NHTSA Complaint #11280317 — 2013 HONDA ACCORD

ALONG SEVERAL OTHERS, I BEGAN HAVING THE INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEMS ON MY 2013 2.4 L ACCORD AT AROUND 60,000 MILES. THIS TYPE OF STARTER USES A SOLENOID TO MOVE THE STARTER MOTOR'S PINION GEAR FORWARD TO MESH WITH THE FLYWHEEL'S RING GEAR WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY PULLING THE PLUNGER AND ITS COPPER CONTACT DISC ONTO THE BATTERY CONTACT AND THE STARTER MOTOR CONTACT TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT FROM THE BATTERY TO THE STARTER MOTOR. WHEN FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, TURNING THE IGNITION KEY OR STARTER BUTTON SHOULD MESH STARTER'S PINION GEAR WITH THE FLYWHEEL AND TURN THE STARTER MOTOR TO CRANK THE ENGINE. THE PROBLEM WITH THESE STARTERS IS THAT THE BATTERY-SIDE CONTACT AND THE BATTERY-SIDE OF THE PLUNGER CONTACT ERODE EXCESSIVELY DUE TO ARCING AND CONSEQUENT PITTING. THIS INTERMITTENTLY PREVENTS THE PLUNGER'S CONTACT FROM CONTACTING THE BATTERY-SIDE CONTACT TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE BATTERY AND STARTER MOTOR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE PINION GEAR MESHES WITH THE FLYWHEEL BUT THE STARTER MOTOR DOESN'T TURN. NOTE THAT THE PINION GEAR ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING THE FLYWHEEL IS THE CLICKING SOUND HEARD FROM UNDER THE CAR DURING A FAILED START. THIS PROBLEM WAS FIXED BY REPLACING THE CONTACTS WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN HONDA BRUSH HOLDER (HONDA PART NUMBER: 31210-5A2-A01) WHICH COST ME $45 AT MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER. I BELIEVE 2013 THROUGH 2017 2.4 L ACCORDS USE THIS PART WHICH SUGGESTS THAT THEY WILL, OR ARE, EXPERIENCING THE INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEM. ONE WOULD THINK HONDA WOULD HAVE HAD A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.