91 accord problem starting

[Espericueta12]

hello I have a big problem with the car. Car turns over and everything. the problem is it won't crank at all if i turn the key. the only way ill crank if I turn the key to run and open the hood and touch both wires connected to the starter. Please help

[Fleetw00d]

Need to do a little more trouble shooting. Could be the ignition switch, or a bad wire to the switch or to the starter solenoid. Get yourself a wiring diagram and a multimeter and start checking.

[Espericueta12]

Need to do a little more trouble shooting. Could be the ignition switch, or a bad wire to the switch or to the starter solenoid. Get yourself a wiring diagram and a multimeter and start checking.

Any idea where the starter solenoid is located?

[Fleetw00d]

On the starter.

[Espericueta12]

On the starter.

Starter does move when both wire touch

[djcaz_aom]

Does your car have an alarm?

[Fleetw00d]

Starter does move when both wire touch

When you do that, you're providing power from the positive battery cable to the solenoid on the starter. The solenoid causes the pinion gear to engage the flywheel, then connect battery power to the starter motor itself to turn the engine. This implies that the solenoid is not getting power when you turn the key.

Does the car actually start and run if you put the key in the "run" position and jump the starter terminals?

If you have an automatic transmission, the solenoid signal is routed through the neutral position switch, so your problem is either this or the ignition switch or the wiring in between.

If you have a manual transmission, the solenoid signal is routed through the starter relay. The signal to the starter relay goes through fuse #9 in the under dash fuse box, then through the clutch interlock switch, then to ground. Current through this circuit causes the starter relay to connect power to the starter solenoid. So the problem here could be the ignition switch, fuse #9, the clutch interlock, starter relay, or the wiring in between.

[Flip-Eye]

Identify the signal wire at the starter, check if it's getting input when the key is turned.

If yes, it sounds like the starter solenoid is the culprit (its the smaller cylinder located on the starter assembly)

If no, work backwards from that signal towards the key.

[Espericueta12]

When you do that, you're providing power from the positive battery cable to the solenoid on the starter. The solenoid causes the pinion gear to engage the flywheel, then connect battery power to the starter motor itself to turn the engine. This implies that the solenoid is not getting power when you turn the key.

Does the car actually start and run if you put the key in the "run" position and jump the starter terminals?

If you have an automatic transmission, the solenoid signal is routed through the neutral position switch, so your problem is either this or the ignition switch or the wiring in between.

If you have a manual transmission, the solenoid signal is routed through the starter relay. The signal to the starter relay goes through fuse #9 in the under dash fuse box, then through the clutch interlock switch, then to ground. Current through this circuit causes the starter relay to connect power to the starter solenoid. So the problem here could be the ignition switch, fuse #9, the clutch interlock, starter relay, or the wiring in between.

YES the car start and run if you put the key in the run position and jump the starter terminals.

[Fleetw00d]

YES the car start and run if you put the key in the run position and jump the starter terminals.

Then you have a problem in the wiring as described in my previous post.

[wagon-r]

I had the same problem back in the 70s when I drove junkers. I just ran a remote starter into the passenger compartment, then turned on the ignition and pressed the remote starter when I wanted to start it. Drove it that way until it died.