# Starter not activating with ignition switch **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** integra, starting, acura, engines\ **Created:** [November 9, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starter-not-activating-with-ignition-switch/39232 "2009-11-09T04:58:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jfkenton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@jfkenton](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jfkenton)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starter-not-activating-with-ignition-switch/39232/1 "2009-11-09T04:58:18Z")
1995 model - Typically after sitting overnight. Turn the ignition and get nothing. Sometimes it then turns when radio turned off. Today that made no difference. Turning the ignition three times – didn’t hear a relay click nor any starter turn. 3rd time it gave a sick-partial turn. Rolled out of driveway intending to use manual start but had shift in neutral and blew it. Tried the starter again and it turned on OK. The battery is one-year old and I doubt it is the problem. After running the car for 15 minutes; it restarted okay after a stop. 10 minutes later it was OK again. Another drive and it sat for 2 hrs and started with no problem. It seems as though it is a sometimes circuitry problem, but the overnight sitting seems a common factor. This has happened sevearl times in the past month. ---
**Author:** ![Xebadaih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d07c76/32.png) [@Xebadaih](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Xebadaih)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 5:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starter-not-activating-with-ignition-switch/39232/2 "2009-11-09T05:40:57Z")
It is either a bad connection or you need to replace the starter. ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 7:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starter-not-activating-with-ignition-switch/39232/3 "2009-11-09T07:07:02Z")
IF you hear no relay clicks IN THE DASH, this is likely a bad ignition switch, or a bad PGM-FI relay (under the top of the dash). If you hear no relay click UNDER THE HOOD, it’s likely the starter solenoid isn’t engaging the starter. It’s hard to tell which without checking the wiring with a multimeter. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorPinto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b19c9b/32.png) [@DoctorPinto](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DoctorPinto)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 11:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starter-not-activating-with-ignition-switch/39232/4 "2009-11-09T11:56:03Z")
Sounds like either a bad starter solenoid or neutral safety switch if it’s an automatic or clutch safety switch if it’s a manual. ---
**Author:** ![jfkenton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@jfkenton](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jfkenton)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starter-not-activating-with-ignition-switch/39232/5 "2009-11-09T15:50:56Z")
I’m not much of a mechanic, but which of these options might be the easiest or cheapest to pursue. Unless a multimeter can really pinpoint the problem, I feel that this will simply be a “remove, replace, and see if it is fixed” kind of thing. jkenton ---
**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starter-not-activating-with-ignition-switch/39232/6 "2009-11-09T16:43:57Z")
I have replaced many more “shifter activated switches” for failure to complete circuit for back-up lights than for no-crank situations. I think the neutral-safety switch is on the no crank check list simply because it is possible ---
**Author:** ![jfkenton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@jfkenton](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jfkenton)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starter-not-activating-with-ignition-switch/39232/7 "2009-11-09T17:17:08Z")
I just made my first attempt today and it wouldn’t start again. I did hear the relay click this time. Only I don’t know what that is telling me. I almost imagined hearing a hum after holding the ignition on for more than a few seconds. I wouldn’t say that it sounded loud enough to be a starter spinning but not engaging. If it was really there, the sound was almost impercepible. (Could that happen on this car?) After not getting anywhere; I tried it a fourth (or 5th or 6th) time and it started per normal. ---
**Author:** ![jfkenton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@jfkenton](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jfkenton)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/starter-not-activating-with-ignition-switch/39232/8 "2009-11-10T02:47:56Z")
Acura service dept here in Los ANgeles area tell me that a new starter costs around $500. Does anyone know if that is true? On my '68 Dodge Dart, I got a new starter for something like $39.95. Jack Kenton