Master Mechanics step inside-no crank no start 98 Civic (random)

[muddywings]

Unless there is something corroded or broken, you can't tell what a circuit is doing just by looking at it. Get a meter and see what you're getting at the starter and go from there.

Not sure what they did for you at the parts store, but is there any to see what kind of test they ran and what they got for readings?

O'Reilly has "techs"?

The problem has been the randomness of the issue. In the past 3-4 months it has only happened a handful of times. Then even without moving the car the problem goes away.
ie: problem in the morning in my garage but gone in the afternoon. or, problem when trying to leave work but after I bump it and get home or to a store/shop the problem doesn't duplicate. That is what my 'honda guy' had a problem with. They can't test or trouble shoot for a problem that isn't currently happening. I might be able to find a connect that has a lot of resistance but I don't have the resources of knowledge to test to that level.
For me, the car is unreliable for anything other than driving to/from work.

The test at O'Reilly was with some pretty big machine (kinda like a super OBDII reader) but it was hooked to the battery. beyond that, I don't know what it was.

[Graves]

The problem has been the randomness of the issue. In the past 3-4 months it has only happened a handful of times. Then even without moving the car the problem goes away.
ie: problem in the morning in my garage but gone in the afternoon. or, problem when trying to leave work but after I bump it and get home or to a store/shop the problem doesn't duplicate. That is what my 'honda guy' had a problem with. They can't test or trouble shoot for a problem that isn't currently happening. I might be able to find a connect that has a lot of resistance but I don't have the resources of knowledge to test to that level.
For me, the car is unreliable for anything other than driving to/from work.

The test at O'Reilly was with some pretty big machine (kinda like a super OBDII reader) but it was hooked to the battery. beyond that, I don't know what it was.

Meters are good for spotting "randomness".
Im guessing they only did a starter draw, that won't tell you what kind of resistance...er...random problems you may have between the battery/starter/relay/ignition cylinder.

[muddywings]

Meters are good for spotting "randomness".
Im guessing they only did a starter draw, that won't tell you what kind of resistance...er...random problems you may have between the battery/starter/relay/ignition cylinder.

Bit over my head. They hooked up their fancy duddad and said it was good. Granted, I know it was O'Reilly people but I'm less knowledgeable than them.