2001 Honda Odyssey one solid "click" when you turn the key.

[aquariuscsm]

Friend's 2001 Honda Odyssey won't start. When you turn the key, everything powers up, and you just hear a single "click". Had the battery tested and it tested good. I'm thinking maybe the battery terminals? They look fairly corroded and are the original ones. My Z did the same thing awhile back, one solid click when you'd turn the key. Battery was good, starter was good. I replaced the battery terminals and she started right up.

Would this be a good place to start on the Odyssey, to replace the terminals?

 

[Rand]

how old is the battery?
Did you try jumping it?
whats the voltage when you try and start it?

 

[Hall]

Clean them first

 

[mrsilv04]

...the good news is that whatever it is... it likely isn't the transmission...

 

[aquariuscsm]

Battery is 1 year and 2 months old. Dropped it off at wm where she'd bought it and it tested good.

As to cleaning the terminals. What's the go-to method to clean them? What's the best product to use to clean them?

 

[Hall]

Sandpaper, greenie pad, battery terminal cleaning tool. You can use soda pop, citric acid, make a paste with baking soda.

 

[RooflessVW]

Loose or corroded connection at the battery, starter, ground, etc...

 

[dishdude]

Any chance the engine could be locked up?

 

[atikovi]

Any chance the engine could be locked up?

Ain't we little miss sunshine?

As for for cleaning battery posts and terminals, prefer these you stick in a drill,

 

[Andrew1972]

Does it jump start Okay? I had Walmart test a battery that they said was fine and found myself jumpstarting it next day .

 

[2010Civic]

Could be a bad starter.

 

[PimTac]

Sounds like it could be the steering wheel interlock or whatever they call it. Wiggle the steering around and try it. This is based on your description of one loud click. That makes me think it is coming from the interior.

Of course, check other things as well. Starter, ground etc

 

[aquariuscsm]

Any chance the engine could be locked up?

Nah runs like a dream!! She has the oil changed at her friend's oil change shop every 3K like clockwork with Castrol HM (I always look at her receipt whenever she says she gets an oil change). She parked it in her driveway for a few days to drive her truck. Calls me the other day to say it won't start.

I'll go down the list and suggestions, and update here when I get it running.

 

[The Critic]

Nah runs like a dream!! She has the oil changed at her friend's oil change shop every 3K like clockwork with Castrol HM (I always look at her receipt whenever she says she gets an oil change). She parked it in her driveway for a few days to drive her truck. Calls me the other day to say it won't start.

I'll go down the list and suggestions, and update here when I get it running.

Rule of thumb before installing a new starter...

Always turn the crank bolt to make sure the engine isn't seized. Regardless of service history, always do it. You never know...

 

[92saturnsl2]

Put an ohm meter on battery negative, then other lead to a metal engine component. This will rule out grounding issues. Then check the positive cable over real well, should be obvious if it's badly corroded, loose, etc.

I had loose/crappy terminals on my '04 Odyssey that would cause a no start from time to time-- that was the usual symptom, everything would power up, then loud click.

I've seen too many people replace starters for no reason (and still have the no start issue) to ever recommend going there as one of the first troubleshooting steps. You can always jump the starter as a troubleshooting step (only do it for a moment to verify it's working) if you have easy access to the positive terminal on the starter.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I've seen too many people replace starters for no reason (and still have the no start issue) to ever recommend going there as one of the first troubleshooting steps. You can always jump the starter as a troubleshooting step (only do it for a moment to verify it's working) if you have easy access to the positive terminal on the starter.

^^Absolutely!

I start at the bottom and work my way up per se. Start with the battery, then the terminals, etc.

 

[meep]

The Clack is likely the starter solenoid firing but not connecting the internal contacts to send the heavy power to the motor itself. It’s a normal failure mode for starters.

how easy is the access on these? If you use jumpers to send power to the motor (leaving from the solenoid) while the key is held in the start position, it will probably spin and start the van.

a safer test would be to probe for power where the power leaves the solenoid and enters the motor. I’ll bet the solenoid is engaged but not sending power.