I have a 2015 Fit and for several months I’ve been seeing the wifi/key light and then the Starter System light. It has intermittent starting issues.

Around the time the starter system light came on I had an Alpine stereo installed. My recollection is the starter system light appeared beforehand. Not sure.

The dealer has replaced the starter button and updated the ECM and is now blaming either my after market key fob or the stereo. I have determined the Honda fob is not 100% reliable either. They did not test this adequately. They sold me a fob though.

The dealer has not indicated they checked the fuses, as I’ve read about on other threads. They have not suggested it could be the starter. The wifi/key light no longer appears.

Could the stereo be the issue? Replace the starter? Is there a graphic that shows specifically what fuses to check, add or replace?

Thank you.

 

Welcome. I've long suspected that on the pushbutton start Fits, the circuit design is inadequate to buffer the load at startup. As a result, both the start switch and the starter are prone to premature failure.

When one goes, it's often ascribed to the other, and a merry game of diagnosis roulette emerges.

Since you've already had the start switch replaced, my guess is that the starter is now going.

Honda has recently started goodwilling the start switch, but not the starter. You might want to check with Honda corporate if you had to pay out of pocket for the start switch. They might just say no, but worth a shot.

Honestly, I don't think your aftermarket stereo has anything to do with the starting issues. We've known about the bad starters and start switches for a long time. Apparently this dealer hasn't.

 

They blamed the after market fob and sent me home. I expect if I took it back they’d recommend the old radio (horrible) and/or a starter. I’d have another mechanic do the starter. They did comp the button and follow up troubleshooting.

 

My trusted Chicago mechanic will replace the starter for 470.

 

New starter, new button, new fob and I still have intermittent starter system issues.

The mechanic reported my battery was weak. It’s brand new. I took it to the shop where Is bought it. They tested it and it was good there. Could the battery be the issue?

There’s a newer after market stereo. I’d hate to think this is the problem. The Honda rep called it out. In an earlier reply it was doubtful this was the issue. Thoughts?

I’ve seen fuse related suggestions and that hasn’t been taken up. An opportunity?

Recommendations on mechanics near Kenosha Wisconsin?

Thanks for the support!

 

If you're still running the original 151R battery - whether it's the original or a replacement - you might want to upgrade to a 51R.

The 51R has a lot more cranking power than the 151R, and still fits in the OEM tray. It might be the difference between catching and not catching.

Got mine at Costco a couple years ago for right around $80. Immediately noticed that the engine started much faster than before.

One other idea: If the aftermarket stereo is really suspected to be the issue, disconnect the power to it and see if it changes anything. If it doesn't, it's not the problem.

 

It literally cant be the stereo...i am going to do the 51r battery replacement but i hear the terminals might need a copper shim(beat down 18 awg wire?) to work...HOWZ the battery connection...tight?,clean? (unscrew it)
usually a fuse is a 1 or a zero..possible corrosion could make that a .75 but its a remote possibility its a fuse if everything else works.....probably not a bad ground either (wait 25 years for that fun..eg my 1997 prelude)

 

I upgraded the battery on my 2018 Fit last summer to the 51R and the posts clamped down as is with no problems. My new one was a Costco battery. Post size might vary a bit for different retailers/manufacturers so I suppose it's possible you might have to shim.. I've upgraded the battery size on almost every car I have ever owned and have never come across a need to shim.

 

I did have a loose and dirty terminal situation, I cleaned them up and tightened things down, but still getting the starter system issue every 4-10 starts, after replacing the starter, push button and battery.

The 51r is a bit bigger, but other posters have indicated it fits in the tray. It's half an inch taller, does the stock bracket accommodate it? Any other fit issues to be aware of?

Ken