Okay, my boyfriends 95’ or maybe 96’ Integra won’t start, and since I was the last to drive I get to fix it. I’m not sure of the exact model either, but it does say “special edition” on the back of it.
I’ve searched through this forum and found a couple of ideas to check, but I wanted to post what’s happening incase there is another possible solution to the problem.
Yesterday I drove the car all day with no problems what so ever (probably around 70-80 miles.) I came home and the car sat for maybe 2 hours, during which time we had a brief heavy rain. Went to go to the store and the car would not start.
When I turn the key all of the lights & stereo come on. The antenna goes up, and I can here the fuel pump making its humming noise, but that’s it.
It’s a stick, and I was told it could be the neutral clutch switch thing. In regards to that, my boyfriend told me that the clutch needs to be replaced soon.
To me it seems fine. I’ve never heard his clutch make any noise, and I’ve never had any problems shifting. But if he’s right and the clutch needs to be replaced, could that affect the neutral switch thing?
Per other messages on this forum, I will be checking the main relay, fuses (once I find them) and possibly attempting to take apart the starter to check the contacts, although it doesn’t seem like the starter is even trying to turn when the key is turned.
Does anyone have any other suggestions of things to check?
One other thing, discovered yesterday that the alarm on the car actually works, could these be symptoms of the kill switch being activated?
I think I’ve eliminated the warm start issue, since I tried to start it again this morning and no luck….

Thanks!

 

it sounds like a netral switch to me but i would check the starter too im newer to hondas but my grampa had a similar problem with his old ranger and it was the starter

 

Start with the battery first. The simplest. You might have enuff power for the stereo and lights but may be something was drawing power out of the battery and now not enuff juice to start. Try to jump start or go to Walmart and get a brand new battery for $30 and test it out (return it if you want after you done). Don't jump to conclusions and start replacing stuff and the next thing you know its the easiest thing that you overlooked.

 

I have a 95 LS and it would do the same exact thing. In the morning, mostly after a rain, I would turn the key and nothing would happen - no click from the starter or anythign - lights would come on though. Occasionally I would get a click or two. It turns out the vehicle had two problems. First, the solenoid on the starter was going bad (hence the clicks) - i put a new starter in and it fixed the problem. However, sometimes when I turn the key all i get is lights. I would say that it is your Clutch neutral safety switch - it is located under the dash by the clutch pedal. A quick way to test this - if it is still partially good - is to turn the key and slowly let up just a little bit on the clutch pedal. I do this and mine starts every time. It just completes the connection and allows juice to flow to the starter. Good luck.

 

you can disconnect the safety switch and just use a jumper wire to connect the two wires. this is a good way to check if the switch is bad. if it starts with the wires jumped together, its the switch. just follow the clutch pedal up and you will see the switch.

 

First thank you all for your advice!

I ruled out the main relay since a) I couldn’t find it, and b) it seemed to me that when that particular part is malfunctioning the not starting thing is intermittent. Seriously considered tearing apart the starter, but decided against it because I had a starter problem in my old CL and this was nothing like what happened to that car.
Boyfriend saw me leave the house with scissors and a beer while mumbling about there being to many freaking wires under there, came out immediately. He thought it might be the alarm. After setting it off numerous times (poor neighbors) we got it unplugged. No luck there, and now that he was assured I wasn’t planning on slicing and dicing wires he went off to snooze in the hammock.
After a great deal of searching, both in the car and online, I found what I thought just might be the neutral safety switch. It had 2 wires coming out of it, so I cut them, and spliced them. Lucky me, that was it!!! The car is back up and running!
So, for others that might have this problem….
First, if I can fix it anybody can! The neutral safety switch on this car is waaay up on the clutch. There’s actually two little gizmos that look the same, but the safety gizmo is the one above the other gizmo. Mine had a blue wire and a black wire. There’s very little room to work, and it helps to pull the fuse box out first as much as possible.
For someone who is more mechanically inclined then me it should take all of 20 to 30 minutes to fix. I will not even go into how long it took me….

Thanks again! Now on to that pesky ABS light….