Though Honda Civic is commonly used by many in the US, it is not devoid of issues. Like any other car, one fine day, if your Honda Civic does not start, do not panic. This problem is something that most Civic owners have encountered.
To begin with, you must inspect if your car battery is working fine. With the help of jump cables, you can figure out if the problem is related to the vehicle’s battery.
If the battery is running in good condition and the car still won’t start, there might be some other defective parts. It might be quite challenging to figure out the cause of the starting trouble unless you are an experienced professional.
Through this post, we will guide you on why your Honda Civic won’t start and how to get it fixed in no time.
Common Reasons Why Honda Civic won’t Start
If you happen to own a Honda Civic, it is essential to be familiar with your car’s overall performance. This will help you remain alert if you encounter any error codes on the dashboard that indicate performance issues. It will also help you detect the real cause of the problem and know if your car is working fine.
Here are some common reasons why your civic won’t turn over.
1. Defective Battery Issues
Try cranking Civic, and if it does not respond, it indicates that your battery is dead. A dead battery will not provide any electrical charge to power up the engine.
To check the car battery’s condition, you must jumpstart the car and charge it for a few minutes. Then take it to the nearest mechanic to charge it or get a new battery immediately.
Signs you must look for in the car battery:
- Does your car engine take more time to start?
- The headlights are getting dimmer.
- Releases intermittent sparks that cause backfiring.
- You hear clicking noises each time you turn the key.
- To start the car, you have to keep pressing on the gas pedal.
Car battery issues can be due to low radiator fluid levels, old parts, defective alternator belts, or low coolant reservoir fluid levels. At times, extremely high or low temperatures also can damage the battery. So, it’s better to replace the battery instead of repairing it. On average, the battery of a Civic car does not cost more than $200.
2. Bad Alternator
If you hear a whimper, click, or growling noise when you turn the key to start the vehicle and the engine does not respond, the issue is related to the alternator. As the components of a car are not designed to last forever, it will wear and tear after using it for a certain period of time. So, it is better to replace the old worn components with the new ones for better functioning of your car.
Initially, try starting the car battery to see if the engine will start. Suppose the Civic starts because the alternator is not completely defective and must face problems recharging the battery. If your civic can hold a certain charge, visit the nearest mechanic to get a new alternator. On average, the new alternator won’t cost you more than $800.
Symptoms of a failing alternator:
- Find it hard and it takes hours to get the engine started
- The electrical parts, such as power locks, dashboard lights, etc., have stopped working.
- The dashboard starts blinking the warning light ‘ALT’ to indicate some problem with the alternator.
- The headlights are flickering or getting dim.
3. Faulty fuel filter
After going through the car‘s battery and checking the alternator, everything seems perfect, but your Honda Civic is still not turning over. Needless to say, the culprit here has to be the defective fuel filter.
The main job of a fuel filter is to transport the fuel to the engine after removing all the dirt, debris, and contaminants in the fuel.
With time, dirt accumulates on the filter, making it partially or completely clogged. This is why it is advisable to get brand new fuel filters each time you reach 20,000 miles.
Failure to do so can completely clog the filter, causing problems with starting the engine. However, you may face starting trouble only if the fuel filter is fully clogged. The best solution is to get a new one or clean the existing filter in such cases.
Symptoms of a faulty fuel filter:
- The engine takes time and finds it hard to turn over.
- The general car performance has decreased over the time.
- You encounter rough handling, or at times your vehicle starts backfiring.
4. Faulty Car Starter
For Honda Civic models, the vehicle’s starter is battery powered. If the starter does not work, your car takes time to start or, at times, may not even crank.
Symptoms of a defective car starter:
Here are some of the symptoms that indicate your car’s starter is defective.
- By simply pushing the start button or tuning the key, your auto makes clicking or grinding noises Yet, the engine refuses to start.
- Most modern automobiles are powered by advanced electrical systems that get overheated over time. Trying to start the car repeatedly results in the starter getting heated up and releasing smoke from the engine. Call for professional help in such cases.
- If the engine does not start even after using battery cables to jumpstart the vehicle, you will have to replace the starter.
Civic Won’t Start: Get Professional Assistance.
In most cases, if the Civic is giving you trouble, it might be due to a failing starter or battery. If the problem is due to a bad engine, it must be replaced with a new one. If the problem is simply due to the cold weather outside, spend money to get some additives while refueling to turn over the car with any issues.
If there is no wear and tear and your Civic still doesn’t start, you will have to get your automobile towed and fixed by a professional dealer or car mechanic. Your local mechanics are experts and will get your car fixed in no time.
