2013 Honda Civic would not start but battery and alternator tested good.
Asked by Anna Nov 25, 2017 at 10:44 PM about the 2013 Honda Civic EX-L
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
My car started without issue yesterday morning
but would not start last night. The lights, radio,
windows, and heat were working fine. Headlights
were nice and bright. But, it sounded like the
battery was dead. The key turned and made a
whining type of noise. So, we tried to boost it but it
did not help. This morning, after a few turns, it
started. I went to Advance because that is where I
bought my battery in July 2016 to see if it was the
battery (I have the Gold 3 year). The battery and
alternator tested good. The man said that the
starter was testing at 11.9 volts. He said it could
be the starter but wasn't 100 % certain. I can't find
a lot of research on civics. What seems to be the
issue?
10 Answers
beatupchevy answered 6 years ago
sounds like a bad starter , the whining was the starter spinning while not engaged , some are junk out of the box , the honda dealer will rob you big time , a parts store will sell a new starter as opposed to a rebuild piece of crap but they will have to order it , that's just the way it is
Newellgn77 answered 6 years ago
So Anna, did you get a new starter then? Did that help with the issue? I have the same issue, with the same year, make, and model of car. I go to start it, turn it over and nothing (all lights inside and out still will turn on), take the key out, put it back in, turn it over still nothing. Usually after 3-4 attempts it will then start... I notice it is worse when it is cold outside. I'd like to blame it on winter but, I know that's not it! I'm just curious to what you found out!
Civicgal29 answered 5 years ago
Did you figure it out? It's hard to tell if yours tries to start, or sounds like dead battery. Mine tries to, it just takes me forever to get the dang thing started, like once a month maybe, I'm just sick of it to be honest. I guess I was dealing with it ok until my boyfriend was with me the last few times it did it to me. It just really embarrassed me, i'm usually proud of this car (it's an EX-L!). Even worse, it did this the only day Ryan borrowed my car since we've been dating (just my freakin luck). He actually killed the battery trying to start my car too many times (his defense, he was late picking me up from work). My car is not even 3 years old, it's embarrassing to have this happen to a car i paid so much for.
I live in ca, but I dont think weather has anything to do with it I have a 2013 Honda Civic also randomly wont start. its happened about 6 times in the last 2 years so far .slamming it hard into park helped a couple of times. but the last 2 times needed a jump start. I took it to Honda shop, had the batery, alternator, starter, and ignition switch all tested, they said all ok. But after my husband had some of the same trouble with his 2006 civic, and then the other day not stating with a jump to find out it was the starter, Now I am worried it may be a bad starter. time for a lawsuit against Honda. or a starter recall. anyone with me
Oh forgot to mention, everything is always shut off. I use the key to lock car if I dont hear click something is wrong
Civicgal29 answered 5 years ago
Ugh! Been OK for like a month maybe. I mean it occasionally stutters and takes an extra couple secs for me like maybe a couple times a week, but it started for me the 1st time for a month till an hr ago. It just took me 4 freaking tries, and it was only the 2nd time even driving with my new BF in my car. I was like noooooo! Each time was the same, like where id get super close, it stumbles a sec or two (I def thought it started the first time), cough and then cranks normally again until hitting 10s. 4 freaking times, took me literally FOREVER. He def took it in stride and just laughed at me at the end of our night, but I'm embarrassed as heck, AGAIN!
Newellgn77 answered 5 years ago
So I finally took the car in after getting a new battery back in February(2018) and almost breaking the key in the ignition(june2018), that was my final straw. Haha. I had to get a new starter and it has been starting like a gem now. Cross your first gets and knock on wood it stays that way :)
Civicgal29 answered 5 years ago
Whelp, that's twice in less than a week now. Today was way too hot to have my car not start, and it took me forever! I was literally stuck to the leather seat by the time it finally freaking started and I blasted the AC. Maybe I'm being overly sensitive since it bugs me, but the car def sounded a little rougher than normal today to me, like it was shaking more and had lots more stuttering each time I pressed start. But 5 GD times today... 5 excruciating times! That's almost a full min of cranking added up, I hate it. My car stinks! It's so Frickin embarrassing, I'd seriously rather have the battery drain issue than a car that just cranks for freaking ever and never starts.
I have a 2013 Honda Civic LX and the starter was bad when I bought it new (didn't know it was the starter and it didn't happen often so there was a delay in getting it fixed). It was replaced at the end of 2018 with a remanufactured starter and it's starting to have trouble again. Trying to get ahold of Honda Corp but lines are not working now. What can we do?
