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NSX owner Toronto/Scarborough Area

Joined
19 January 2011
Messages
216
Hi, any NSX owners in the Scarborough area can give me a hand?

My car is dead in Hansen's lot in Scarborough with what we suspect a flat battery. They tried giving it a boost but it still wouldn't start. The car still has some juice left though from what the lot guys told me. We are looking to have a towing company come by with one of those heavy charger to jump the car but if that doesn't work we might have to end up getting a new battery. The battery is only 4 years old according to the previous owner and it started on its own power just days ago. It was on a trickle charge the whole time before that...

Any pointers? Could it be a dead relay? The previous owner said hes never had such an issue. It was only 3 days ago when they last started the car to get it off the truck...


Thanks
 
It's winter and a weak battery will give no end of trouble.
My last battery lasted 4 years.
Once they've been drained they're likely done.
If you suspect the battery is at all weak replace it and be done with it.
 
They tried giving it a boost but it still wouldn't start. The car still has some juice left though from what the lot guys told me.

First off, make sure that the battery cable clamps on the battery posts are tight. Honda battery post cable clamps are notorious for stretching because owners over tighten the clamps resulting in poor / no contact on the battery post. If you can rotate the clamp on the battery post, the clamp is pretty much toast. You can try a temporary fix using the battery post shims that Princess Auto sells; but, they are just a patch. Time for new clamps

http://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/2-pc-battery-post-shims/A-p8064453e


'still wouldn't start'? Does that mean that the starter motor was engaging and turning over the engine (but the engine would not start up) or does that mean that the starter motor was not engaging?

If the starter motor was not engaging the battery could be dead or the ignition switch could be faulty or the starter or more likely the starter solenoid could be faulty. Simple test, turn on the headlights. If the headlights operate then the battery is good and could have a problem with the starter motor or the ignition switch. If the battery is good and the starter motor is not engaging make sure that the little plastic button on the clutch pedal that engages the clutch interlock switch is still in place. As the cars age, the buttons seem to develop a habit of dropping out of the holder leaving owners stranded with dead cars. A mysterious little plastic nub appearing on the driver's floor mat is a dead give away. Lots of discussion threads on Prime describing and cursing the clutch interlock switch.

You are aware that the correct place to jump start an NSX is from the special connector in the engine compartment relay box, not the battery terminals? If they were boosting the car from the connector in the relay box and the starter motor is not engaging, then you definitely have a problem in the starter motor circuit some place. Probably time to flat bed the car to warm place for further diagnosis. Using this location you should be able to jump start an NSX off of another car even with a totally dead battery (no headlights).

If the starter motor is engaging and turning over the engine; but, the engine is not starting up, then a failed main FI relay is a high probability candidate. It is also possible that the ignition switch has failed. There are other possible causes; but, they all get more complicated to diagnose. On spec, you could try replacing the relay at the lot; however, I wouldn't. The relay is on the inside of the rear firewall located under the plastic panels behind the seats. If you try pulling the panels off when they are really cold, you risk snapping the plastic retainers and they will then rattle for ever after. Better to do that when the plastic is warm.
 
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Thanks guys,

So heres where I am after the tow truck dropped by:

He tried boosting the car both from the engine bay terminal and direct from the front, hooked up for 20 mins each and no luck. He checked all the fuses per owners manual for a no start, all ok.

He noted that there is NO draw when trying to engage starter. There is no headlight dim when start position engage on ignition switch.

Ignition switch was replaced 9 years ago. :confused:

So I am ruling out the ignition switch, battery, main relay.

My guess right now is either the clutch interlock switch or the starter solenoid... any ideas?

Any recommendation would be greatly appreciated. Any NSX specialist in the area? Its currently sitting at Hansen's lot on Nashdeen road.
 
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So - starter motor not engaging. The likely culprits are:

the ignition switch,
the clutch interlock switch / button, and
starter motor problem.

Check the clutch interlock switch first just because it is cheap to do. It is an absolute pain to get at. If the button has dropped out it is much much much easier to by-pass the switch with a jumper rather than try and replace the button. If you are relying on somebody else to do this (i.e. you were not present when they tried to start the car, make sure that they know there is a clutch interlock on the starter circuit - there are a lot of people who have never driven standards, also clutch interlocks were not common on European cars).

If the clutch interlock switch is OK, try tapping the starter motor / solenoid with a hammer. This will sometimes get the starter motor working. If it works this is a short term fix and the solenoid / motor will be due for a rebuild.

Even though it was replaced, a failed ignition switch is still a possibility. If your tow truck operator is savvy, they will know how to jump the starter solenoid from the engine compartment. This will get the starter motor cranking if the ignition switch or the clutch interlock switch is faulty. It will not engage the starter motor if the starter motor / solenoid is faulty. If your tow truck operator sounds at all fuzzy about this operation, don't risk it. They can screw things up if they don't know what they are doing.

There are other things that can kill the starter circuit; but, they are all beyond 'field' diagnosis.
 
So looks like I will have to get it towed to a shop to get it fixed before it can get on the train for transport... any recommendations besides speed stars?
 
Sam's Garage in Markham also works on NSX's (other exotics too) and they are just down the road from Speed Star so they are someone else you could go vs. the stealership.
 
Should be turned into a "sticky" !

First off, make sure that the battery cable clamps on the battery posts are tight. Honda battery post cable clamps are notorious for stretching because owners over tighten the clamps resulting in poor / no contact on the battery post. If you can rotate the clamp on the battery post, the clamp is pretty much toast. You can try a temporary fix using the battery post shims that Princess Auto sells; but, they are just a patch. Time for new clamps

http://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/2-pc-battery-post-shims/A-p8064453e


'still wouldn't start'? Does that mean that the starter motor was engaging and turning over the engine (but the engine would not start up) or does that mean that the starter motor was not engaging?

If the starter motor was not engaging the battery could be dead or the ignition switch could be faulty or the starter or more likely the starter solenoid could be faulty. Simple test, turn on the headlights. If the headlights operate then the battery is good and could have a problem with the starter motor or the ignition switch. If the battery is good and the starter motor is not engaging make sure that the little plastic button on the clutch pedal that engages the clutch interlock switch is still in place. As the cars age, the buttons seem to develop a habit of dropping out of the holder leaving owners stranded with dead cars. A mysterious little plastic nub appearing on the driver's floor mat is a dead give away. Lots of discussion threads on Prime describing and cursing the clutch interlock switch.

You are aware that the correct place to jump start an NSX is from the special connector in the engine compartment relay box, not the battery terminals? If they were boosting the car from the connector in the relay box and the starter motor is not engaging, then you definitely have a problem in the starter motor circuit some place. Probably time to flat bed the car to warm place for further diagnosis. Using this location you should be able to jump start an NSX off of another car even with a totally dead battery (no headlights).

If the starter motor is engaging and turning over the engine; but, the engine is not starting up, then a failed main FI relay is a high probability candidate. It is also possible that the ignition switch has failed. There are other possible causes; but, they all get more complicated to diagnose. On spec, you could try replacing the relay at the lot; however, I wouldn't. The relay is on the inside of the rear firewall located under the plastic panels behind the seats. If you try pulling the panels off when they are really cold, you risk snapping the plastic retainers and they will then rattle for ever after. Better to do that when the plastic is warm.

So - starter motor not engaging. The likely culprits are:

the ignition switch,
the clutch interlock switch / button, and
starter motor problem.

Check the clutch interlock switch first just because it is cheap to do. It is an absolute pain to get at. If the button has dropped out it is much much much easier to by-pass the switch with a jumper rather than try and replace the button. If you are relying on somebody else to do this (i.e. you were not present when they tried to start the car, make sure that they know there is a clutch interlock on the starter circuit - there are a lot of people who have never driven standards, also clutch interlocks were not common on European cars).

If the clutch interlock switch is OK, try tapping the starter motor / solenoid with a hammer. This will sometimes get the starter motor working. If it works this is a short term fix and the solenoid / motor will be due for a rebuild.

Even though it was replaced, a failed ignition switch is still a possibility. If your tow truck operator is savvy, they will know how to jump the starter solenoid from the engine compartment. This will get the starter motor cranking if the ignition switch or the clutch interlock switch is faulty. It will not engage the starter motor if the starter motor / solenoid is faulty. If your tow truck operator sounds at all fuzzy about this operation, don't risk it. They can screw things up if they don't know what they are doing.

There are other things that can kill the starter circuit; but, they are all beyond 'field' diagnosis.


Joshua I hope you get this solved - please post up the culprit(s).

Old Guy - THANK YOU so much for your contributions to fellow owners here on NSX Prime. I copied both of your replies, put them into a memo, and saved the memo to my "NSX ALL THINGS" file folder for future reference when / if I have a "NO START" incident. I think we should have a "sticky" placed somewhere for "NO START" incidences and future reference(s)!
 
Rob Magro is an experienced factory trained NSX technician and from what I have read he is one of the best in Canada. He is located in Hamilton (1 hr drive from Toronto) if I remember correctly. I can PM you Rob's #, I have it written down somewhere.

Off topic - but how is speedstar for a timing belt & water pump, coolant hoses and clutch replacement? I checked their site and it seems like they specialize in high end European cars now?
 
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speedstar has done the timing belt and water pump, coolant hoses and clutch on my nsx and many other. Other than Rob they are the only place I would trust to service any of my vehicles.
 
An update for you guys, just had it towed to Speed Stars and dealt with Frank there. They were very professional and took care of it all promptly.

It turns out nothing was wrong at all, it was just a loose fuse behind the ignition switch that was causing all this problem. Speedstars ran a full diagnosis and checked the clutch interlock switch, ignition switch, starter motor, wiring looms, fuse box etc. Now its perfectly fine as I figure, the previous owner has taken very good care of this car for the past 10+ years and had full documentation.

Gotta thank all the passionate members on here, the good folks at speed star and also Billy my tow guy who took great care of the car and went out of his way to check out my car. He also regularly transports NSX in the toronto region as well.

Hope to get the car in hand soon!
 
....was just a loose fuse behind the ignition switch that was causing all this problem....

what does this mean? What fuse behind the ignition switch?
What fuse # was this? Do you mean the fuse panel by the driver's feet?
Did they just push it in deeper to make a good connection etc etc....
Details would be helpful for future troubleshooting thanks.
 
^^ I have the same question. There are no OEM fuses behind the ignition switch. Was this a connection for an aftermarket security system?
 
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