Battery is good, just clicks, is it starter or fusbile link?

[FeistyFesti]

My car recently would click while turning on key but I'd play with the key in ignition and it'd always start after 2 or 3 times. Finally finished the front seal and new timing belt and tensioner and idler pulley, ready to start and it just keeps clicking. Swapped battery with a good Civic battery same thing.

Could it be a bad starter or a bad fusible link? The fusible links are all pretty corroded and green. I keep reading about replacing with mega fuses, which are a lot cheaper than a starter.

[Pu241]

Don't think starter is fused through fusible links.
Draws way too much amperage.
But, the solenoid on the starter might be.
So definitely clean up the links and replace with cartridge fuses.
Either new or via junkyard, make sure you get the "long legged one" otherwise they will not make contacts with the spade connector in the fuse black.
Might not be the solution to your problem, but one less thing to track down.

[htchbck]

Test the starter... take the little blade connector off and use a screwdriver to short it to the main (big) 12 terminal on the starter. Assuming you have power to the main line on the starter, the starter will operate if its good (make CERTAIN the car is not in gear when you do this!!!). Also, could be your neutral safety switch and/or clutch switch is bad (stick shift) or the P/N interlock switch (auto). But the above test will pretty much rule out whether its the starter or not.

[FeistyFesti]

Thanks for the tip, I'll try this right now. Tapping the starter didn't do anything, and I'm making sure its in park.

[FeistyFesti]

This Festiva has a BP engine with auto Festy trans, so I'm hoping its got a Festiva starter because they are only $69 with lifetime warranty.

[jamesmc]

This Festiva has a BP engine with auto Festy trans, so I'm hoping its got a Festiva starter because they are only $69 with lifetime warranty.

Festiva trans uses the festiva starter.

[ericsmith32]

How's your battery terminals? Had to replace one on the Aspire even though it looked fine.

[FeistyFesti]

They actually look good. Removed the starter and hooked it up to battery and it kicks out strong and smooth. It must be the ignition switch or something sending power to starter. The screw driver trick seemed to kick it out a little but did not turn engine over. Since I have the starter off, I might as well go get it tested.

[GenevaDirt]

Ignition switch from what you described....my guess.

[FeistyFesti]

Took the starter into the Zone and it passed with flying colors. Reinstalled the starter and then reseated the main fusible link. It clicked a couple times then, boom, she's alive, she's alive. So I kill it and same thing happens, just clicks. Then I reseat the main fusible link and try again and she sparks to life again. So its gotta be the fusible links. I sprayed some battery terminal cleaner onto the connectors and it foamed up good. Now I will go get some cartridge fuses with long legs, forgot to do it when I took starter in for test. Blimey!

[link5186]

Clean up all your contacts with a wire brush. Pay close attention to the ignition signal to the solenoid (spade terminal). Also make sure that the ground next to the starter is clean and tight.