Honda Car Forum

My friend's Honda civic won't start when it hot outside. He believes
the main relay is not closing (no clicking) when this happens. He
removed the relay and we checked it on the bench. It closes reliably
with 12 volts even after baking in the oven a while. The solder
connections look find but we retouched them anyway. He's putting it
back to see. I expect the problem will return and the relay seems
solid.

When he has the problem, it seems that there isn't even a sputter.
Completely dead. If he lets it set a while it starts okay then. He
believes the main relay doesn't click and fuel pump doesn't do the usual
start up noise. I'd check for fuel pressure on the rail, but there
isn't any access port. Is there an easy way to check this?

I've read elsewhere that the ignitor can be a problem. Someone else said
try a new reluctor. However the problem seems to relate to outside
temperature, not to under hood temperature. I was thinking a crank pos
sensor. We have no diagnostic tools to check these things.

I guess I should also mention it is cranking nicely, just not starting
or even stuttering. If it starts, it runs just fine.

He's worked the ignition key when this happens, so we don't think the
ign switch is bad.

Are there any other common issues with this model that cause it to not
start when the cabin of the car is hot?

Just the main relay failing
Steve
"John" <john@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:4112A6F2.12CB3981@nospam.net...
> My friend's Honda civic won't start when it hot outside. He believes
> the main relay is not closing (no clicking) when this happens. He
> removed the relay and we checked it on the bench. It closes reliably
> with 12 volts even after baking in the oven a while. The solder
> connections look find but we retouched them anyway. He's putting it
> back to see. I expect the problem will return and the relay seems
> solid.
>
> When he has the problem, it seems that there isn't even a sputter.
> Completely dead. If he lets it set a while it starts okay then. He
> believes the main relay doesn't click and fuel pump doesn't do the usual
> start up noise. I'd check for fuel pressure on the rail, but there
> isn't any access port. Is there an easy way to check this?
>
> I've read elsewhere that the ignitor can be a problem. Someone else said
> try a new reluctor. However the problem seems to relate to outside
> temperature, not to under hood temperature. I was thinking a crank pos
> sensor. We have no diagnostic tools to check these things.
>
> I guess I should also mention it is cranking nicely, just not starting
> or even stuttering. If it starts, it runs just fine.
>
> He's worked the ignition key when this happens, so we don't think the
> ign switch is bad.
>
> Are there any other common issues with this model that cause it to not
> start when the cabin of the car is hot?
>

go to any electronics store and buy an can of "cold spray". when the
car won't start when its hot, give the main relay a good spray of this
stuff. thats how i confirmed my main relay was bad.


On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 05:20:20 GMT, "Steve Hansen" <hansen@hotttt.com>
wrote:

>Just the main relay failing
>Steve
>"John" <john@nospam.net> wrote in message
>news:4112A6F2.12CB3981@nospam.net...
>> My friend's Honda civic won't start when it hot outside. He believes
>> the main relay is not closing (no clicking) when this happens. He
>> removed the relay and we checked it on the bench. It closes reliably
>> with 12 volts even after baking in the oven a while. The solder
>> connections look find but we retouched them anyway. He's putting it
>> back to see. I expect the problem will return and the relay seems
>> solid.
>>
>> When he has the problem, it seems that there isn't even a sputter.
>> Completely dead. If he lets it set a while it starts okay then. He
>> believes the main relay doesn't click and fuel pump doesn't do the usual
>> start up noise. I'd check for fuel pressure on the rail, but there
>> isn't any access port. Is there an easy way to check this?
>>
>> I've read elsewhere that the ignitor can be a problem. Someone else said
>> try a new reluctor. However the problem seems to relate to outside
>> temperature, not to under hood temperature. I was thinking a crank pos
>> sensor. We have no diagnostic tools to check these things.
>>
>> I guess I should also mention it is cranking nicely, just not starting
>> or even stuttering. If it starts, it runs just fine.
>>
>> He's worked the ignition key when this happens, so we don't think the
>> ign switch is bad.
>>
>> Are there any other common issues with this model that cause it to not
>> start when the cabin of the car is hot?
>>
>
>