Honda CR V Wont Start: A Complete Guide To Fix the Issue

Honda CR V wont start is an important issue that bothers many Honda owners. Problems such as low fuel, bad alternator, and ignition issues can prevent the Honda CR V from starting.

If you want to diagnose why Honda CR-V won’t start, keep reading this article.

Why Is Your Honda CR V Not Starting?

Your Honda CR V is not starting due to insufficient fuel, a bad battery, a defective motor, or a failed generator. These and other issues can prevent the Honda CR V from working as it should or starting at all.

– Lack of Fuel

Insufficient fuel is a common issue that affects the functionality of a Honda CRV. So, checking if low fuel is the problem should be your first step to fixing the problem of your car not starting. Usually, the car would alert you about insufficient fuel through multiple warnings on the dashboard. However, some fail to notice these signs or outrightly ignore them and take no action.

Also, sometimes, the problem might lie with the fuel gauge. If the fuel gauge is bad, you won’t know if the fuel is sufficient or not because the fuel pointer will stop working. A faulty fuel gauge means your car can break down in the middle of the road because it has no fuel.

This may mean you’re stranded for hours. You may sometimes be fined for negligence if the car breakdown causes consequential damage. Furthermore, if the fuel filter is clogged, it can affect the fuel supply to the engine’s combustion chamber. It would look like the fuel isn’t enough, but it is sufficient. The fuel filter is the problem, and fuel from the fuel pump is not getting into the engine. So, a blocked fuel line can be why your vehicle won’t start.

– Low Battery

A low battery can prevent your Honda CRV from starting. Signs like the starter being slow or not turning around tell you that the battery is low, faulty, or dead. Also, if the starter makes clicking noises when you turn the key, you have a faulty battery. However, your magnetic switch produces a clicking sound because the dead battery still has some voltage.

Also, the starter and battery are connected, and a large amount of current flow causes a voltage drop. Thus, the switch has insufficient voltage, resulting in a clicking sound.

You should also know that low temperatures affect the battery’s performance. Most battery problems often happen during winter. Furthermore, during cold weather, car owners will turn on many car features, leading to low or no battery power. Car features like heaters, seat heating, and blowers will deplete the battery voltage quickly.

– Defective Generator

Sometimes the problem might not be the battery but with the generator. Once you confirm that the battery is good, check the generator to see if it’s the reason why your CRV won’t start. The generator’s primary function is to supply electric current to the car’s components. If it fails to do this, the car won’t kickstart.

The generator is essential to the vehicle’s operation, as the battery only provides the initial start that a car needs to jump on. The generator works that “initial start” current to start the CRV. A faulty generator will cause the battery to drain faster than expected.

– Bad Starter Motor

Your car might still refuse to start despite having a working generator and a good battery. If this is the case, then you should look at the starter. The starter works in tandem with your battery to make the engine start. A faulty motor means that this process cannot be carried out quickly.

When it comes to defective motors, you can recognize the signs early on and prevent them from breaking down. The starter doesn’t stop working immediately, except in rare cases. So, if you are observant enough, you will spot symptoms that will tell you the motor is faulty.

For instance, a clicking sound tells you the starter works well, but your engine isn’t. It would take many attempts before a bad starter makes the engine start.

– Failed Electricity Supply

A problem with starting is not limited to a defective starter motor or a low battery. The car might not make any clicking sound, yet it refuses to work. The problem might lie in the vehicle’s electrical system. However, you must be careful here because the symptoms are similar to that of a weak battery.

The first step is to rule out the possibility of a depleted battery by observing it well. An interrupted power supply can prevent the Honda CR-V from starting. A failed electrical system means the bad main fuse will prevent current flow. Problems like this are possible because of an oxidized or defective cable.

Check if there has been any damage to the wires or cables by inspecting under the hood. If you spot loose cables, it is a sign that something is amiss. Also, if your car engine fails to start, you could be dealing with poor ignition. Check to see if the problem is with your ignition coil or distributor.

– Defective Spark Plugs

A poor spark plug can also be why CRV won’t work. If you only hear the familiar hum of the ignition when you try to start the vehicle, the problem might be a defective plug. Also, symptoms such as vehicle jerking, misalignment, altered engine performance, and increased oil consumption indicate that the spark plug is bad.

A bad spark plug is caused by a faulty ignition, which causes incomplete fuel combustion in the catalytic converter. Thus, you should take the car to an auto repair shop to check the spark plug. If the plug is damaged, it should be replaced with a new one.

– Defective Alternator

The alternator works with the starter and battery to power the vehicle. The alternator is responsible for charging the car battery. If the alternator experiences a failure, there is no way the battery will be charged, and the car won’t start. A defective alternator produces a clicking sound whenever you want to start the vehicle.

A failed alternator is among the common reasons the CRV won’t start. It will make it difficult to start the car. Also, the vehicle will produce a squeal when you are driving. The defective alternator makes the battery voltage drain fast because the battery was never designed to provide a consistent electrical supply while driving.

– Faulty Electronic Ignition

Faulty ignition electronics can be why the Honda CRV refuses to start. You can check for this problem by observing if your engine compartment fails to respond when you turn your ignition key, yet the interior lights and radio are working correctly.

Unlike other vehicles, the Honda CRV doesn’t use a traditional electric key. Instead, it makes use of a start button. Nevertheless, it can still experience this problem if there the key’s chip is defective. The remedy to this problem is to replace the ignition switch and the damaged chip card.

What To Do if Your Honda CRV Won’t Start (Remedies)

If your Honda CRV doesn’t start, you should inspect the fuel gauge, charge or replace the battery, and repair the generator. You can also change the cables, spark plug, and ignition locks. These and some other solutions can help the CR-V to start.

– Inspect the Fuel Gauge

Before this inspection, you must ensure sufficient fuel inside the fuel tank. If you cannot determine if the fuel gauge displays the correct amount of fuel, drive down to a gas station to confirm.

Once you discover that the gauge is the problem, the next step is to seek professional help. Contact a local mechanic to inspect and repair the gauge. You may end up changing the gauge in the long run. Also, the mechanic should repair the clogged fuel filter so that fuel flows from the fuel pump without any hitch.

– Charge the Battery

The remedy for a depleted battery is to charge it and get it working again. You can use a starter assist device to charge the battery. The device transmits current from another battery to yours. Ordinarily, the transmitted current should be sufficient to get the car to start.

Another option is to use a battery charger, but this will take a few hours to complete. Also, you can use accelerator startups to speed up the rate at which the battery charges. The battery startups are the size of chocolate bars and are a better alternative than long cables. This type of battery charger is cheap, usually about $40.

Now, there is the possibility that these chargers don’t work because the battery is dead. In the case of a dead battery, the only remedy is to get a new one.

– Repair the Generator

When it comes to generator problems, you can’t repair them by yourself. The defects can only be corrected by a trained professional, who, in this case, is a mechanic. The mechanic can quickly tell which part of the generator is the cause of the fault and carry out the required repairs.

Also, the mechanic will perform the repairs using tools you don’t have. Thus, you should contact a vetted mechanic to check the generator. In cases where the generator is too old and cannot be repaired, the mechanic would advise you to get a new one.

– Replace the Cables

If the cables are loose, you should tighten them. For damaged cables, the remedy is to repair the wires or replace them with new ones. It would be best if you didn’t do this operation yourself. Instead, you should work with a professional auto electrician.

– Change the Coil and Distributor

The solution to a damaged coil or distributor is to change them. However, you need a professional’s help to diagnose this problem and install the new coil or distributor. It is not advisable to attempt to change them yourself.

– Replace the Starter Motor

Although you might have noticed signs that show a faulty starter motor is the cause of the problem, you still need a mechanic to diagnose it. Once the mechanic confirms the starter as the cause of the problem, you must replace the defective motor with a new one.

– Change the Bad Alternator

Only an experienced mechanic can fix alternator problems and determine which part of the alternator is defective. In some cases, a repair is no longer feasible, and the mechanic has to change the whole alternator.

– Replace the Ignition Locks

After diagnosing that the electronic ignition lock or the ignition switch is the problem, you must replace them. However, you shouldn’t carry out the replacement by yourself.

Instead, you need the help of a professional, most likely an auto mechanic, for the ignition lock or damaged chip card. The mechanic understands the fundamentals of car electric, which is needed to repair the damaged component.

– Change the Spark Plug

In most cases, it is advisable to change the bad spark plug to a high-quality plug. Although you are expected to change your spark plugs every 30,000 to 60,000 km, a high-quality spark plug can last up to 100,000 km.

Frequently Asked Questions

– Why Won’t Your Car Start, but You Have Power?

Your car won’t start even though you have power because of a drained battery. A depleted battery will prevent the engine from starting, despite lights illuminating the dashboard or the engine light being on. Also, the battery could be corroded or damaged.

However, in most cases, there is still a little voltage left in the battery. You can always jumpstart to confirm this.

– What Are the Common Honda CRV Starting Problems?

The common Honda CRV starting problems are fuel issues, ignition issues, and failed engine timing. A bad fuel injector or clogged fuel line will prevent the engine from getting sufficient fuel, so the car won’t start.

Bad spark plugs and coil packs can lead to ignition problems where the engine will crank but not start. If the spark plugs fail to fire at the correct time, the engine will not start. These problems with starting are solved by doing the necessary car repair.

– What Is the Cost of Fixing a Starter in a Honda CR-V?

The cost of fixing a starter in a Honda CR-V is between $528 and $1,013. The labor cost is estimated between $121 and $153, while the parts cost between $407 and $860. It is advisable to contact a professional mechanic for the replacement.

– Do Hondas Commonly Have Battery Issues?

Yes, Hondas commonly have battery Issues. The 2017 – 2019 Honda CR-V and Honda Accord vehicles have been confirmed to have battery problems. These car models had a parasitic draw on their batteries, leading to defects such as alternator issues and stalling.

Conclusion

Having read this article, you now know why Honda CR-V won’t start, as well as its fixes.

Let’s recap why a Honda CR-V won’t work and their remedies.

• You should jumpstart or charge a low battery while you replace an old battery with a new one.
• Low fuel can be a result of a faulty fuel gauge, which should be repaired.
• Inspect a faulty generator to check the defective part and hire a mechanic to repair the generator.
• You should repair the defective alternator or replace it with a new one. You should also replace a bad spark plug with a high-quality plug that lasts longer.
• Contact a mechanic to replace the faulty motor with a new one.

There is no doubt that this guide will help you diagnose the reason why your CR-V won’t start and how to fix it.