Honda CR-V Starter Problems: Causes & Possible Solutions

Car owners around the world know how frustrating it can be when your car won’t start. Many reasons can cause this problem. And here’s what to do when you experience the Honda CRV starter problems.

Your car won’t start either way. The first and most common would be when it won’t flip, meaning the engine can’t move even though you keep turning the key. Another way your Honda CRV won’t start is when you attach the starter and the engine spins but doesn’t start and run.

However, it is easier to diagnose a motor that is not turning rather than a motor that is spinning without triggering. So, if you witness problems starting your Honda CRV, this article is for you. We’ll show you how to diagnose and resolve problems.

Common Reasons For Honda CRV Starter Problems

1. Honda CRV starting problems: Fault/defect in fuel supply

• Incorrect or no fuel
• Fuel line or filter clogged
• Fuel filter or pump working / not receiving enough power
• Electrical/ignition fault

      2. Honda CRV starter problems: Problem with ignition key/electronics

• Moisture, defects, or defects in electronic equipment
• A car battery is empty
• The power supply is interrupted
• Broken cable
• Generator error
• Broken spark plug or ignition coil

3. Honda CRV starter problem: Starter failure

• Starter broken/malfunctioning
• The magnetic switch is broken

Honda CRV Starter Problems: Detailed Causes and Possible Solutions

We have covered some of the common reasons why your Honda CRV may be showing a startup failure. Now let’s find out what happens and why, how to fix it, and possible solutions.

No Fuel/Insufficient Fuel

First and foremost, you have to make sure that a lack of fuel is the cause of the car’s failure to start. Cars have come a long way from alerting the driver with just the lights to having multiple warnings across the entire dashboard. However, some drivers still prefer to ignore the signs.

In rare cases, the fuel gauge is also faulty. After that, the fuel pointer will stop moving or show nothing. If your car breaks down from running out of gas, the situation can get worse quickly. For example, you may be forced to stop in the middle of a highway because your car has no gas left.

If the result of the incident is consequential damage, the driver can be prosecuted for gross negligence. Note that, if you recently filled up with gas and discovered a puddle of water underneath your vehicle, you should check the hoses and wires immediately.

How to repair

For whatever reason, experts say the first step  is to make sure there’s enough fuel in your car. If you don’t know if the gauge shows the correct amount of fuel, you can easily go to the gas station and confirm. If the problem is still not resolved, you must check other reasons why Honda CRV won’t start.

Out of Battery

A low battery is one of the common causes of starting problems in Honda CRVs. Drivers can easily tell if the car battery is faulty or dead by the way the starter is very slow, or doesn’t turn around. Another sign is a clicking sound when turning the key. This happens because the empty battery still contains enough voltage to allow the magnetic switch inside the starter to cause that sound.

Because the starter is connected to the battery, a lot of current flows, causing a voltage drop. Therefore, there is not enough voltage for the magnetic switch and you get clicking noise. At low temperatures, the battery’s ability to charge is affected, and such problems often occur in winter.

In addition, especially in cold weather, many settings are turned on in the car, resulting in a lack of battery power. This includes heater, rear windows, seat heating, and blowers, above the heating.

What can you do with a depleted battery?

You can use the boot assist device to get the CRV battery working again. In a starter assist device, a depleted battery receives a pulse of current from another car’s battery. In theory, that should be enough.

Or, you can try charging with a battery charger but it takes a few hours. Using accelerators starts up significantly faster. These devices are typically the size of a chocolate bar and are a great alternative to long cables. You can get a compact charger like this for about $40. However, only replacement will help if the battery has failed.

How to repair

A bad alternator is enough to take away enough charge for your Honda CRV engine so it won’t start. It may still hold enough power to drive you home, but not enough to start the engine.

If you have confirmed that the battery problem is caused by your Honda CRV not starting, try restarting it and see if that helps. Most of the time this will help but if not, then it is sure that you are dealing with a faulty battery that needs replacing soon.

Before deciding to buy a new battery, contact a certified mechanic to confirm the problem. After all, why should you buy a new car battery if your old one can still be used? Batteries aren’t cheap.

>> Check now: Honda CRV Battery Problems You Should Keep An Eye On

Generator Failed

If the battery is good, you have to check for the next potential culprit – the generator, as we stated once before. Since the generator’s main job is to supply electric current to the car’s components, its failure will have a direct impact on any vehicle. The battery only allows the initial start that a car needs to jump on (or spin to its wheels).

Just one faulty alternator will drain the battery faster. Because in general, batteries are not made to provide a consistent source of electrical support for cars. So how would you deal with generator problems?

How to repair

Sadly, repairing generator problems requires the help of a certified mechanic who can determine for sure which part is at fault. If you do this process alone, it is easy to confuse or damage more without the basic knowledge of mechanics. In addition, this section requires the use of certain tools that you may not have. In some cases, the mechanic will recommend that you replace the entire generator because the old generator is no longer repairable.

Defective Starter Motor

This is a case where your Honda CRV won’t start despite having a new generator and working battery. Then it’s time to start questioning starters. Together with the battery, the starter ensures the engine starts. If either component fails, the process will not go smoothly. But if you pay attention to the symptoms, you can recognize them early.

Only in rare cases does the starter stop working immediately. With click noise, for example, you’ll know that the starter is responding but not the engine. And with a malfunctioning starter, you need multiple attempts to get the engine to start.

How to repair

Pre-diagnosis is required to confirm the source of the problem as far as booting is concerned. If your mechanic confirms that the problem is the starter, you should replace it.

Interrupted Power Supply

Perhaps no lights are flashing on the dashboard or no sound is made by your Honda CRV when you start it, but it still doesn’t works. This may indicate a problem with the electrical system. However, since similar signs can appear for a depleted battery, you should rule that out first.

When the electrical system fails, a blown main fuse prevents the flow of current. Oxidized or faulty cable is also enough for this. Damage to wires or cables can sometimes be detected by inspecting under the hood. Loose cables are a sure sign of trouble.

If the engine is unresponsive when you try to start it (and by that we mean a perfectly quiet engine), it could be caused by poor ignition. You can check the cause yourself but we recommend leaving it to a professional if you haven’t tinkered with (successfully) your car before. Check whether it’s the distributor or the ignition coil is at fault.

Electronic Ignition is Poor

Another possible cause is faulty ignition electronics or ignition keys. The obvious sign is that when you turn the ignition key, the engine compartment does not respond, although the radio and interior lights work normally.

Vehicles with a start button, such as the Honda CRV, which does not have a traditional electric key, can experience similar problems due to a flaw in the chip installed in the key. Problems like this can only be solved by replacing the ignition, the broken chip card in the car, or the key.

Do not try to repair the ignition key yourself, because before that, you need to have basic information about car electrical. But if you really want to give it a try, search for some video tutorials on Youtube. They can be helpful a lot.

Poor Spark Plug

If your ears can’t pick up anything but the familiar hum of ignition, it’s best to believe that the fuel pump or spark plugs may cause the problem. Then the engine failed despite an attempt to start because the fuel pump did not deliver fuel to the spark plug or combustion chamber. Bring the car to the workshop as soon as possible if this is the case.

Defective spark plugs are one of the common reasons behind car starting problems. The wrong ignition can cause the fuel to not burn completely (gasoline smell is a good sign) in the catalytic converter, eventually destroying it. So the cause behind this must be checked as soon as possible and if necessary the spark plug will have to be replaced. Fortunately, this one component can be changed quickly and cheaply.

Regular spark plug replacement is very important for a gasoline engine to function properly. On average, car owners should change spark plugs every 30,000 to 60,000 km. However, high-quality spark plugs are known to last up to 100,000 km. You can quickly catch anything weird going on with the spark plugs. Altered engine performance, vehicle jerking, misalignment, or increased oil consumption are all signs of this.

Other Honda CRV Starter Problems

Several issues can lead to your CRV not starting. That’s why it’s important to double-check everything. Let’s take a closer look at some of the symptoms and situations you may experience when your Honda CRV shows up:

CRV won’t start but flashing lights

If your Honda CRV won’t start but the light on the dashboard is on, then most likely the problem is with a dead battery. The good news is that there is still some voltage left in the battery. A quick start session can confirm or deny these issues. Unless the problem is resolved, check the starter and alternator.

Clicking noises

Any clicking sound coming from underneath the hood is due to a faulty battery. And most of the time that’s the problem. The battery still has some charge left so it can respond when you twist the keys, but there was a significant drop in charge and voltage after the starter sucked up all the available power.

Again, we recommend starting your car to make sure the problem is resolved. Assume that even though your Honda CRV won’t start, it will certainly spin. In that case, we can narrow the reasons down to a problem with the spark plugs, wires, rotor, or igniter adjustment. Many mechanics recommend starting by replacing the fuel filter. All that said, the problem could be related to a breakdown of an electrical component in question.

Honda CRV has starting problems even after changing the battery

If you still experience Honda CRV starter problems even though you’ve replaced the battery, then most likely the problem is with the battery itself. Many experts recommend going back to the repair shop and seeing if they have installed a high-quality car battery. The likelihood of this problem increases when you buy a used car battery. However, the fault can be with something like the generator or the electrical system if the battery is in good condition.

It also shows that your initial problem is not caused by the battery alone but is a joint effort between the battery and another faulty component. And conversely, if problems start to arise after you insert a new battery, then the fault lies in the battery, or the connections are not made properly.

Check the battery to make sure that all cables are connected correctly and that there are no loose connections. We recommend approaching only reputable suppliers, especially if you want to install used auto parts. It is important to weigh the benefits of buying back an old car part to save money against the possibility of major problems in the short term.

>> See more: Honda HRV Problems: 5 Most Common Complaints

Summary of Honda CRV Starter Problems

Trying to start a car and nothing happening is one of the most frustrating and confusing situations for drivers. When the Honda CR-V doesn’t start, you may be wondering what you need to do to get it back up and running as quickly as possible. To repair the Honda CR-V failed to start, you may need the help of a professional. Even if your battery is dead or your alternator has problems, a professional mechanic will be able to repair or replace parts and get you back on the road in no time.

Moreover, it is always necessary to store the number of roadside support covers on your phone. If no one is around to help you start the car, you can call a roadside and get your car to a mechanic safely. Most auto insurance companies will have roadside assistance plans available to add to your policy. Depending on your cover, you may not have to pay any extra to get your car repaired by the roadside or towed to a mechanic.

It’s not easy to see why your Honda won’t start if you don’t pay attention to the sound of the engine or its performance before your car breaks down.

We have shared all the reasons that lead to your Honda CRV starter problems and also explained what you will need to repair. Make sure to keep an eye out for these common problems if you are looking to buy a used CRV.