2008 Honda Accord Starting problem

blueskypy

This happens randomly about once every few days.

It could be starting and running all fine, and I turn it off. After short period of time, say 10 minutes, I try to turn it on, but it does not start: the meter panel is on after the key is plugged in, then I step on the pedal and turn the key to the end, the meter panel becomes off and nothing happens, there is no any sound. If I remove the key and wait for 5 minutes, the meter panel will back on, but still nothing happens if I try to start it again.

However, if I open the hood and loosen the screw fastening the wires to the terminal of the battery and then, without doing anything else, just put the screw back on the pole, the car will start fine. Most of the time, I only need to do this to the positive pole of the battery, but sometimes I have to do this to both poles.

I don't know if this is due to battery corrosion. The battery is indeed four years old, but most of the times this happens, there is no white or blue powders on the terminals.

Any suggestion on how to fix this?

Thank you so much!

thecardoc3

Battery terminal problems can definitely cause starting issues but without testing before you do anything else you don't actually know if you are making a difference or not. What you can do is get a 12-volt test light. Practice connecting it to the battery terminals, the battery cable clamps, and the opposite ends of the battery cables. Then when the car acts up use the test light to see where you have power and where you don't. Once you have truly identified the exact location of the problem, then we can talk about how to fix it.