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1996 Honda Accord

Question: Car won't turnover but battery is fine

Question

Jabramson, Pacific Palisades, CA, September 26, 2010, 08:54
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 Rookie

The car was running fine until yesterday. Now it won't start or even turn over. When I turn the key Ihear a single 'electronic sounding' click. I checked all the fuses and they are ok. Any ideas?

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  • Answer #1

    shadetreeauto September 26, 2010, 09:19
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     Journeyman

    sounds like a dead battery.

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  • Answer #2

    patrick mannion from Greg Solow's Engine Room, September 26, 2010, 11:21
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     Master

    Measure voltage across the battery it should be 12.6 volts if not charge and test the battery. Try jump starting it from another car and see if it starts.

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    Jabramson, September 26, 2010, 12:33
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     Rookie

    I forgot to mention, the battery is fine. All the presets and time was ok. I also tried to jump it for safe measure but still the same symptoms. I don't have any security system so it shouldn't be that either. Do you have any other suggestion?

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  • Answer #3

    Visitor, December 15, 2010, 10:28

    I have a similar problem with a '91 Honda Accord. Battery is ok, fuses ok. When I turn on the ignition, I hear a click in the switch and the fuel pump running. I read somewhere to bang on the starter. So I had my son turn on the ignition while I banged on the starter with a stick and it worked. I guess I'll go shopping for a new starter now.

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  • Answer #4

    Visitor, December 27, 2010, 09:20

    I had a similar problem. For a long time I struggled to decide between battery and starter. Then I figured out that there is some oil on top of the valve cover gasket. This did not not look normal. So I pulled out the spark plug tubes, and low and behold there was oil at the bottom of three of my spark plugs. So I had a blown valve cover gasket causing all these other problems. I replaced the valve cover gasket, spark plugs (they were never replaced before), wires, seals, distributor cap and rotor. Essentially did a full tune up. It has been fine ever since.

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