donotemailme@ekkinc.com (EKK) wrote in
news:e4975540.0403021119.654b400a@posting.google.c om:

> I have a 99 Honda Civic with just under 90K miles on it that won't
> start. This first happened on Sunday morning - it started fine but
> when it reached idling speed, it quickly died. Ran for 1-2 seconds at
> the most. Now it doesn't start at all, and when I turn the key it
> sounds like the starter is fine, maybe running a little faster /
> louder than before.
>
> I've heard and read about a lot of different things it could be. My
> first thought was the fuel pump. I have never changed the fuel
> filter, because it doesn't appear in the manual's maintenance
> schedule, which I thought was a little bizarre. My inexperienced mind
> thought that a clogged fuel filter would put undue stress on the fuel
> pump, so it's got to be the pump right? I took the fuel filler cap
> off, and listened for the fuel pump to turn on while my wife turned
> the ignition, and I couldn't hear anything except the starter. Of
> course, I'm not sure what the fuel pump would sound like if it was
> actually running though.
>
> So I almost went out and picked up a fuel pump and filter, but I
> decided I'd call a few mechanics first. The first one told me he
> doubted it was the fuel pump. He thought it was the timing belt.
> Another mechanic that I've trusted for years told me the same thing,
> but he said it could also be the distributor cap / rotor. Today I
> called a dealer and they said (first, that they doubted it was the
> timing belt at 90K miles - good thing, I've heard a lot of horror
> stories about timing belts breaking on interference type engines). He
> told me to try checking the distributor cap for moisture. I plan on
> doing that tonight.
>
> Any thoughts on what else to check?

Main relay;this turns on the fuel pump to maintain fuel pressure for the
EFI.

How-to;
http://www.markl.f9.co.uk/howto/elec...main-relay.htm

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik-at-kua.net