Honda Repair: 2002 Civic doesnt start, honda civic dx, 2002 honda civic dx

Question
Hello, my 2002 Honda Civic(DX) doesn't want to start. It is strange as I started the car early on during the day to move it. My question is how do I know what is the cause of the problem? Is it the battery, the alternator, or the starter? Is there any way that I can check this on my own without a mechanic? Thank you for helping!

Answer
You can figure it out yourself. You need a voltmeter. Before you start though, check the battery cable connections. Be sure they are clean and tight. This is a common cause of cars not starting. First, check the voltage on the battery. It needs to be at least 12.5 volts. If it is not then you need to try to either take the battery out and have it charged or jumpstart it. After you get it started you need to see what the voltage is with the engine running. It should be 13.5-14.5 volts. If it is not then you might have a bad alternator. If, after charging the battery it still does not start then you probably have a problem with the starter.