well not so long ago my car (98 3.2 tl) started trippin out. i would try and start the car and it wouldnt even click. i would turn the car to start and nothing would happen and sometimes it turns on and just dies out again. just to make it clear, the car doesnt make that starting noise with the click click click, total silence, battery is fine. im thinking that it should be the main relay, i would check the starter to see if that is the problem but it is at the worst spot possible, and i heard that a main relay costs around $100 so i dont wanna buy a new one to test it out and it turns out not to be the problem. so let me know what you think

 

Fuel filter.

Have it checked out. You may not be getting fuel to the engine so that it can start.

 

Main relay does not disable starter, so that's not problem.

Problem has signs of being bad keyswitch assy. Easy repair and there was a recall on the part at some point. Worth a check w/ Acura.

You can confirm keyswitch by noting if Alt and Check Engine Light are Off w/ keyswitch is turned to ON position (assuming it is no-start condition).

Repair requires:

1) pull steering column cover (4-6 screws)
2) Lower steering column w/ adjustment
3) loosen keyswitch security bolts (2 round head bolts) using a small, sharp chisel or awl and hammer to tap side of bolt head and turn CCW. Once loosened slightly you should be able to turn w/ fingers.
4) Replace keyswitch assy ($40 aftermarket part).
5) Reinstall security bolts using chisel and hammer to tighten.

good luck

 

+1, bad ign. switch (not the locking part). Common on Honda products.

 

Mine did the same thing and I replaced the ignition switch. It still did it. Now I have a remanufactured starter that I have to install. The only good thing is I have limitless time and the weather's nice. I'll report back when the job's done (I hope).

 

well i just thought the main relay helps start the car . ill probably get a new ignition switch and change em out when i got the time, if that doesnt solve the problem ill just take it to the shop

 

well i got to take my car to a shop the other day and take a look at it on a lift . we checked all the electrical and that wasnt the problem and by the sound that it makes when it fails to start they told me it is a starter problem and that i should replace it. i would do it myself but i dont really got any experience with all that and i heard that the starter is under a lot of shit . i think i only need to take the air duck out to get to it but i really aint sure

 

If you're thinking that the air ducting is the only thing that needs to be removed to get the starter out, definitely let someone else do the job. It's on the other side of the car.

~Cheers~

P.S. Did the hit the starter with something metal while someone was trying to crank it? That usually gets the solenoid going which then starts the car.

 

I can vouch for it not being easy on the 3.2. I started on mine on Monday, and right off the bat my floor jack slipped out from under the side and my r index finger was between a stand and the end of the plastic bottom piece. I yanked it out before it could get cut off when the stand went up under the fender, but cut the hell out of it. I was pretty pissed and refused to go to the damned ER. I did get it on stands and put big logs under it in several places for safety. I had disconnected the battery and I drained the differential. While I was under it I changed the engine oil and filter. I took off the wheel, and the fork under the shock. The ball joint didn't want to come off and I didn't want to pickle fork it so I finally bought a removal tool at NAPA for about $25. It wasn't exactly right for the job, but we got it on and when we turned the screw on it the joint popped. We decided to call it a day before separating the drive shaft from the diff. I'm waiting for the finger to stop bleeding before going on with this. If not for my dumb accident, I think I would be done. It's really not a job for everyone. My 79 year old neighbor helped me out. I recently cut the hell out of my thumb helping him with a garage spring. These accidents have to stop asap. or my wife will ban me from these projects. I bought a remanufactured starter from Dixie Auto someplace down south for $150 + $10 shipping and it's looks like new. There's no core charge as far as I can tell.
Next, I'll have to fix the damned fender.

 

Always use jackstands, no matter what. There was a guy from BayAreaPreludes who died when his jack failed while working on his exhaust and the car dropped on him.

Be careful.

~Cheers~

 

Oh yeah, I use jackstands and one or two backups. It was a fluke since I always lifted the car the same way, but obviously not the right way. Problem was that the best place to lift is where I was trying to put the stand. After that, I moved the floorjack with a big strond board inboard from it.
Now my partner has to go in the hospital tomorrow to check on an intestinal blockage of sopme sort.
Getting old is a bitch.

 

This may not be the place to ask this, but how far out of the differential does the halfshaft have to go?

 

I looked at the finger the next day and noticed that I'd cut it a lot worse where I hadn't looked the day before. It's been 7 days and counting and it's still seeping plasma every nignt. I think I lost some tissue about 1"+ long. It's gonna heal since there's no sign of infection. I can't get back to the job probably til next weekend. On top of all this, I've been trying to get rid of low back pain with injections. The first ones didn't work at all and I'm scheduled for Epidurals next week. All this has left me in a very bad mood, but I guess I'll get over it.