Topic: Honda Won't Start (UPDATE)

[JTF]

My 2006 Honda Civic wont't start or turn over this am. I noticed one of the two battery posts had green corrosion on it (the one covered with the red cap) other one with no cap is fine. Does this mean there is a leak in the battery. The battery is original from the 06 purchase and with winter coming I was wondering if it may be time to have the battery tested. I cleaned the terminal on the outside only this am so not sure if a more through cleaning inside the battery clamp would make a difference. Thanks for any info.

Well got in the car today after a week with the new battery diagnosed by dealer, dead as a door nail. Well back to the dealer, not sure how they could misdiagnose this with all the mechanics and high tech gear they have. I will keep my cool all the same but ask for a discount at least on the next repair bill they give me.
Paul

[aquadorhj]

if you have all the electronics working inside the cabin, it may be a starter issue(if it doesn't crank at all)

if not :

if you have a volt-meter, check the voltage on the battery.

if you don't, try jump starting the car using jumper cable and another car(or good neighbor)

if it starts with somebody's help, your battery might have been dead.  (time for new battery?).  but you might want to run your car and charge the battery and see how it holds up first, as you might have forgotten to turn off interior light/heat/exterior light last night.

but as you say, it may very well be the corrosion at the contact points.   I would take it off the battery, clean it with wirebrush(with no fluid), put some die-electric grease if you have some(just tiny bit), and put it back on.  tight.

[wing]

Yeah, as ^ he said.  Do you have power?  No sound when cranking?  Is the car fully in park (this gets a lot of people).

[aquadorhj]

Yeah, as ^ he said.  Do you have power?  No sound when cranking?  Is the car fully in park (this gets a lot of people).

LOL, i haven't driven auto extensively for a while, and forgot about that.  that actually got me couple of times, too!!

[JTF]

Car was parked in driveway with handbrake on, no radio or lights etc just a couple on the starting window very briefly. No cranking sound.

[wing]

Sounds like a very dead battery if you have no lights or anything electric, or a bad ground.  Check the terminals for tightness first and try a boost.

[JTF]

Will do, thanks.

[No H2O]

I noticed one of the two battery posts had green corrosion on it.

Eliminate all things that might have you wondering.

Take the terminals at the battery off (negative off first and negative on last to prevent shorts and a welding course) and clean both the posts and battery cable terminals thoroughly. The same would apply to the ground strap at the frame and engine as well as the positive cable at the starter (visually check those). If they are suspect, a good grip on them near the terminal and then a yank usually reveals contact issues.

If your battery is the culprit...why is it dead? Could it be the alternator, or did you neglect the battery? BTW, if you think your battery is old, mine is now in its 13th year in my Honda.

Princess Auto has battery load testers on sale now and then for about $25...its only a 100A unit, but that will do.

When the car is running, do you measure 14.0 to 14.4V at the battery with the revs up at 2000+.

[JTF]

Ended up replacing the battery and all is good. Thanks.