Honda Car Forum

What are the symptoms of a bad main relay?

On very hot days 90*F+ sometimes my 91 Integra is difficult to start. It
seems to be very random. The engine turns over with no problem, but will not
start. It sounds like it is not firing. After 5-10minutes, it will
eventually fire and the engines starts. I suspect the main relay is temp.
sensitive. I am afraid it eventually will leave me stranded.

Also, any recommendations for online parts sites to purchase a main relay
from? The dealer wants $70 for this part!!!


Thanks!!!

Sounds like it.
Got a soldering iron? Take the main relay apart and resolder the joints. -
very easy job, and better than new when finished. It's even worth going to
radioshack and buying the solder iron and solder. get a 30 watt unit.
"Bobby Creech" <bcreech61@nc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:2Zc_a.10396$mB5.708359@twister.southeast.rr.c om...
> What are the symptoms of a bad main relay?
>
> On very hot days 90*F+ sometimes my 91 Integra is difficult to start. It
> seems to be very random. The engine turns over with no problem, but will
not
> start. It sounds like it is not firing. After 5-10minutes, it will
> eventually fire and the engines starts. I suspect the main relay is
temp.
> sensitive. I am afraid it eventually will leave me stranded.
>
> Also, any recommendations for online parts sites to purchase a main relay
> from? The dealer wants $70 for this part!!!
>
>
> Thanks!!!
>
>

"Bobby Creech" <bcreech61@nc.rr.com> wrote in
news:2Zc_a.10396$mB5.708359@twister.southeast.rr.c om:

> What are the symptoms of a bad main relay?
>
> On very hot days 90*F+ sometimes my 91 Integra is difficult to start.
> It seems to be very random. The engine turns over with no problem, but
> will not start. It sounds like it is not firing. After 5-10minutes,
> it will eventually fire and the engines starts. I suspect the main
> relay is temp. sensitive. I am afraid it eventually will leave me
> stranded.
>
> Also, any recommendations for online parts sites to purchase a main
> relay from? The dealer wants $70 for this part!!!
>
>
> Thanks!!!
>
>

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

Repair it and save the money.

--
Jim Yanik,NRA member
remove null to contact me

you can't easily detect the microfractures by eye
"Vlad" <Vlad@bla.Bla.com> wrote in message
news:0ggkjv46p3f2eabk8hlrp9mo16sq48m1ed@4ax.com...
> That famous Main relay.
> The scape goat for every electrical problem on Hondas and Acuras.
> My friend had a problem with a 92 Prelude . The car wouldnºt start.
> The gas station told her " It's the main relay" .
> They disconnected the battery, install a new relay and reconnected the
> battery.
> She drove home.
> I asked her - did they give you the "defective relay"
> No-she said.
> I went to the gas station to get the relay and toke it apart. Not an
> easy job.
> Found nothing wrong with the relay.
> I believe the problem was the Alarm System that was reseted when they
> disconnected the battery.
>
> Now she has another problem . When the gas in the tank is lower then
> !/4 , the engine "miss fires".
> His this water in the tank or would that be another case for the
> famous Main Relay ?
>
> Vlad
>
> On Wed, 13 Aug 2003 03:56:46 +0000 (UTC), Jim Yanik
> <jyanik@nullkua.net> wrote:
>
> >"Bobby Creech" <bcreech61@nc.rr.com> wrote in
> >news:2Zc_a.10396$mB5.708359@twister.southeast.rr. com:
> >
> >> What are the symptoms of a bad main relay?
> >>
> >> On very hot days 90*F+ sometimes my 91 Integra is difficult to start.
> >> It seems to be very random. The engine turns over with no problem, but
> >> will not start. It sounds like it is not firing. After 5-10minutes,
> >> it will eventually fire and the engines starts. I suspect the main
> >> relay is temp. sensitive. I am afraid it eventually will leave me
> >> stranded.
> >>
> >> Also, any recommendations for online parts sites to purchase a main
> >> relay from? The dealer wants $70 for this part!!!
> >>
> >>
> >> Thanks!!!
> >>
> >>
> >
> >try this;
> >http://www.markl.f9.co.uk/howto/elec...main-relay.htm
> >
> >Repair it and save the money.
>

I will try this first. Soldering iron and solder cheaper than a
relay..................

Thanks!!

BC
"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@nullkua.net> wrote in message
news:Xns93D5F3A389DEAjyanikkuanet@204.117.192.21.. .
> "Bobby Creech" <bcreech61@nc.rr.com> wrote in
> news:2Zc_a.10396$mB5.708359@twister.southeast.rr.c om:
>
> > What are the symptoms of a bad main relay?
> >
> > On very hot days 90*F+ sometimes my 91 Integra is difficult to start.
> > It seems to be very random. The engine turns over with no problem, but
> > will not start. It sounds like it is not firing. After 5-10minutes,
> > it will eventually fire and the engines starts. I suspect the main
> > relay is temp. sensitive. I am afraid it eventually will leave me
> > stranded.
> >
> > Also, any recommendations for online parts sites to purchase a main
> > relay from? The dealer wants $70 for this part!!!
> >
> >
> > Thanks!!!
> >
> >
>
> try this;
> http://www.markl.f9.co.uk/howto/elec...main-relay.htm
>
> Repair it and save the money.
>
> --
> Jim Yanik,NRA member
> remove null to contact me

"Mikey" <%noospaam)mikling@eol.ca> wrote in
news:aFv_a.1775$5D5.1608@nntp-post.primus.ca:

> you can't easily detect the microfractures by eye


>> >try this;
>> >http://www.markl.f9.co.uk/howto/elec...main-relay.htm
>> >
>> >Repair it and save the money.
>>
>
>
>

No need to;resolder all pads and you can eliminate the relay as a problem
source.It's not that difficult or time consuming.Even a new relay can be
bad.

--
Jim Yanik,NRA member
remove null to contact me