Sponsored

Jump starting Civics leads to depression

STLDAVE

Well-Known Member
First Name
DAve
Joined
Apr 30, 2020
Threads
0
Messages
45
Reaction score
46
Location
63385
Vehicle(s)
2011 4Runner, Shopping for JT
Occupation
Retired
Let me begin by stating I know this is the wrong forum... I know this. But oddly enough, they won't let me join there with my Gladiator :(

something weird is happening to me. On Sunday, I'm with the family getting frozen yogurts when the lady in the car next to me asked if I could give her a jump. I hook everything up and nothing. I double check. Positive cable on positive terminal, negative on the frame. Again, nothing. I then move the negative cable to the negative terminal of the battery. again nothing. I let it sit to charge, nothing. I rev my engine... all this to say that her lights would come on, radio worked, but we couldn't get a sound from her starter. not even a click. I left defeated and sorry that I couldn't help.

Fast forward to this morning. I'm dropping my kid off at school and a teacher asked if I could jump start another parent whose car has stalled in the car drop off lane. yes, this is a habit, and the teachers know to look for me as I'm always ready to help.

Again, I hook everything up. this time I get a click, but nothing more. I repeat all the steps from Sunday. still nothing. I ask for the year. it's a 2016, just like Sunday. only major difference is this on didn't have the push to start button. I even touched my cables together to make sure they were working ... big spark.

in 4 days, I've come across two civics that I couldn't jumpstart. What is it about those cars that I'm not understanding? what else could it be. in both cases the cars had just been driven.

I have jumped dozens of other cars with my setup. my wife is telling me to let it go, but as someone who is always trying to help, this one is getting to me.
Not sure if, or why, it would make a difference but the Civic Owner Manual in step 4 of the jump start instructions says to "Connect the other end of the second jumper cable to the engine mounting bolt as shown. Do not connect this jumper cable to any other part." This refers to the negative cable and the engine mount bolt on the passenger side. Maybe something with the computer?
 
OP
OP
Edub

Edub

Well-Known Member
First Name
Ed
Joined
Oct 23, 2020
Threads
41
Messages
393
Reaction score
588
Location
Houston
Vehicle(s)
2021 Gladiator Sport S (FULL PULL)
Build Thread
Link
Occupation
Security Response Manager
Not sure if, or why, it would make a difference but the Civic Owner Manual in step 4 of the jump start instructions says to "Connect the other end of the second jumper cable to the engine mounting bolt as shown. Do not connect this jumper cable to any other part." This refers to the negative cable and the engine mount bolt on the passenger side. Maybe something with the computer?
Interesting. thanks for looking into it.
 

jav_eee

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2023
Threads
35
Messages
1,084
Reaction score
1,075
Location
Texas
Vehicle(s)
2021 Gladiator Rubicon
Corrosion on the terminals. Corrosion in your cable clamps. Wiring to the cable clamps getting loose. Maybe.
 

Sponsored

PuddleJumper

Well-Known Member
First Name
Cortlund
Joined
Jan 17, 2024
Threads
68
Messages
2,540
Reaction score
3,373
Location
Alexandria, Virginia
Vehicle(s)
23' JTM, 22' JTR, 22' F56S,
Build Thread
Link
Occupation
STACK Infrastructure Critical Operations Technician
Vehicle Showcase
1
Not sure if, or why, it would make a difference but the Civic Owner Manual in step 4 of the jump start instructions says to "Connect the other end of the second jumper cable to the engine mounting bolt as shown. Do not connect this jumper cable to any other part." This refers to the negative cable and the engine mount bolt on the passenger side. Maybe something with the computer?
idk why but that is correct per my experience
 

sharpsicle

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2021
Threads
22
Messages
2,771
Reaction score
6,270
Location
Tampa, FL / Milwaukee, WI
Vehicle(s)
2020 Gladiator Overland, 2002 VTX1800
Not sure if, or why, it would make a difference but the Civic Owner Manual in step 4 of the jump start instructions says to "Connect the other end of the second jumper cable to the engine mounting bolt as shown. Do not connect this jumper cable to any other part." This refers to the negative cable and the engine mount bolt on the passenger side. Maybe something with the computer?
Great point. I've never grounded to the frame, always to the block. It is possible that would make a difference.
 

AmishMike

Well-Known Member
First Name
Michael
Joined
Jul 29, 2020
Threads
64
Messages
1,828
Reaction score
4,251
Location
Central Pa
Vehicle(s)
2020 Rubicon, 56 Coronet, 65 Dune Buggy,
Occupation
Whipping boy
Can’t remember the last time a lady asked me for a jump.
 

ShadowsPapa

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bill
Joined
Oct 12, 2019
Threads
247
Messages
40,465
Reaction score
53,921
Location
Runnells, Iowa
Vehicle(s)
'25 JTMX, '23 JLU 4xe, '82 SX4, '73 Javelin
Occupation
Retired auto mechanic, frmr gov't ntwrk security admin
Vehicle Showcase
3
Great point. I've never grounded to the frame, always to the block. It is possible that would make a difference.
At least in the past, the frame is another ground strap away from the battery. Most systems go from battery to block, and battery to chassis/body, then body to frame (or battery to block, then block to frame)
The engine block is always the closest and best because it's directly grounded - it's where the alternator ground is so it has to be right and 0 voltage drop.
Honda may be different - but that engine block had better have a perfect ground straight back to the battery or regulation will be off/crappy.
 

Sponsored

sharpsicle

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2021
Threads
22
Messages
2,771
Reaction score
6,270
Location
Tampa, FL / Milwaukee, WI
Vehicle(s)
2020 Gladiator Overland, 2002 VTX1800
Maybe it's just me, but that stud they connect to in that video looks to be painted or coated in something. Could explain why it would work for some but not others, as some might have more or less over the stud. Adds resistance.

I'd still go to the engine block, it's the most direct path to starter ground, and it's typically exposed metal (unlike body areas that can often be coated or painted).
 

PuddleJumper

Well-Known Member
First Name
Cortlund
Joined
Jan 17, 2024
Threads
68
Messages
2,540
Reaction score
3,373
Location
Alexandria, Virginia
Vehicle(s)
23' JTM, 22' JTR, 22' F56S,
Build Thread
Link
Occupation
STACK Infrastructure Critical Operations Technician
Vehicle Showcase
1

Dakarra

Active Member
First Name
Dale
Joined
Apr 13, 2024
Threads
2
Messages
36
Reaction score
41
Location
Fort Worth, TX
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Gladiator Willys
Being fully aware that you are genuinely asking for assistance, and I have no meaningful assistance to offer, I have to throw out a fully sarcastic comment......

There was a story going around the internet about the person that locked their keys in the car, and called the auto club to come and assist. When they arrived they observed that the car in question was a convertible and the top was down.....

The correlation here? Perhaps those two Civics were a pair of those fancy new EVs and no amount of jump amperage in the world was going to make those boat anchors "start".....

Sorry, I fully accept all boos and other notes of derision... I just couldn't help myself.....
 

ShadowsPapa

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bill
Joined
Oct 12, 2019
Threads
247
Messages
40,465
Reaction score
53,921
Location
Runnells, Iowa
Vehicle(s)
'25 JTMX, '23 JLU 4xe, '82 SX4, '73 Javelin
Occupation
Retired auto mechanic, frmr gov't ntwrk security admin
Vehicle Showcase
3
Jump starting Civics leads to depression

At least it didn't lead to inflation.

Maybe we all need to pay attention in civics classes? or do they even teach that any more?
 

Rusty PW

Well-Known Member
First Name
Russ
Joined
Jan 10, 2022
Threads
37
Messages
11,397
Reaction score
30,398
Location
Fayette Nam, Pennsyltucky
Website
www.youtube.com
Vehicle(s)
'22 JTRD, '11 370Z Nismo, '07 Honda VFR
Build Thread
Link
Occupation
Muff Diver
The batteries in question may have a dead short internal. No amount of charging will help. The plates inside a battery have a scale that builds up on them over time. If a piece of that scale falls off and contacts 2 plates at the same time. It may cause a short between them. Killing the battery. Most times the scale flakes off and falls to the bottom. The new AGM batteries hold this scale in place most times.
Sponsored

 
 







Top