Several times druing the past week the starter motor on my 2007 Accord 4 cyl 177 hp 5 speed coupe does not engage the motor, it just spins. I wait for the spinning to stop and the next attempt works. The car has 40K miles on it and I bought the car new in 2007. I have a very good local machanic here in my home town but I am also machanically albe to replace start motors. I would prefer to repair the start motor rather than replace it. I want to maintain all the original equipment on the car.

Any suggestions?

 

I would first have the battery tested to see if that is your problem. Most parts stores will test the battery/alternator/starter for free.

 

On Honda starters the gear must slide forward on a shaft. It is pushed by a fork from the solenoid. If the shaft is too dry and sticky, the starter can spin w/o engagement, or once engaged will refuse to disenage resulting in a high pitched squeal when the engine overrevs the starter.

I had the later problem on my 03 MDX and removed the starter to lubricate the sliding shaft. Problem was resolved.

good luck

 

Thanks for the response. Before I read your response I visited my Honda Cert. mechanic here in Quincy IL and he suggested have him replace the starter with a starter from the junk yard because the rebuilds sold at auto parts stores are not up the Honda factory standards. When I read your suggestion I immidately went Autozone and they're analysis determind that my battery was bad. I replaced it with a new battery and will let you know if that solved the problem. Thanks again, Jeff

 

Texas Honda you are 100% right-on. My starter acted exactly as you said: it made a high pitched squeal one day last week and that night, it wouldn't re-start; just made a spinning sound. I pulled it out, lubed the shaft with liquid wrench, and it is good as new.

Thanks very much for your post. It saved me $120.

 

Liquid wrench may not last long as it's a relatively light lubricant. Hopefully it will last. I used wheel bearing grease on my MDX.

good luck

 

Thank you! Taking my car to Autozone and having them run a diagnostic on my battery solved the problem. While the battery (4 and 1/2 years old) had enough power to turn the engine over (Start the car) the diagnostic test indicated that the battery was "Bad". I replaced it and have not had a starter motor problem since.

What amazed me is how sensitive the current requirement for the electro-mechanical magnatism is. The slight drop in battery start power inhibited the gear throw mechanism to malfunction.

Anyway, thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Jeff

 

does anyone know where the starter is located on a 2007 honda accord 4 cylinder

 

Drivers/left side of the car, follow the larger + battery cable...it may split but follow it to this side of the car.

 

You will have to remove the intake manifold to access the starter. The intake on the 07 is on the side of the engine facing the front of the car.