# Electrical problems with Honda

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/electrical-problems-with-honda/39997>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** civic, honda\
**Created:** [November 26, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/electrical-problems-with-honda/39997 "2009-11-26T00:11:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sixtafitzsimons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@sixtafitzsimons](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sixtafitzsimons)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/electrical-problems-with-honda/39997/1 "2009-11-26T00:11:36Z")

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My 1988 Honda Civic hatch back is not starting when you turn the key, or even worse, sometimes you’ll be driving and it will just shut off.  
  
 I had the battery checked and it’s fine.  
  
 I have to bump start it to get it going.  
  
 Any suggestions on what to test?  
  
 Thanks!

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**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 12:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/electrical-problems-with-honda/39997/2 "2009-11-26T00:37:48Z")

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My guess would be your ignition switch itself. Do all the dash lights turn as usual just before you turn over the unstarted engine and it fails? If not it could be your ignition switch.

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**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2009, 2:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/electrical-problems-with-honda/39997/3 "2009-11-26T02:56:17Z")

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Another possibility is a faulty power relay for the ignition or ECU.