Honda CR-V won’t start – causes and how to fix it

The car will not start! So you’re having problems starting your Honda CR-V. Don’t worry, we will go through each potential cause that may be hindering your vehicle from starting in this article, and what you can do about it.

If the car has starting problems or stops while driving and no longer starts, the causes can be varied. It also depends on the problem whether the vehicle can be started up again quickly or whether this can only be remedied with great effort or with the help of a professional.

The most common causes of start problems

Defects / errors in the fuel supply

• No fuel, wrong fuel
• Fuel filter or line clogged
• Fuel pump or filter is broken / not properly supplied with power

Ignition / electrical errors

• Defects in the ignition lock / ignition electronics
• Errors, defects or moisture in the Electrics
• Empty car battery
• Power supply / supply interrupted
• Cable break ( e.g. due to marten bite )
• Alternator
• Ignition coils or spark plugs are broken

Defects in the starter

• Problems with the starter, broken starter
• Main contacts of the magnetic switch or magnetic switch broken

No fuel

First of all, it has to be clarified whether a lack of fuel is the reason why a vehicle no longer starts. Although modern cars inform their drivers in good time about an insufficiently filled tank and also alert older cars with lights, it happens again and again that some drivers overlook and ignore all signals in the stress of everyday life. Or completely misjudge the remaining range. In rare cases, the fuel gauge can also fail. Then the pointer either shows no more or stops moving.

If the car breaks down due to an empty tank, this is not only annoying but also a danger and can also have consequences. For example, if you are forced to stop on the highway due to a lack of petrol, you maybe fined for it. If consequential damage, such as an accident, results from such breakdown, the driver can also be sued for gross negligence. By the way: If you have recently refueled and discovered a puddle under your car, you should have the lines and hoses checked immediately.

Drained Battery

One of the most common causes of starting problems in Honda CR-V is a weak battery. Drivers recognize a discharged or defective car battery by the fact that the starter either tries to start very slowly, clumsily or does not turn at all when trying to start. Another sign of this is if you only hear a click when turning the ignition key. This is due to the fact that an empty battery still has sufficient voltage for the magnetic switch on the starter, which causes this clicking noise. Because the starter – which connects to the battery – draws a lot of current, this leads to a voltage dip, the voltage is no longer sufficient for the magnetic switch and it drops out, which again makes a clacking noise.

The charging capacity of the battery is particularly affected at low temperatures, and such problems often occur in winter. Also because, especially in freezing temperatures, many consumers are switched on in the car, which also lead to a lack of battery juice. In addition to the heating, this also includes the seat heating, rear window heating and the blower. Before starting in winter, all consumers such as the low beam, radio or seat heating should therefore be deactivated. It can also be problematic if you accidentally leave the lights or radio on, if the car does not automatically switch off consumers when you switch it off.

The battery can be brought to life by starting aid, in which the battery receives a current pulse from the starter battery of another vehicle, which is enough to start the engine. Or by charging with a battery charger, which on the other hand takes a few hours. It is faster with a start booster. These are small devices, usually no larger than a bar of chocolate, which are a practical alternative to the jumper cable. Such a compact quick-charging system is available from $40. However, if the battery is defective, only replacement will help. If you want to check the charge status of your battery, you can do this with a voltage measuring device.

The battery can also be charged by an alternator that is no longer working properly. This charges the car battery as soon as the engine is started and also supplies other electrical consumers. If it is no longer possible to charge properly and on time, consumers lack power and the battery quickly runs out. If a new battery is constantly discharged and cannot be properly charged, this can be a sign of a defective alternator. The same applies if the car starts poorly and several attempts are required.

Defective starter motor

Does the CR-V not start despite a new battery and a functioning alternator? A faulty starter can then be the reason for this. In combination with the battery, this ensures that the engine can start. If only one of the two parts is defective, not much will work. But if you pay attention, you can perceive the symptoms early and react to them. Because in the rarest of cases the starter loses its functionality immediately, as a rule the wear becomes noticeable little by little. For example with clacking noises. Another sign of this is that the starter is responding, but the engine is not. With a broken starter, it takes several starts before the engine starts. Until then, nothing works anymore.

Power supply interrupted

If the Honda CR-V no longer starts and you don’t notice any noise or lights on the dashboard when starting, there may be a problem with the electrical system. The same signs can apply to a deeply discharged battery, so this should be ruled out first. If the electrical system malfunctions, a blown main fuse can prevent electricity from flowing. Defective or oxidizing cables are also sufficient for this. A marten’s sharp teeth can also interrupt the power supply. Damage to cables or wires can sometimes be discovered by looking under the bonnet. If loose cables can be seen here, this can already point to the culprit. If the engine does not respond at all when trying to start, it may also be due to a defective ignition. This cause can be checked by yourself, but should be left to the specialist if you have never dared to do so. This can then also check whether it is not the distributor or the ignition coil.

Defective ignition electronics

Another cause can be a defective ignition lock or defective ignition electronics. This defect can be seen if there is no reaction from the engine compartment when the ignition key is turned, but the interior lighting and the radio work as usual. Cars with a start button like in the case of Honda CR-V that do not have a classic ignition lock can experience similar problems due to a defect in the chip installed in the key. This problem can only be remedied by replacing the ignition lock or the defective key or the chip card in it. Hand repairs to the ignition lock are not recommended as some basic knowledge of vehicle electrics is required.

Defective spark plugs

However, if all familiar noises can be heard during the ignition process, the fault may be in the spark plugs or the fuel pump. Then the engine tries to start but fails because the fuel pump does not deliver fuel to the combustion chamber or the ignition spark for the required combustion is missing. In this case, the car should be taken to a workshop.

Defective spark plugs are one of the most common causes of starting difficulties or that the car goes out while driving. A single defective candle is enough to stop the car from starting. Regularly changing the spark plugs is very important for the gasoline engine to function properly. On average, spark plugs should be replaced every 30,000 to 60,000 kilometers. But there are also spark plugs that last much longer at up to 100,000 kilometers. If the spark plugs are defective, this can usually be noticed quickly. A jerky car, a changed engine running, increased consumption or misfiring are all indications of this. Misfiring can lead to unburned fuel (watch out for the smell of petrol) in the catalytic converter and destroy it. Therefore, the cause of this should be investigated as quickly as possible and the spark plugs replaced if necessary. The spark plug can be changed quickly and easily by the way.

Symptoms and the fix

Car does not start / needs several attempts, no reaction from the engine:

• Tank empty: refuel.
• Battery empty: give jump start, change battery if necessary.
• Replace the alternator.

The car does not start, but the lights do work:

• Ignition electronics defective: workshop.
• Spark plugs defective: workshop.
• Fuel pump defective: workshop.

Car does not start, starter turns / clacking noises:

• Starter defective: workshop. Change starter.