Okay, so here's the deal.

Last Saturday the car ('99 Honda Civic DX Auto) was running fine. I haven't noticed a thing wrong. After I got home, I turned off the car, and five minutes later, it wouldn't start, the engine wouldn't even crank (again, NOTHING was wrong with the car beforehand). So after much research, I replaced the battery (didn't help) and the starter & solenoid (didn't help, either). Before I switched the starter, the car made a clicking sound when I turned the key (sound of a bad starter). After I replaced the starter, it still makes a clicking sound, it's just a LOT more subtle. All the fuses and wiring is fine, I had a friend-mechanic check everything. The ignition switch is fine (the solenoid wants to turn, but it doesn't). To check if it was the alternator, I tried jumping the car, but to no avail.

So I'm all out of ideas. Mech-friend says that it just might be that the engine seized, which would mean that my car is done for quite a while. Any other ideas? I could really use the help.

Oh, and there's this little blinking red light where the cruise control would be in other Civ models of the same year (to the left of the steering column). I don't have an owner's manual, so I have no idea what that blinking red light is trying to tell me.

 

With the tranny in neutral, try to turn the engine by hand from the crank pulley bolt.

 

Thanks for the tip. Can you explain to me how to do that? I'm not at all car-savvy, I'm learning as I go.

 

The crank pulley is the big pulley on the bottom driver's side of the engine that drives the alternator, etc. belts. Put a socket wrench on the bolt in the center, and with the key OFF, try to turn it counterclockwise.

If you find the engine is not seized, you'll need to get a voltmeter and measure around the circuit to see where the voltage is being lost. Another test you can do is turn the headlights on then turn the key trying to start and see if the lights stay on.

 

Alright, thanks a lot. I'll come back with results.

 

I'm sorry, guys, I have another few questions. How far do I turn the bolt? When should I have someone try to start the car? How do I absolutely know that the engine has seized? Thanks for the help, I appreciate it.

 

If the engine is seized, you will be unable to turn the crank pulley.

 

Oh, ok. Thanks again.

 

Leave the key OFF while turning the engine by hand! You can get hurt if it tries to turn by itself while you're holding the wrench.