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somemikeguy · Mar 17, 2010, 11:56 AM

So my 95 Honda Civic was stolen out of my garage. The police found it and I've since recovered it. The plastic around the steering column was broken out, and the white plastic that is the igniton itself was being turned by a screwdriver to start the car by the thieves. My mechanic's head mechanic is on holidays, so I've had everything but the ignition itself put back together, and I can't find machine screws small enough anywhere to actually do it myself. So, I've had to resort to starting it the same way. Just moments ago, I think I shorted something out. The soldered connections on the backside were likely touching the metal brace on the bottom part of the (new) steering column plastic. In any case, I can't get it to do anything now, no accessory, run, start, nothing, every turn of the ignition is a blank, as if the battery doesn't exist. Any help on how I fix this?

TxGreaseMonkey · Mar 17, 2010, 11:59 AM

Test all under hood and under dash fuses with a test light or multimeter:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-t...tml#post252145

somemikeguy · Mar 19, 2010, 05:05 PM

It was the 50amp ignition relay under the hood, fried.

somemikeguy · Mar 19, 2010, 05:07 PM

And thanks for the help... can't find any rate your answer links!

TxGreaseMonkey · Mar 19, 2010, 05:17 PM

Good job. I know you are relieved.

somemikeguy · Mar 25, 2010, 07:43 AM

Okay, so I *was* relieved, but not anymore. Yesterday morning, my wife dropped me off and work and came home. 4 hours later, she went back out to the car to run some errands, only to find the same problem, no power. I did discover that she had left the lights on, but the battery is under a month old. The spark plugs are only 3 months old. I checked all of the ECM and ignition related fuses, everything is fine (I did not check any relays as I do not have a multimeter and therefore cannot). I know its going to end up being something real simple, but in the meanwhile it is getting maddening. Any suggestions?

TxGreaseMonkey · Mar 25, 2010, 08:01 AM

Remove and fully charge the battery. Most auto parts stores will do this for free. Do not jump start the car, due to the possibility of a voltage spike frying the ECM, alternator, or sensors.

Use the link below to test the alternator:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-t...ml#post1973613

You can buy an inexpensive multimeter at the Harbor Freight store or at HarborFreight.com.

somemikeguy · Mar 26, 2010, 11:10 AM

LOL, so yeah, it was just a matter of a dead battery. Didn't figure it was, of course, given the age of the Interstate I threw in there (3 weeks ago), and that one night before I had properly repaired the ignition, it was left in Position I with the stereo on in standby mode overnight.

Thanks again Tx