Hey guys been having starting issues with my 1994 Honda Accord EX. It first started when I drove about 40 minutes to run an errand. Turned the car off for about 45 seconds and when I went back to start it, nothing happened. The dash lights turned on and everything but no movement or sound from the engine. I eventually got it jumped and it ran fine. I wanted to test and see if it was just a fluke so the next morning I went to start it and it fired right up. My dad suggested I get a new battery so I went and got one. Car started fine the whole time. Went to Walmart to do some shopping and came out and same thing happened except no dash lights turned on. So I wait for a few seconds with the key in the ignition with the key turned forward. Then all of a sudden the dash lights came on and so I tried to start it and it fired right up. Any suggestions on what could be the issue would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the lengthy post.

Regards, Nathan

 

I would doubt you have a short that is draining a battery that fast. It sounds more like an open. Look at your battery cables. What condition are they in? Does the + cable have a main thick power cable going to starter PLUS another accessory lead? If so I would start with dirty, bad or corroded battery connections or bad cables. (since battery is new). If those check out ok, I would move to a bad starter/starter solenoid. If it is a short draining your battery it should be easy to find. Turn everything in car off. Pop off the negative cable and put a multimeter set to Amps in between the negative cable and negative battery post. Do you see a reading showing there is there a drain? If so, how big? If there is a drain, start pulling fuses under the hood, and then in the interior, until you locate the circuit the draw is on. Then you will know where to look...... Bob

 

When you hold the key in the start position (all the way forward) and it will not start, try shaking the key to see if the engine starts.

 

Thanks for responses guys. It turned out to be a bad positive battery cable. Apparently it had corroded enough to not supply enough power to the starter. Thanks again guys for your answers!