Not an expert, but I do have direct experience with the main relay (once
replaced), ignitor (replaced once at failure; a second time pre-emptively), and
the coil (replaced a few times, due to not using OEM).

Deduction leads me to believe the most likely causes of the no-start, in order,
are as follows:

1.
An improperly repaired main relay.

Here's what I get with my completely functional 1991 Civic LX's noises and dash
lights as I turn the key from position I to II. The top left, yellow-orange
"Check" light comes on and at the same time, I hear a dull humming noise from I
think the left rear of the car. I think that's the fuel pump motor. When the
"Check" light goes out, the humming stops.

So are you positive you're not getting this noise with the "Check" light?

How confident are you that you got the old solder off and properly re-soldered?
How confident are you of the electrical checks the Haynes manual prescribes?

Did you see the following sites when you did your Internet surfing on this
subject?

http://www3.telus.net/public/johnings/MainRelay.HTM (At the bottom, this
proposes an alternative cause to the symptoms of a failed main relay.)

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

http://techauto.tripod.com/mainrelay.htm

http://tinyurl.com/4o2tl (what I think is a good, practical description of
re-soldering the relay)

Keep checking back, of course. John Ings et al. may be lurking and have more
specific advice on this one as well as the others.

2.
Failed ignitor (inside the distributor)
http://www.markl.f9.co.uk/howto/elec...er/igniter.htm

3.
Failed distributor coil

I haven't seen many, if any, reports of early 90s honda fuel pump failures here,
so I personally wouldn't go there just yet. Of course you could groups.google
and see.

The three items above are much more common, from my reading and experience with
my 91 Civic.

"Tony Muller" <tonymullerREMOVE@earthlink.net> wrote
> (Also posted to rec.autos.makers.honda)
>
> HI All - new here, and I've learned a LOT by reading back articles for a
> few days; thanks! I've got a problem with a '90 Civic Wagon AWD.
>
> Symptoms - the car would not start when 'warm', and this started a
> couple of months ago, as the temps started to climb here in SoCal. It
> would run fine, then... after a quick stop, would refuse to start. I'd
> wait a few minutes, and almost always, it would re-start and run fine. I
> _never_ had any problems once the car was running - ran smooth, no
> 'missing', etc. SOMEtimes, the car would "try" to start - fire, and
> vroom up for a split second, then die. But woyld then "really_ start
> after a few minutes of waiting (cooling?)
>
> The other day, I did a quick errand, came out to start the car, and all
> it did was crank and crank... wouldn't start. THIS time, even after
> _several_ attemps, I had to call for a ride. Of course, the car failed
> AWAY from home (but only a mile or two) Still, I'm getting VERY tired of
> going back and forth, diagnosing and 'testing' various theories!
>
> After reading lots of great info (thanks!!) I assumed the Main Relay.
> Finally found the sucker and took it out. Resoldered and tested the
> relay per instructions in a Haynes manual, and it tests fine. All
> switches seem to swith, as tested w/12V and continuity meter.
>
> Plugged the relay back into the car - no go. Cranks like crazy, but will
> NOT start/run.
>
> So, I turn to the fuel pump. PREVIOUSLY, I _thought_ I could hear it
> whirring. Now, it doesn't seem to 'whirr' when the key is turned on-??
> Also, prior to this , there WAS the starting issue, but nothing else.
>
> Questions for you Gurus and more experienced mechanics -
>
> ? Can the Main Relay "test" OK, but still not work?
>
> ? How often do Fuel Pumps fail & do I _really_ need to remove the tank
> to get at it??
>
> ? Can the fuel pump fail 'intermittenly'? (seems like it would either
> work, or NOT work... this is - or was 'til the other day! - an
> intermitten problem.
>
> ? Could it be the Coil? There IS spark at the plugs, but I read
> somewhere this isn't fool-proof.
>
> So... do I buy a new Main Relay (I'd rather NOT spend the $60 -
> especially if I don't need to!) Do I replace the fuel pump? Help!! :-)
>
> If I can't get this fixed soon, I ned to tow the sucker home to keep
> diagnosing and testing... I fell like I'm close, but I'm hoping for some
> wisdom & advice! :-)
>
> Thanks,
> Tony
>
> PS - If you don't mind, please send replies as e-mail AND posts to the
> ng.. remember to remove spam blocker - thanks!