Pushbutton start can’t always be counted on

Honda dealership best bet for solution

DEAR CAR TALK: I own a 2013 Honda Accord. It came with a pushbutton start. I put my foot on the brake pedal and push firmly, and sometimes it starts and sometimes it doesn’t. When it doesn’t — at least half the time — I get a static-sounding noise. This has been going on for approximately a year now. At first, I felt it had something to do with the brake pedal (where on the pedal I pushed). Sometimes the pedal was a bit mushy, and I had better results if I pumped the pedal until I got firm resistance. It got to where this didn’t help, so I moved my finger around the button from the center to all the edges. Currently, this is my method. I’ve tried two respected local mechanic shops, and both said they couldn’t find anything wrong. The Honda dealership says they have never heard of such an issue. — Paul

I don’t believe the brakes or your finger position has anything to do with it, Paul. Whatever it is, though, the dealer is your best bet.

If anyone has seen this on multiple cars and knows what’s causing it, it’ll be the dealer — who services 2013 Accords every day. And since I presume it’s still under warranty — certainly, the problem began while the car was under warranty — they should fix it for you.

So make an appointment with them. Make sure that the service representative writes on the repair order exactly what the problem is. That’ll protect you in case they can’t fix it this time and you still have the problem after the warranty coverage expires. And if you can get them to experience the nonstarting condition with you there, that’s even better.

It could be any number of things: a bad starter, a battery with a bad cell, a faulty brake-pedal interlock or neutral safety switch, or a physical problem with the pushbutton switch. Or it could be that the key fob is not communicating correctly with the immobilizer in the car.

Your dealer needs to figure it out. It’s Honda’s responsibility, under its warranty, and you just need to insist that they give you a solution.

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