2012 Honda Ex-L 2.4L

[monel777]

On cold cranks sometimes it won't crank just turns over then I turn key off, try starting all over and it cranks just fine, runs great and only have experienced this behavior on cold cranks. Battery is new and has been checked, it's good I've been told by reliable mechanic.

Does this sound like a fuse going bad or a relay? Praying it's not starter problem...

Thanks!

 

[Hall]

Does this sound like a fuse going bad or a relay?

Fuses don't "go" bad in that sense. They work, then one day they don't. They BLOW. Relays can be flaky, I think, but since it cranks, I think that indicates the relay is working okay.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Many of the Honda 2.4's start to have starter issues that people throw all sorts of other stuff at. They are really not that hard to change. I think I used Denso or AC Delco from Rock Auto when I did mine. They also revised some of the designs.

 

[JavierH19]

I'm guessing it's the starter motor you're hearing turn instead of the engine. Just get a new starter.

 

[JimPghPA]

Honda makes great engines. But their starters, not so much. It's one of the very few weak points about Hondas. There are youtube videos of how how to do that job. Watch several if your going to do it yourself.

Because honda starters are located in a hard to get to location, it's best to use the higher quality part instead of the cheap low quality that will most likely not last long.

No one wants to be doing that job a second time in 6 months to a year.

 

[JimPghPA]

Often just replacing the brushes, cleaning the comutator groves, clean everything including where the shaft rotates, lube the rotating shaft areas with a good grease sparingly you dont want the grease to get on the brushes, put it all back together and it's good for about what it provided before it acted up, again.

BTW, also remove and scrape clean the lug and mount for connecting the battery negative to the vehicles body. I never liked relying on a bolt for ground connection. Always scrap away the paint to get a more reliable ground connection. Most manufacturers mount this body ground to a painted surface, not just Honda. Paint is not a good connection. Scrape it away with a small flat blade screwdriver. Protect it with some electric contact cleaner if you have some or oil if you don't have some.

All the electric connections of your vehicle are important. A bad ground can cause a lot of problems. Best to make it as reliable as you can.

 

[willbur]

On cold cranks sometimes it won't crank just turns over then I turn key off, try starting all over and it cranks just fine, runs great and only have experienced this behavior on cold cranks. Battery is new and has been checked, it's good I've been told by reliable mechanic.

Does this sound like a fuse going bad or a relay? Praying it's not starter problem...

Thanks!

Sounds like the main relay. The solder joints in the relay develop cracks with intermittent starter operation. I repaired several by just looking for these and reflowing the solder. Was an easy no cost job. First thing I would look for. Check the Honda forums for details. YMMV

 

[Hall]

Sounds like the main relay. The solder joints in the relay develop cracks with intermittent starter operation. I repaired several by just looking for these and reflowing the solder. Was an easy no cost job. First thing I would look for. Check the Honda forums for details. YMMV

Is that still common on more modern (2012) Hondas ? I know it was in the pre-2000s, for sure.

 

[Nukeman7]

Sounds like the main relay. The solder joints in the relay develop cracks with intermittent starter operation. I repaired several by just looking for these and reflowing the solder. Was an easy no cost job. First thing I would look for. Check the Honda forums for details. YMMV

Is that still common on more modern (2012) Hondas ? I know it was in the pre-2000s, for sure.

2008 and later Accords do not use the same PGM-FI relay that had the cold solder joint problems in the 1990-2007 Hondas. The 2012 Accord uses two relays as shown in the video below.

 

[willbur]

2008 and later Accords do not use the same PGM-FI relay that had the cold solder joint problems in the 1990-2007 Hondas. The 2012 Accord uses two relays as shown in the video below.

Thanks for that-I was unsure about the relevant years so I suggested he visit the Honda forums to find out. Probably get some good info about his starting issues

 

[Kira]

Insanely well done video.