I had a main relay go bad on my 90 civic. I pulled it apart also and it
looked fine, but it wasn't!! I replaced it with one from a salvage yard.
I got like 5 of them now for spares. If anyone needs one let me know.
nextgen2@fbs.net


"TurboJeepR" <turboJpr@intherough.net> wrote in message
news:3rlogv8ussf1q2gtl601bs7hooifcoipuf@4ax.com...
> I have an '88 Civic DX and it developed a starting problem. It cranks
> and fires up fine but immediately dies. This is intermittent (for
> now). After several tries or some wait it would start and run just
> fine.
>
> I've read about the main relay issue and pulled the relay but at first
> glance all solderings seem fine.
>
> Also when this happens when you turn the key to the ignition position
> (one before the crank position) there are no lights on the instrument
> panel. When everything is normal those check lights would stay on as
> they should with the key in this position.
>
> This makes me think that maybe it has a bad ignition switch ?!? Could
> this be the case or this could still be the Main Relay? How could I
> test and tell for sure?
>
> Thanks!