Honda Car Forum

i have a 90 civic lx that has 2100000 miles on it but now that it is summer
it will not start sometimes some one told me to replace the main relay so i
did but i still have a starting problem can anyone help please?

On Mon, 02 Aug 2004 18:05:13 -0400, "jake4710" <browns4710@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>i have a 90 civic lx that has 2100000 miles on it

Are you sure you have the right number of zeros there? :-)

>but now that it is summer
>it will not start sometimes some one told me to replace the main relay so i
>did but i still have a starting problem can anyone help please?

Not start how? Does the starter turn the engine over?
Can you hear the fuel pump run?

Might be the ignition switch. Had the same problem with a 01 Prelude.
"jake4710" <browns4710@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:2dc1fc4a5776c2265101002ed6ea5e76@localhost.ta lkaboutautos.com...
> i have a 90 civic lx that has 2100000 miles on it but now that it is
summer
> it will not start sometimes some one told me to replace the main relay so
i
> did but i still have a starting problem can anyone help please?
>

sometimes the main relay will click and the engine will turn over just
wont start

On Mon, 02 Aug 2004 23:00:45 -0400, "jake4710" <browns4710@yahoo.com>
wrote:

> sometimes the main relay will click and the engine will turn over just
>wont start

Do you hear the fuel pump run when the ignition is turned on, before
you try the starter?You should hear it whirring behind you between the
time you turn the key to the on position and the time you hear the
relay click.

jake4710 wrote:

> i have a 90 civic lx that has 2100000 miles on it

2.1 million, really?

Im having the same problems with my 93 del sol. it runs great 98% of the
time and then wont start out of no where. its usually when its cold.
from reading on the net about the problems it seems like alot of people
seem to think its the main relay or the ignition switch. so thats what Im
checking on mine to see if it works. keep in touch and let me know what
happens with yours and Ill do the same.

Gothkitty67 wrote:
> Im having the same problems with my 93 del sol. it runs great 98% of the
> time and then wont start out of no where. its usually when its cold.
> from reading on the net about the problems it seems like alot of people
> seem to think its the main relay or the ignition switch. so thats what Im
> checking on mine to see if it works. keep in touch and let me know what
> happens with yours and Ill do the same.
>

======================

If you turn the key to position II, but don't hear the fuel pump run for
a second or two, try smacking the dash, on the LEFT side of the speedo
cluster. If you hear the fuel pump run then, it's 99% sure that your
relay needs to be soldered / replaced. Your car will now start, and you
can drive your car like that, BTW, because the vibration of the car will
keep it running, but you should get it fixed ASAP.

'Curly'

motsco_ _" <"motsco_ _ wrote:
> Gothkitty67 wrote:
>> Im having the same problems with my 93 del sol. it runs great 98%
>> of the time and then wont start out of no where. its usually when
>> its cold. from reading on the net about the problems it seems like
>> alot of people seem to think its the main relay or the ignition
>> switch. so thats what Im checking on mine to see if it works. keep
>> in touch and let me know what happens with yours and Ill do the
>> same.
>>
>
> ======================
>
> If you turn the key to position II, but don't hear the fuel pump run
> for
> a second or two,{***} try smacking the dash, on the LEFT side of the
speedo
> cluster. If you hear the fuel pump run then, it's 99% sure that your
> relay needs to be soldered / replaced. Your car will now start, and
> you
> can drive your car like that, BTW, because the vibration of the car
> will keep it running, but you should get it fixed ASAP.

'Curly',

At the point where I placed {***} as a marker, it would be worth
interjecting "turn the key to position I (engine off) then again
turn the key to II and simultaneously thump the dash as above."

The reason for this is that the initial relay signal turns off after
the two seconds worth of 'priming' and thumping the panel
later than this won't get the pump running.


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Jake,

I had the starting problem with my Civic 90-Lx that you have and I fixed
it.

Sources of problems can be:
1. distributor failure (it fails to send sparks to the engine)
2. Alternator.

For (1), if you do not have sparks.
you can remove the igniter inside the distributor and test
it. ( I took it to AutoZone for a free test and replaced
the igniter and the car started right up).

If it is not (1), you may want to have your alternator tested. Good Luck.

Tom