for display only
Big Blue Interactive The Corner Forum  
Back to the Corner

Archived Thread

NFT: Car Question - Battery /Starter /Alternator???

ImThatGuy : 6/3/2023 10:57 am
2016 Honda Odyssey - drive it daily but it's got real low miles.

Attempted to start it this morning and couldn't get anything going. Because of where car is parked in driveway real difficult to use second car to jump it. I have a portable battery jumper thing and that didn't do anything.

While waiting for the tow truck I attempted to start car and it started up no problem. Now I'm not sure what to do.

Forget that it ever happened and just go on my way ?
Go take car to shop?
Sounds like a  
BigBlueDawg56 : 6/3/2023 11:03 am : link
Starter
Had a very similar situation....  
NY17NE14 : 6/3/2023 11:13 am : link
Every so often it would not start. Lights would turn on but otherwise, Jeep was dead. Then after sitting, for some reason, it would start right up. Changed the starter and battery, problem continued.

Turned out to be bad ground. Reconnected ground to clean contact and never had a problem again.
could also be  
Giantsfan79 : 6/3/2023 11:18 am : link
A lose or failing sparkplug
Batteries become somewhat unreliable  
UConn4523 : 6/3/2023 11:18 am : link
after 3 years so I’d start there and have it tested. Also, I purchased a remote jumper and I can’t imagine driving without one now.
First thing would do is have batter tested. Very  
Blue21 : 6/3/2023 11:32 am : link
Simple to do and most automotive parts stores do it for free and will even put a new one in for you for free. I d start there. They can in many cases check codes for you too if it isn't battery to tell u if it's alternator.
Check the battery terminals  
MattinKY : 6/3/2023 11:35 am : link
for corrosion and tightness.
I would have it checked  
JohnG in Albany : 6/3/2023 11:49 am : link
As the victim of some electrical problems over the years, I would have it checked.

It could be many things as mentioned above. Some easy to rectify, some not.

The worst is if it's an intermittent electrical problem somewhere in the system, which I had on a 1994 Nissan Sentra many years ago.

They can be very hard to diagnose because when things are fine, it looks good to the mechanic/tech/computer.

Things would be fine for weeks or months, and then all of a sudden I was calling a tow truck from some parking lot again.

Best of luck.



RE: Sounds like a  
Mark from Jersey : 6/3/2023 11:55 am : link
In comment 16127077 BigBlueDawg56 said:
Quote:
Starter
I agree. BIL drove back home from work next morning wouldnt start. Turned out to be the starter.
I agree with starter.  
steve in ky : 6/3/2023 1:26 pm : link
Have it checked
Starters  
JohnG in Albany : 6/3/2023 1:34 pm : link
"Back in the day", I seem to recall that you could catch a "bad spot" in the starter which would cause intermittent problems.

Is that still true now, if it ever was?
Would definitely  
Chocco : 6/3/2023 1:38 pm : link
Check the starter and the terminals
No reason to look at the alternator yet
Back in the day  
oghwga : 6/3/2023 2:32 pm : link
You crawl under the car and whack the starter with a hammer. Could also be in the shifter/tranny linkage. Most likely corroded battery terminal connection.
Honda OEM batteries are crap  
VTChuck : 6/3/2023 2:47 pm : link
I've had 3 Hondas over the last 10 years...Accord, CRV and CRV and have replaced the batteries in all of them. Unless you drive daily for long enough to recharge, the batteries don't have enough capacity.

My 2021 CRV battery was replaced at 15 month. Went to AutoZone and bought the best, most powerful replacement.

Most likely the battery.  
section125 : 6/3/2023 3:07 pm : link
When they go completely dead you get nothing. Dome light may come on and the dash.
Seriously doubt the starter.
RE: Honda OEM batteries are crap  
give66 : 6/3/2023 3:12 pm : link
In comment 16127161 VTChuck said:
Quote:
I've had 3 Hondas over the last 10 years...Accord, CRV and CRV and have replaced the batteries in all of them. Unless you drive daily for long enough to recharge, the batteries don't have enough capacity.

My 2021 CRV battery was replaced at 15 month. Went to AutoZone and bought the best, most powerful replacement.

+1
I've also had problems with Honda OEM batteries.
RE: Back in the day  
Jim in Fairfax : 6/3/2023 7:00 pm : link
In comment 16127155 oghwga said:
Quote:
You crawl under the car and whack the starter with a hammer. Could also be in the shifter/tranny linkage. Most likely corroded battery terminal connection.

Still works. AAA trucks usually carry a long rod that they can stick through the engine compartment to the starter. They hit it with a hammer while you crank. Whether it starts or not depends on what failed, but it’s often seized and one good whack will free it. But go straight to a garage if it starts, cause it might not start again.
Three important clues here  
D HOS : 6/3/2023 7:49 pm : link
"couldn't get anything going"

I this means no electrical at all - no radio, lights, the keyfob wouldn't open the doors, AND it wouldn't start, then the issue is very likely battery related or a shorted wire somewhere.

This is an important point - did any electrical work, or only the fob / starting button didn't work.

"I have a portable battery jumper thing and that didn't do anything"

This tends to point away from a bad battery.

"I (later) attempted to start car and it started up no problem"

So the issue is "intermittent" meaning it's not a total breakage of some component leading to 100% failure.

Based on this, I would suspect:

No electrical at all:

- Loose battery cable (most likely)
- Shorted wire (pray it is not)

Electrical worked, just didn't start:

If the fob is starting to work unreliably (have to stand near the car to unlock it)

- Fob battery or Fob contacts wearing out

If the fob and unlocking are fine:

- Starter motor failing (though usually there is a distinctive clicking sound associated with this - on the failed starts)

- Wiring issue related to the starter motor.

- Starting button wearing out (or associated wiring problem)

- Anti theft device?

It is always smart to have an auto parts store verify both battery and alternator, but I am thinking those aren't the issue.

There is always a chance that some seemingly unrelated component is having an issue that somehow affects the starting circuit. Car starting is more and more a complicated semi-computer driven process with who knows what checks and verifications are needed before the signal goes to the starter.

Also, if you suspect your fob is an issue, there is always a way to start the car in this case. In my car there is a socket in the center console you push the fob into. For some hondas I think you touch the fob to the starting button to activate the same.

I hope this helps.
Great help thanks all  
ImThatGuy : 6/3/2023 8:59 pm : link
Drove it to the shop, will find out more on Monday
RE: Check the battery terminals  
upnyg : 6/4/2023 3:09 pm : link
In comment 16127098 MattinKY said:
Quote:
for corrosion and tightness.

+1
I seriously doubt the problem is the starter...  
DefenseWins : 6/4/2023 4:29 pm : link
...

Like others have mentioned, clean the terminals and put them back.

If your battery does not hold a charge, then it could be that you need to replace the battery.

In all of my years, the starter has never been the problem.

*If you have one of those vehicles that shuts off when you are sitting at a red light, then yeah your starter could go bad. Far too many starts in the lifetime of a vehicle.
RE: I seriously doubt the problem is the starter...  
Jim in Fairfax : 6/4/2023 4:56 pm : link
In comment 16127614 DefenseWins said:
Quote:
...

Like others have mentioned, clean the terminals and put them back.

If your battery does not hold a charge, then it could be that you need to replace the battery.

In all of my years, the starter has never been the problem.

*If you have one of those vehicles that shuts off when you are sitting at a red light, then yeah your starter could go bad. Far too many starts in the lifetime of a vehicle.

Starters absolutely do fail. I’ve had to replace 2 over my 30 years of driving.

If the OPs description of events is accurate I would lean towards the problem either being with the terminals/connections or the starter motor.

Also, cars with start/stop systems use much more powerful and durable starter motors. They’re built to handle the higher starting loads and are no more likely to fail. And hybrids like the Prius don’t have a separate starter motor - they just use the cars electric motor to start the gasoline engine.
RE: Great help thanks all  
section125 : 6/4/2023 6:29 pm : link
In comment 16127269 ImThatGuy said:
Quote:
Drove it to the shop, will find out more on Monday


How did you start it?
RE: RE: Great help thanks all  
Jim in Fairfax : 6/4/2023 7:57 pm : link
In comment 16127682 section125 said:
Quote:

How did you start it?

Read the OP
RE: RE: I seriously doubt the problem is the starter...  
DefenseWins : 6/4/2023 8:32 pm : link
In comment 16127633 Jim in Fairfax said:
Quote:

Starters absolutely do fail. I’ve had to replace 2 over my 30 years of driving.


How do you know it was the starter?
RE: RE: RE: I seriously doubt the problem is the starter...  
Jim in Fairfax : 6/4/2023 9:52 pm : link
In comment 16127709 DefenseWins said:
Quote:

How do you know it was the starter?

If you mean generally, usually if you have good electrical power (electronics work, headlights shine bright) but the engine doesn’t even try to crank, it’s likely the starter.

Specifically in my case: First time the solenoid fired its pinion completely out of itself, cracking the cowling around the flywheel. Second go around, the starter was hit with a hammer while attempting to crank and that shocked it into starting.
RE: I seriously doubt the problem is the starter...  
steve in ky : 6/4/2023 10:17 pm : link
In comment 16127614 DefenseWins said:
Quote:
...

Like others have mentioned, clean the terminals and put them back.

If your battery does not hold a charge, then it could be that you need to replace the battery.

In all of my years, the starter has never been the problem.

*If you have one of those vehicles that shuts off when you are sitting at a red light, then yeah your starter could go bad. Far too many starts in the lifetime of a vehicle.



I've had to replace starters before, matter of fact had to on my wife's car only a few months ago.
It’s not the starter  
BobOnLI : 6/5/2023 7:18 am : link
It’s the selonoid. If you hit the starter with a hammer and the car starts it’s the selonoid. For older cars it is a common thing.
RE: RE: RE: Great help thanks all  
section125 : 6/5/2023 7:30 am : link
In comment 16127705 Jim in Fairfax said:
Quote:
In comment 16127682 section125 said:


Quote:



How did you start it?


Read the OP


Ha. I did, but saw tow truck and kind of stopped... so if the car started than it is likely a connection. Be very surprised by the starter itself - could also be(unlikely) the ignition switch. Wonder if it a key or push button switch..

Good luck
AUTO ZONE - Free fault check  
x meadowlander : 6/5/2023 9:50 am : link
Battery terminals are a likely culprit. Heck to make sure the cable connections are still tight (10mm wrench, fyi).

I would drive it to Auto Zone and have them check for faults.

You don't want to get stuck with a dead car, and sometimes, symptoms don't match the problem.

I just replaced our 2014 Altima because it died in Intersections twice. Wouldn't restart. Towed. Started and ran fine a few hours later. The problem? Blown transmission. Nissan (Jatco) CVTs are absolute garbage. Replaced the car with a new Camry with a real-live 8 speed.
If it's the starter, you will most likely hear the solenoid click when  
Capt. : 6/5/2023 9:57 am : link
you turn the key. Batteries don't "get better" by sitting. If there was enough juice to start it the second time around, it's not the battery. Check the terminal connections. Clean and tighten. You may have moved them just enough when you tried to jump it to re-establish the connection.
Back to the Corner