Won't start/crank/click/lights -- electrical woes

[Cspan600]

Hey all, sorry to post one of these hopeless threads, but I'm having
terrible luck my girlfriend's z coupe. Recently I heard a click upon an
attempted start up, and ever since then the car won't start... No click
from the starter, no cranking, no fuel noises, headlights won't even
turn on etc. It's basically like the battery isn't there. It won't push
start or anything, either.
Could it be the ignition switch? One thing I noticed was that the
previous owner duct taped the switch on (I don't know, it's a mess).
But under normal operations, shouldn't the headlights turn on without
the ignition switched on?
I've checked and disconnected/reinstalled the battery, and it's
completely fine and charged. I've tried starting it with my battery
charger on "start mode" and no luck.
Is there another fuse box that I don't know about? All the fuses in the
box on the driver's side are intact. I'm mechanically inclined, however
this car belongs to my girlfriend and it is a bit foreign to me. Was
hoping for some hints before trying to figure out things on my own.
Thanks a lot!
mike

[mterrens]

I do not know if this is your answer, but there IS the "main" 45 amp fuse.
It is separate from all the "little" fuses. It is described on page 40 of
the Coupe owners manual, and is drawn in the Coupe parts catalog, page 3-22.
It resides on the far left of the engine bay, to the left of the arm that
holds up the hood.
Download the owners manual and the parts catalog on my page,
http://www.honda600coupe.com/Manuals,_b ... ments.html
There be a spare fuse mounted OUTSIDE the fusebox cover, possibly on the
side of the cover that is not easy to see. Be aware that it is shaped like
a wrench, is basically just a very thin peice of metal and is FRAGILE.
Don't ask me how I know.
Good luck,
Steve

[Cspan600]

Ahh, darn, that fuse is still intact. It looks like the problem lies
a little deeper in the electrical guts. Thank you so much for taking
the time, I would not have even noticed that fuse :).

[dustyspath]

Did you say the battery terminals were clean? I've had corrosion completely disconnect the battery. I'm sorry you are having problems.
mruane_cnet wrote:

> Ahh, darn, that fuse is still intact. It looks like the problem lies > a little deeper in the electrical guts. Thank you so much for taking > the time, I would not have even noticed that fuse :).
> --- In 2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com, Steven Michelsen
> wrote:
> > I do not know if this is your answer, but there IS the "main" 45 > amp fuse.
> > It is separate from all the "little" fuses.  It is described on > page 40 of > > the Coupe owners manual, and is drawn in the Coupe parts catalog, > page 3-22.
> > It resides on the far left of the engine bay, to the left of the > arm that > > holds up the hood.
> > Download the owners manual and the parts catalog on my page,
> http://www.honda600coupe.com/Manuals,_b ... ments.html
> > There be a spare fuse mounted OUTSIDE the fusebox cover, possibly > on the > > side of the cover that is not easy to see.  Be aware that it is > shaped like > > a wrench, is basically just a very thin peice of metal and is > FRAGILE.
> > Don't ask me how I know.
> > Good luck,
> > Steve
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "mruane_cnet"
> > To:
> > Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 8:10 PM
> > Subject: [2cylinderhondas] Won't start/crank/click/lights -- > electrical woes
> > > Hey all, sorry to post one of these hopeless threads, but I'm > having > > > terrible luck my girlfriend's z coupe. Recently I heard a click > upon > an > > > attempted start up, and ever since then the car won't start... No > click > > > from the starter, no cranking, no fuel noises, headlights won't > even > > > turn on etc. It's basically like the battery isn't there. It > won't push > > > start or anything, either.
> > > Could it be the ignition switch? One thing I noticed was that the > > > previous owner duct taped the switch on (I don't know, it's a > mess).
> > > But under normal operations, shouldn't the headlights turn on > without > > > the ignition switched on?
> > > I've checked and disconnected/reinstalled the battery, and it's > > > completely fine and charged. I've tried starting it with my > battery > > > charger on "start mode" and no luck.
> > > Is there another fuse box that I don't know about? All the fuses > in the > > > box on the driver's side are intact. I'm > mechanically inclined, > however > > > this car belongs to my girlfriend and it is a bit foreign to me.
> Was
> > > hoping for some hints before trying to figure out things on my > own.
> > > Thanks a lot!
> > > mike

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[mterrens]

Speaking of corrosion, taking a look at all the places the electrical system
is grounded to the body is always a good idea, most importantly the main neg
cable off the battery. Also take out the little fuses and scuff both them
and their contacts. How about where the fusebox attaches to the harness?
Then check the condition of all wiring and connections everywhere.
Corrosion at connections is a killer. The other night my 17 y.o. daughter
informs me that her '95 Taurus won't start. I find that turning the key
produces only the sound of the fuel pump and nothing else. I figure it's
the solenoid on the starter. I jiggle the connection of the red cable going
to it just a little (it's hard to get to); that was enough to scrap off the
speck of corrosion, and the car starts no problem.
Steve
PS: Bill Colford tells me that one actually still can buy that 45amp fuse
from Honda (part # 98200-64500)

[stevenmichelsen2]

You can't look at an electrical part/connection and see it's good any
more than you can see electricity. You could wiggle everything and
maybe things would start working. And then while driving, maybe
somewhere remote, a bump will unwiggle your repair. As I stated in an
earlier, similar post, you really need to learn to use a voltmeter
or at least a test light. You can check for juice from connection to
connection and find the exact point where the juice stops. It's
really simple if I can do it. I promise your life, if it involves
cars, will be much more pleasant. The process of using an electrical
tester is explained in many shop manuals and the process is basically
the same no matter what you're working on. OH, and yes, the
headlights, brakelights, flashers, should all work without the
ignition switch. Goodluck, Bill---
In
2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com, "mruane_cnet" wrote:

> Hey all, sorry to post one of these hopeless threads, but I'm having
> terrible luck my girlfriend's z coupe. Recently I heard a click upon an
> attempted start up, and ever since then the car won't start... No click
> from the starter, no cranking, no fuel noises, headlights won't even
> turn on etc. It's basically like the battery isn't there. It won't push
> start or anything, either.
> Could it be the ignition switch? One thing I noticed was that the
> previous owner duct taped the switch on (I don't know, it's a mess).
> But under normal operations, shouldn't the headlights turn on without
> the ignition switched on?
> I've checked and disconnected/reinstalled the battery, and it's
> completely fine and charged. I've tried starting it with my battery
> charger on "start mode" and no luck.
> Is there another fuse box that I don't know about? All the fuses in the
> box on the driver's side are intact. I'm mechanically inclined, however
> this car belongs to my girlfriend and it is a bit foreign to me. Was
> hoping for some hints before trying to figure out things on my own.
> Thanks a lot!
> mike

[Cspan600]

Thanks all, she's running as of this morning.
Funny thing is, I *was* using my multimeter in previous attempts to
diagnose the issue. Problem was, I wasn't thorough enough and wasn't
checking the right place. When I checked the main ground, I got 12v.
When I tested at the battery + and the top engine cover, I got 12v.
What I hadn't tried was lower on the actual block... the part that
grounds my chassis (whoops). I figured that if the top of the motor was
showing 12v the rest should. Let this be a lesson to all us lazy
DIYers :)
I took the ground apart and wire brushed the heck out of everything and
she started up on the first try.
Thanks again everyone. Glad it turned out to be something simple.