Starting problem 03 3.4 ivtec
 

Hi all

I'm a newbie so please forgive any silly errors and point me in the right direction? Thanks.

I have an 03 2.4 ivtec Auto. It is very tempremental about starting. It behaves as if the battery is flat but I'm fairly sure that the battery is fine. it is recent and if I try to start with the headlights on they do not dim. Sometimes the engine doesn't turn over. I try again and then it does.
Over the past months the problem has become more frequent.
Today it started in the morning (two short journeys). And then didn't start in the afternoon despite many trys - behaving as if the battery is flat even under a jump start.

Any ideas? Is it something simple? Any tips on things to try. Hope, hope...

Thanks in advance

Probably starter related, relatively common problem on your car. Does it make a clicking sound when it doesn't start? The clicking when it doesn't start is probably the starter contacts clicking, which means there is power to the starter; but, no resulting action.

On your car, the starter is underneath the intake manifold, which make replacement not as straightforward as most other cars.

Check your battery cable connections first to see that they are tight and no corrosion.

The attached picture shows what an intake manifold is, that would have to be removed to replace the starter, if it turns out to be the starter.

Redbull - thanks for the info. It has turned out to be the starter motor. I had to have the car towed to the garage and now have been told that it may cost up to £300 for a reconditioned starter plus the labour of putting it on.

I am beginning to wonder whether I should get rid - I only have had it for 2 months. In this time I have identified an issue with worn drive shafts and now the starter motor needs replacing.
I think I have read on the forums that the 03 model is problematic. Are there any other typical faults I should look out for and if so, about how much should I budget to fix them? Is this car going to be good for much more use? It has done 110k.

Thanks in advance.

i've got 176k on my 03 and had the starter issue (rebuilt myself, $30.00 kit) and the axles went wonky without the c.v. boots splitting, but other than that and regular maintenance & consumable items it has been a champ. 110k is a youngster in the honda world.

Based on your pounds sterling quote, I take it that your car is a U.K. Accord. Your U.K. Accord would be more akin to the U.S. Acura TSX. Acura are essentially Hondas in the U.S.; but, more of a luxury line (generally, with separate dealerships, showrooms, etc.). However, pretty much the same engine and chassis though.

Like Dr. D stated, your car's still pretty much a youngster (well, more like a young adult) in the Honda world.

Thanks both. Its reassuring to hear. Starter motor turns out to be rarest of the rare - £290 from main dealers. Ouch.

Any thoughts on worn drive shafts? After being hit for the starter motor I could do with an economy solution to that problem. :)

When I look at one of the UK Honda websites (i.e., Ling Honda), they don't appear to sell at discounted prices like many of the internet Honda dealers in the U.S. The prices shown on the U.K. Honda dealer site appear to be at full list price. It may be due to different reasons, e.g., costs of available material in U.K., cost of manufacture in U.K., and/or cost of importing, or just dealer pricing policy.

might be rare in the uk, but that mitsuba starter is readily available in the US. and rebuild kits are available too. not to mention it was used in more than just this model/manufacturer. RockAuto has them anywhere from $80 to $180. do they deliver to the uk? still gotta be cheaper.

Dang. Had I known.... I took mr mechanics advise and got the main dealer one. He had a phone round to see if he could locate a reconditioned starter. He reckoned there might be an issue with spare parts for that motor.
Anyhows, it is done.

Thanks again you guys. Any thoughts on drive shafts - are they easy to recondition? Is there a kit?
I have been told that having my existing ones reconditioned will cost about £130 a shaft. that sound right? (Not sure what it would be in $)