I went out to start my 97 2.2 and it fired up like usual. But then the starter never DISengaged. and just kept on trying to crank the engine, so i shut it off (took the key totally out of the ignition switch) and it kept on cranking even with the key totally out of the ignition switch. so then i tried starting it again which was probably a bad idea, put the key to ON and it fired right up without putting it to CRANK. But yet again it never disengaged. so i took out the key and while it was still cranking i tapped the starter with a hammer and it solved my problem. tried starting it up again and this time it all worked fine. drove to the movies with the gf (iron man was way better that i thought it would be) and it started fine after the movie. So my question is...do i need a new starter, ignition switch, or can i repair the solenoid that is on the starter? i knew something like this was going to happen soon because about a month ago i tried starting it, and a few different times i turned the key and nothing happened with the starter, took out the key and tried again and it worked fine...does this point to the ignition switch?

any help is greatly appreciated.

 

just get a reman'd starter, i wouldn't even bother trying to replace parts of it...our oem starters are known to die prematurely

 

Your starter solenoid is jammed / dirty... happened to me too. I will take a pic tomorrow of where it is. But basically on the starter there is a small aluminum cap with 3 small bolts.. about 1/4" bolts. You take those off and it will reveal the plunger. You need to pull that plunger out (be careful there is a spring on it too) and clean it up. You will see the lipped part that is towards the outside cover will be kinda dirty. I just took a wire brush to mine and cleaned the rest of it with alcohol. Then used compressed air to clean out the solenoid / switch. Mine was stuck in when i did it. You are going to have to pull the battery out if I remember correctly and I think I also removed the battery tray for easier access. It took about 25 mins and saved me from having to buy another starter. I think I also bookmarked a site that has the parts list to rebuild that little solenoid. It is a nippondenso and the parts are like $8 for new contacts / brushes. Good luck!

 

Sounds like the ignition switch recall, check with acura to see if the warranty recall was ever performed, otherwise, you should be able to get a new ignition switch, that's usually the problem when the key is acting up. Just hope it didn't harm the starter

 

Thanks Tehvine but you dont need to bother with the pics if you dont want to, i know what and where the solenoid is, thanks though.

Blackack i know i was thinking that too, around a month or so ago when i turned the key and got nothing and tried again and it worked i thought my ignition switch is going bad and i read about the recall on this site. so i called the only acura dealership in the city and they asked for the vin, i gave it to them and then they told me: there are no recalls. so i tried the only honda dealership in my city and same thing happened. funny thing is both dealerships are owned by the same guy. I live in Saskatchewan, Canada though so i thought that might have something to do with it. maybe they check a different database or some shit than in the States.

I am going to try the solenoid clean/repair and probably put new contacts in it and hopefully it solves my problem. if not well then whatever i wasted 10 bucks and a little of my time. if i wasnt hurting for cash so bad (student) i would just put in a new or remanufactured starter, but then it could just turn out to be the ignition switch. i want to find the problem and fix it rather than just treat the symptoms and waste money.

 

If you have a 97 it should DEF be under the recall, that's odd. I wouldn't blame the starter unless it's clicking and not turning over

 

Here's the thread I had found when I had that problem not sure if Azine sensors out this site but we can try

http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1318816&page=1

 

doesnt apply to 2.2's my dealership already told me its for the 3.0

 

ok so i took off my starter and cleaned the motor part of it. the contact points are worn and thin and so this is probably my problem. but i created another problem for myself throughout this process. i took off the solenoid as well and cleaned it all up but i had it sitting on the garage floor and i turned around and started wallking and accidentally kicked it, and the middle part of it fell out. i cant get it back in because there are 4 copper bars down near the bottom that are spring loaded and it wont go back in without compressing the springs to move the copper bars out of the way. anybody have an idea of what i can do to get it back in? if nobody knows what i am talking about i can take some pics.

 

never mind boys i figured it out. All i need now is new contacts and my problem should be solved. the link Tehvine posted suggested looking for them at a toyota dealer because they use denso starters as well and usually stock the contacts. so hopefully i can find them there and if not i have no idea where i am going to look.

 

Mine were pretty worn when I cleaned it out... about half their thickness but I didn't have the time to get new ones as I had class the next morning. Still works great though after the cleaning.

 

update: I changed out the contacts on May 16th, I found some at a battery shop, and it has been working perfectly ever since. i didnt post an update earlier because i didnt want to jinx it haha. so if anyones starter goes out i would suggest changing out these copper contacts first to see if that solves their problem because they cost like $2 and its pretty easy. If you are hurting for cash like me this is a really good alternative. The pics in the link that Tehvine posted was really helpful as those starters are essentially the same as ours.

 

Sweet deal! Glad you got it figured out.

 

Do you have a picture to share? I don't even know where the starter is located...

 

On the 3.0 it's under the battery tray by the transmission