamps (A) and harness connector (B) from each clamp.


pic 5

6. Remove the two bolts securing the starter, then remove the starter from the engine.


pic 6

7. Disconnect the starter cable (A) from the B terminal. Disconnect the connector (B) from the S terminal, then remove the starter.

INSTALLATION


pic 7

1. Install the starter cable (A) and connector (B). Make sure the starter cable crimped side of the ring terminal faces away from the starter when you connect it.


pic 8

2. Install the starter, then loosely install the upper mounting bolt (A) and lower mounting bolt (B).
3. Tighten the upper mounting bolt, then tighten the lower mounting bolt.


pic 9

4. Install the harness clamps (A) and harness connector (B) to each clamp.


pic 10

5. Install the intake manifold bracket.


pic 11

6. Install exhaust pipe A. Use new gaskets (B) and new self-locking nuts (C).
7. Connect the positive cable to the battery first, then connect the negative cable.
8. Start the engine to make sure the starter works properly.
9. Enter the anti-theft code for the audio system and the navigation system (if equipped), then enter the audio presets.
10. Set the clock.

______________________________________

Also, before going to this trouble, make sure the engine isn't locked. See if you can turn it at the crankshaft. You will need a socket and breaker bar. Make sure it can turn.

Let me know.

Joe

To check if my engine is locked how would I do that? I'm not sure if I was looking at the correct bolts on the side of the belt. Do I need to have the car in neutral? Do I need to have it lifted? Do I keep the battery disconnected?

Hi,

The crank pulley is at the bottom of the engine. See pic 1. I highlighted the bolt I'm referring to.

As far as what gear to put it in, since it's an automatic, it won't make a difference. You should be able to turn the engine regardless.

The battery being disconnected is actually a good idea. Not that you are going to damage it, but you are placing steel tools into the engine compartment and we don't want to cause a short.

Also, there is no need to lift the vehicle. You should be able to reach the bolt from the top.

Let me know if I can help.

Joe

I was able to turn it both directions very smoothly.

Hi,

That's good news. If you still only get a click from the battery and all connections are tight and clean, follow the directions I listed above and remove the starter. Make sure the battery is disconnected before you start work.

Once the starter is out, have a parts store bench test it for you. They will likely do it for free.

Please confirm that the click is from the starter and everything is tight. I don't want you to remove the starter to find out it's something simple to fix.

Let me know if I can help or if you have other questions. Also, let me know what you find out related to the starter.

Take care,
Joe

I have the car listed above Si 2.0L V-Tech. Car won't start just clicks when key is turned with clutch. Sometimes it will start, sometimes I have to wait a few minutes or try a few times before it starts. Battery was checked and is fine, went to AutoZone, they did a check on the starter and said it came back good but said sometimes their tests aren't as accurate. Car starts fine when popping the clutch and trying to jump doesn't help.

Hello I'm Danny.

I have to disagree with AutoZone. It sounds like a problem with the starter solenoid-starter motor. You would have had to physically take the starter assembly to them to test and not have it be in the car. Here are a few tutorials about the starter solenoid and starter motor for you to view:

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

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-starter-and-solenoid-works

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-starter-motor

I've attached picture steps below on removal and replacement of the starter motor on your car. Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.

The car will not start. A new battery has been put in and it clicks when trying to start but will not start. Wondering if it is the starter. Starter appears to be turning when trying to start. Happens during cold temperatures and has not happened when the temperature is below 32 degrees fahrenheit

Does the motor spin over with the starter or is the starter not engaging?

Motor does not spin over but the starter engaged

Does the starter engage then just click or can you hear it spin up?

It engages then just clicks

See if you can turn over engine with a breaker bar and socket on crank pulley bolt. If it won't, then engine is seized. If it does, starter may be bad.

Car ran a little hot last night. I let it set over night and today I replaced the thermostat. When I went to crank it I heard a clicking noise coming from one of the relays under the hood. The car will not crank. I swapped around the relays and the problem still occurs and car will not crank.

check yoru battery for condition first most auto parst stores do this or free, then check your starter, teh click ing was probably your starterrelay or solenoid on the starter. You may have a bad starter

Battery is strong. Never have had a problem with the starter. It turns over in an attempt to crank. I sprayed some starter spray and it almost crunk. It seems like it is not getting gas. Is there a fuel relay switch or something.

Fuel reset button. Something is causing it not crank

the way your question was made me beleive that the starter woudlnot crank the car. scan for codes and check fuel pressure. check fuse 2 under dash and main pgm relay there as well see if it is working or sending power to fule pump. there is also one under h ood same name but relay 1

I do not have a code scanner. I tested all the fuses inside the car. They are we're good. I do not know how to check the relay fuses. I checked the continuity if all other fuses and they were good. I did a pressure test on the vehicle just now and realized the block has a crack in it. I called the dealership and they said that the vehicle was still under warranty got cracked block issue. Just puzzles me why it will not crank and to hear the rapid clicking. Sounds like it is coming from one of the fuses. I would like for it to get crunk before I took it in to them.. I know the vehicle did not get excessively hot.

wel if it's under warranty they may fix why it worn start as well especially if it 's for free it may be because of the cracked block, putting water into the cylinders.

I was sitting in the car with engine turned off but radio and battery on. All of a sudden the radio clock display started flashing so I turned the battery off as well. Now it will just not start. The battery is not dead cause I can switch on the lights and still listen to the radio by when turning the key for ignition, it just makes a continuous type of a sound but the engine does not start?

The lighting system does not require a high discharge but the starter does. You have drained the battery resulting in it being too weak to crank the starter. A jump start should work and you need to get the battery condition checked if you had not used the radio for too long.

I have been to mechanic recently he said the car battery is just weak everything seems to be fine. Will it matter if I change the battery? Why is not starting and has the clicking sound?

You are describing the typical symptom of a weak battery. While you did not actually say so, it sounds like your mechanic checked the charging system and found it to be working properly. Its job is to recharge the battery after it becomes partially run down from starting the engine, and then to keep the electrical system functioning while you are driving. Sounds like you need a new battery. No point in looking for more elusive causes until you address this really common one.

"Weak" is wide open to interpretation too. The life expectancy of a car battery is five years. If yours is original, it is way past its life expectancy. If it is the car's first replacement battery, you still got its full life out of it.

Bad cable connections at the battery can cause this symptom too, but I am sure your mechanic would have checked for that. Regardless, one important clue is to watch the brightness of the head lights or interior lights when you try to crank the engine. If the battery is weak or has bad connections, the lights will go really dim or off completely when you try to crank the engine. In the less-likely event the lights stay nice and bright, a defective starter solenoid is the better suspect.