bywaters

I am having trouble with my 1988 Honda CRX 1.6l SI. It seems to be getting worse & worse. When I turn the key I can hear the solenoid clicking. It will click a few times, and eventually it will turn over 7 start just fine. I replaced the starter & solenoid yesterday & the problem still remains.

I found a simlar post that talked about replacing the "starter relay". I called an auto store and they don't carry a starter relay. Is there a starter relay on this car?

How do I check the clutch switch? ignition switch?

Any ideas would be helpful!!

I checked the battery, plus had it load tested yesterday. The battery & alternator seem to be working fine. All battery connections seem to be good too. Thanks guys

DTA-Zombie

double check connections - I'd look at some grounds and the signal wire...you press the clutch to start it right? try in neutral without the clutch engaged (unless you have the neutral safety switch)

93formula

88 wont have the safety switch...yeah id make sure you got good clean connections as well, and well you replaced the starter so that would have been my first guess at your symptoms you mentioned...are the battery terminals good and tight?

bywaters

All the connections look clean & they are tight. I'm headed to the auto store right now to turn in my starter core. They printed out an electrical diagram for me.

I'll see if it will crank in neutral w/o holding in the clutch...

93formula

whens the last tune up etc done on the car? unless it still does the click thing then nevermind, but if it cranks fine then maybe its just time for a tune up?

sanimalp

are you hearing the starter relay click? or the main relay click? they are both together under the dash, maybe 6 inches apart at most. the main relay will click if your battery does not have enough amperage to drive all the electronics in the car, or if it is going bad and can't sustain the current load required.. and your starter relay will click if your non existant clutch switch is going bad (reference for 89+ people) or if your battery is not carrying enough amperage to start the car.

your main relay can be taken out, soldered for repair and put back in, which if you own a soldering iron and some solder, you could easily do yourself even if you havent done anything like that before. The starter relay can be pulled out and you can clean the contacts on it to make sure there is no build up on it, and you should resistance test the starter wire and ground wires on the battery-to-starter and battery-to-chassis ground circuit. an ammeter will tell you what kind of current your battery is carrying, but that *might* have already been performed during the load test..but i would be skeptical.

bywaters

When i put the car in neutral (leave the clutch out)....it cranks right over! So it was the safety-clutch switch right? I don't think I am going to bother replacing it....i'll just start it in neutral.

I was talking to a "car guy" about this at work, and he says a manual tranny should never be started in gear anyways. The clutch loads the crankshaft...which loads the thrust bearing. This causes wear & tear on the thrust bearing.

93formula

well 88s dont have a neutral safety switch, so its not that, if it cranks fine in neutral it may be a clutch issue or clutch cable...

bywaters

Your right....it doesn't have a neutral safety switch. I always thought it did, but I was wrong. ooops!

So now i'm back at square one!

I guess I will start with sanimalp's advice & take a look at the starter relay.

I also want to check my battery again. The cold seem to contribute to my starting problem, which would mean a bad battery...

bywaters

Does anyone have a picture of these relays?

88DXCRX

(on the 1988 model only)
There is no safety switch unless it is an automatic and no relay
in the circuit.. The ignition switch directly applies 12V+ to the small male terminal
on the starter through the black/white wire.

bywaters

If the continuity of the wire checks, and the battery checks out good...

does that mean that the ignition switch is going out?

93formula

but i thought it starts just fine when its in neutral...if so then it may be a clutch or clutch cable issue when you try to start it while in gear...

bywaters

So far it has always started in neutral. It seems to be worse in the mornings. The real test will be when it is cold tomorrow morning!

How does the clutch or clutch cable tie into the starting system?

93formula

well if you have it in gear and press the clutch and it doesnt disengage properly it may make it more difficult to start, kinda like starting it in gear without pressing the clutch...but does your starter still do the click thing?

sanimalp

interesting.. didnt know that..i have 2 91's so sometimes i just assume.

In that case, i would be looking at the ignition switch and the main relay.. and also testing resistance of the main power and ground wires still..

88DXCRX

That is the schematic for the later models,On the '88 model,the center square is eliminated..the wire goes directly from the ignition switch to the starter.

In either case,You can jump the starter by hooking a wire to the small terminal
where the black/white goes and then touch it to the positive battery post..

Just make sure car is in neutral and parking brake is on
Otherwise it might start and run you over..