Ignition or Electrical Problem??? HELP!!

[blh1983]

Alright last week I thought that my alternator went out. So I took the whole car apart and was going to change the alternator myself; by remomal of the airbox. Well I got disgusted when I stripped a bolt on the alternator and decided that I was going to put it all together and take it to a mechanic. Well after getting it all back together I decided (What the hell) that I'd clean the terminals and see if it starts up. I did, and it did. So I thought the problem was over. But It turns out that I have a different similar problem now.

The day after I thought all these problems were behind me, I goto start my car and it didn't seem to have any problem illuminating the dash and powering all the accessories. But when I turned the key one spot further to start it all power was lost. So I turn the key to the off position and try again and this time it starts up just fine. No battery light or anything. A day or two passes and while driving down the road the tach starts bouncing irratically the battery light is lighting up (depending on RPM's). So I turn the car around drive it home; because I know what this mean. I'm about to lose all power and be stranded if I don't go home. So I get the car home, turn the car off. And turn it back on and it starts up just fine. Earlier today (a few days later mind you) I goto start it and it does the no power thing again; but it starts just fine the second try. And I let my fiance use my car tonight and she called me and told me that when she took it to get lunch that it started doing the tach bounce and the battery light thing againg....

Does anyone know the problem is? Thank you kindly in advance. You guys are great!

[LX-incredible]

Sounds like a bad connection on a battery cable. Check the connection at the terminals, grounds, and main fuses.

[blh1983]

I don't like adding my own ideas... Could it be the main relay?

[LX-incredible]

Main relay has nothing to do with the starter or the lights. If those went out when you lost power, I would look elsewhere.

[Oldblueaccord]

One thing I meant to add to your last problem and might help on this one is make sure that your battery terminals are tight AND are on the battery post good. Last battery I had I tightened down the positive terminal all the way till the bolt bottomed out. When I went to jump some bodies car a few months later i realized the terminal could be twisted off by hand. It was something with the battery post being undersized since this battery fits much better.

Also make sure your alt. connections are ok as well.

wp

[blh1983]

I replaced the battery terminals shortly after putting the car back togther. They are brand new, good quality and tightly fitted, I'll try to check the other end of there connections somehow soon.

One thing I meant to add to your last problem and might help on this one is make sure that your battery terminals are tight AND are on the battery post good. Last battery I had I tightened down the positive terminal all the way till the bolt bottomed out. When I went to jump some bodies car a few months later i realized the terminal could be twisted off by hand. It was something with the battery post being undersized since this battery fits much better.

Also make sure your alt. connections are ok as well.

wp

[blh1983]

It was only my hopes I suppose. I thought that the main relay was connected to the entire harness from the dash to the fuse panel under the hood and in the car.. etc.. But then again I know nothing about the main relay.. Thanks for being so quick to reply.

Main relay has nothing to do with the starter or the lights. If those went out when you lost power, I would look elsewhere.

[LX-incredible]

I replaced the battery terminals shortly after putting the car back togther. They are brand new, good quality and tightly fitted, I'll try to check the other end of there connections somehow soon.

Are those just the lead replacement ends? I had a problem with the connection of the wire to the terminal. Open them up and check. You might want to lightly sand the wire strands if they are corroded and reconnect. I wound up just getting new honda cables, solved the problem.

[dlr1989]

Another possibility that I have not seen anyone mention is the ignition switch. These cars are notorious about poor electrical contact/burned contact pads in the ignition switch. The electrical part of the switch is replaceable separately from the key part and is not too difficult. My gut feeling is that you may still have a problem with your battery terminals or cables but the ignition switch is also a possibility.

[LX-incredible]

If he lost the lights when he lost power, it's not the ignition switch.

[dlr1989]

You are correct! I hate it when people don't read a thread carefully enough and then post stupid suggestions.......especially when it's me.

If he lost the lights when he lost power, it's not the ignition switch.

[MessyHonda]

You are correct! I hate it when people don't read a thread carefully enough and then post stupid suggestions.......especially when it's me.

dont be too hard on your self....at least you are trying to help.

[blh1983]

Well I tightened the battery terminal even thought they were tight already (I couldn't turn them by hand before, and I certainly can't now). That seems to have solved the problem for now. But I took my car to battery exchange and they tested my charging system and when I turn the AC on the alternator can't keep up unless I adjust the ac idle boost control solenoid to 1100 RPM's. The guy says I have a bad diode in my alternator, they said they'd install a new alternator for $185. Not bad.

[LX-incredible]

$185 isn't bad.

[Blkblurr]

If he lost the lights when he lost power, it's not the ignition switch.

Not true. You can have more than one contact in the ignition switch that is going bad. he didn't say the headlights went out. His syptoms are exactly what happen to mine except I had one more problem. My car would just die while driving. I replaced the contact block on the ignition switch and all has been good. This was more than three years ago.

[2oodoor]

Not true. You can have more than one contact in the ignition switch that is going bad. he didn't say the headlights went out. His syptoms are exactly what happen to mine except I had one more problem. My car would just die while driving. I replaced the contact block on the ignition switch and all has been good. This was more than three years ago.

that is what I was thinking, it sounded exactly like a Honda ign switch problem, he said dash lights so I am thinking warning lights and such, which would be par for the course

[LX-incredible]

He said he lost all power... maybe he could clarify?

[Kemikals]

Seems like if it was the alternator he wouldn't notice anything and the battery would just die... I mean you can drive without an alternator as long as your battery has power. I'd look into that ignition contact, and somehow having a short in your battery lines or anything of that nature. I've seen tons of alternator problems, shouldn't have any problems cranking or power going out if it's the alternator, your battery can run the car for a good 20 minutes with a dead alternator.

[blh1983]

The battery does not appear to be losing a charge; because when I had it tested last time they said it was at full strength.. It's almost as if there's a hold up somewhere between the alternator and the ignition as you are all mentioning.. I thought I had the problem solved when I tightened the terminals and it started up and ran good for two days. But this morning when I went to start it the car acted like it had enough power but then when I turned the key all power was cut. When I say all power, I mean I had the door open and the courtesy light would turn off when I turned the key to turn the starter over.. Then when I went to turn the key again the dash indicators were not as bright and it definately didn't want to start..... So I drove my gf's truck to work.

Then I came home for lunch tried to start it and the same thing; half lit dash icons. Then in a moderate fit of antiroad rage I kicked the corner area by the fuse panel and all of a sudden the beast came to life, or should I say full power instead of half power. I turned it over it ran just fine; and then I drove it to work. And now I'm home. All I have to say is This car keeps breaking down at home. Nowhere else. But aside from that I need your thoughts on this. Thanks for your help!

[blh1983]

So are you all still thinking ignition switch??

[LX-incredible]

The door and parking lights have nothing to do with the ignition switch whatsoever.

[momin]

I am not an expert but i do have 87 accord lxi for a long time. I had sort of similar problem in my car " Tack meter start bouncing and sometime just go dead and i find out the problem was bad ignition coil" so i chagned the coil and fixed the problem....

[Versanick]

If there's a short/unnecessary contact with a ground somewhere in your wiring to the starter solenoid or ignition switch, all power could be perceived to be gone (or so low that even the lights won't work). Times when all the power dies while trying to start, try just leaving the key in the 'on' position, and jumping the two terminals on the starter solenoid with a screwdriver (with a plastic handle, so you don't get electrocuted). Or put your starter on a switch or button.

Clearly, as the problem is happening when turning the key to the 'start' position, there MUST be a wiring problem either right where the key turns, or the wiring that is between [where power is supplied to your starter or ignition] and [the starter or ignition itself].

My starter's on a push button that I bought at Radio shack. It works wonderfully. I don't even have to have the clutch depressed to start the car.

That should fix the problem (via workaround) regardless what the problem actually is.

Good luck.

[2oodoor]

very good point Versanick, I think there are some grounds switched at the key switch as well as 12vdc. Relays go crazy when they loose the grounds that make them function properly.

[89 accord lx-i]

my car just started doing this and its starting to get bad where it does it almost every time i try to start it. does anyone know how much it would cost to get this fixed or can someone post instructions on how to fix it myself? ive only had carb v8's so this motor confuses the hell outta me