Hi,

I have a 2017 Honda Fit Ex that I’ve owned since 2021. It recently turned over 100k miles. I started noticing it was a bit slow to start, especially in cold weather. I thought the battery was the culprit, so I purchased and installed a brand new battery.

Then, I started getting no starts. When I put the key in the ignition, the dash lights and accessories come on, headlights come on, etc. however, the car won’t start. I can hear a weird screeching noise, which is coming from one of the relays (I think it is the starter cutoff relay). It definitely is not a clicking noise; there are also no other noises coming from the engine bay.

The question is— Is this a symptom of a bad starter? I’ve tried a number of other culprits (battery terminals, leads, clutch safety switch, swapping relays, etc) but I still get no start and this weird dying screeching noise from that one relay.

Thanks for your help!

 

Welcome. I believe that the electrical circuit of the pushbutton start Fits is poorly designed, and not buffered properly at startup.

As a result, both starters and start switches are prone to premature failure. When one goes, it's often ascribed to the other. You can search this subforum for details.

According to some recent posts, Honda is goodwilling the start switch, but not the starter.

Either way, I'd contact Honda corporate before proceeding further. If they will goodwill the start switch, at least it's something toward the repair.

 

Thanks but it isn’t a pushbutton, it’s a key start. That’s good to know that starter issues are a known problem to Honda corporate.

 

Most likely it's the Starter.

My 2015 EX Push Start most likely has the same problem of your Key Start problem.

My Push Start button was repaired in the Push Start debacle of a few years ago.

My Fit doesn't start on the first push of the start button every time. Every other time or two I have to double tap the start button and my Fit starts right up.

I recently explained this issue to my local Honda Dealer. The service tech told me it's the Starter.

I'm just under 100,000 miles. According to a Google search Honda Fit Starters tend to need replacing around 100,000 miles.

 

key start, no start at 67000 kms. some clicking.....starter replaced ,problem solved. NO WEIRD screeching noise. that MIGHT, MIGHT,be the solenoid trying to engage,basically i think the solenoid goes bad and there is about 100 different ways to die because each failure is unique (the way the copper arcs, burns,etc) MAYBE try giviing the one wire to the solenoid 12 V....good luck with that though, itsreally tight space.

i reread your post........where is this "starter cutoff relay"....whatever that is?......the thing on the starer is more of a "starter starting relay" picture?

 

You sure you have an EX? Only the LX were key start in the US.

 

In the US, the Fit has the following:

LX = key start
EX = pushbutton start
EX-L = pushbutton start

Did you basically swapped out your EX pushbutton start and put in the LX key start somehow? Else, if you have key start and you are sure your battery has plenty of juice, I would assume your starter has an issue.

 

Not possible.

 

he might be CAD...i swear i bought one up from base model and its key start

 

try this old mechanics trick and hit the starter with a wrench or hammer, doesn't need to be hard just a few light taps. If it starts up fine after that then it is the starter going bad.
To test the starter relay disconnect the hot wire running to the starter and proceed as if starting like normal. Listen to the relay it should just click. Can also put a volt meter on it too.