91civicEX

recently swapped the tranny on my mini me obd1 civic. if i floor it in first from idle it will bog bad at 5500 rpm(like fuel cut) if i floor it gradually or from 3000 it usually wont do it. when i shift to second HARD my car will either bog hard(like fuel cut) or just shut off. if it bogs hard letting of the gas, then getting back on it will bring it back and i can take 2nd to redline. if it shuts off it throws a code 16 and wont start back up untill i reset the ecu. not too long ago i blew my ecu fuse after stomping on the gas. all my problems are at WOT so my o2 is not bad. i think its the main relay going bad. can a bad main relay cause a fuse to blow? my car still starts and the fuel pump runs. im pretty sure its not the fuel filter because i had the car on the highway 80mph at about 3750rpm and i had not problems. anyone have any similar experiences?

Perfectionist

The code 16 will set if there is a break in the electrical circuit for the injectors, no matter how brief. This circuit is made up of at least a fuse, the ignition switch, main relay, injector resistors (if applicable), injector coils, and the wiring in between all those components. BTW, the +12 volts flows through the injectors and the ECU completes the ground path to trigger them. (Just in case you weren't aware.)

As for blowing fuses, I would think you've got a chafed or pinched wire somewhere that's shorting to ground. The main relay itself shouldn't cause that. The typical relay failure is due to hairline cracks in the solder joints that open with thermal expansion.
Happy hunting.

91civicEX

the thing is it only happens at WOT. when i wiglle the injector wires around it wont cause any misses at idle.

91civicEX

fuel presure regulator?

Lo-Buck EF

i think every ef chassis throws 16's. mine threw 16s through the ecu, but w/o check engine. the only reason it stopped is when i changed the ecu. the problem is a bad injector ground most of the time. tho.

-spenc

91civicEX

injector ground is in the the injector resistor box? or the ecu?

91civicEX

today the car bucks hard in 1st but doesnt shut off in 2nd. still only throwing code 16. now when the car warms up and i shut it off it will not restart unless i reset the ecu and let it sit.

edit: i dont think its the main relay. i pulled it out and was driving with it on my knee so i could feel the clicks. when the car wont start the relay still clicks on and off. anyone ever have a bad fuel pump? that could also throw code 16 right?


Modified by 91civicLX at 1:53 PM 12/17/2003

Perfectionist

The main relay has two sections to it. One half powers the injectors, the other half powers the fuel pump. Just because it clicks doesn't mean it is making contact as the coil could be energized, but the contacts part of it could have bad solder joints.

91civicEX

so if i put in a known good main relay tomorow and it stil has the same problems where is the next place to check.

91civicEX

bump

91civicEX

fuel pressure regulator?

91civicEX

replacing the fuel filter today because i need a new one anyway. would a bad fuel pump through code 16? checked all the main relay connections and theyre good.

Perfectionist

No. See my previous post describing the circuit path for the code 16.

91civicEX

fixed it today i think. i just decided to do a tune up. change my old alternator pulley back from the aem one. changed tranny fluid. and changed fuel filter. i think it was the fuel filter causing trouble. when i turned it upside down the gas that came out was disgusting. after i drove home from auto tech the problem wasnt there. more testing to come.

philly-O

when i was getting code 16 during the hot summer i pulled apart the main relay and resoldered all solder connections. havent had a problem since.