S2000 battery/wiring issue?

[BimmerM3]

A few times over the past six months or so, I'll go to start the S2000, and it acts like the battery is dead. The starter might click once, then nothing, not even interior lights. I hook up my portable battery charger, and it starts right up, then runs for awhile with no problems.

So this happened again last night, but as I popped the hood to hook up the battery charger, I noticed the headlights turned on when I popped the hood. So I'm guessing there's a loose connection somewhere.

I have noticed that one of the wires is a little loose on its terminal. I haven't tightened it up yet because I've been in a hurry when this has happened and have forgotten to go back and do it later, but would that alone be enough to keep the car from starting?

[Cookie Monster]

Yeah loose wires on the terminals can definitely cause the car to not start.

Also check your grounds to be safe.

[BimmerM3]

Word.

I suppose I should get a terminal brush to clean it off too, just in case. I might have one actually - I need to check the tools I inherited from my brother.

[MrH]

Unreliable Honda crap

[CaminoRacer]

Corroded battery cables are a pretty common puzzler.

[Rupert]

Corroded battery cable is what stranded me 100 miles from home in the Explorer in 2015. Bad starter is what stranded me in the Safeway parking lot a couple of months ago, and it started up the next day at the mechanic's.

[giant_mtb]

Throw some dielectric shmoo on there, too.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Loose cable is the culprit! It doesn't take much movement to screw things up! Tighten it down and you should be fine!

[12,000 RPM]

I have seen and had to rectify a similar issue in every Honda I've owned. I would bet soup to nuts the cable that goes from your battery to your starter is corroded to all hell. With my old Accords the ends of the cable were open, so naturally moisture and air got in and did its work. But yea, I would put money in it being that.

Another potential issue is the starter relay, though I would think Honda figured that out by now. But in warm weather the relays would stop working. Prob too cold for that to be it... but worth investigating.

[SVT_Power]

I would bet soup to nuts

???