Juan_Mitosis

Ok I have a 94 del Sol VTEC. Recently it started randomly sputtering, like hiccuping, accompanied by main relay clicking. With each click, the vehicle would lose all power, for a very brief moment, and return. The clicking was random, happening at different scenarios. idle + under throttle. After a few series of clicks, the car apparently would be fed up and issue the lovely no code CEL, along with LIMP mode. This would go away almost immediately if I turn off the car and start it again, no limp, no CEL. But of course in a few minutes, some more clicking and boom again.

I have read TONS of pages about main relay issues, and did the soldering and everything. The reason why this is weirding me out, its because I already had these symptoms in the past. I changed the main relay, and they where gone. But this was about 1 year ago at the most, can a Main Relay be faulty again so quickly? Or could something else be causing the main relay symptom?

Already tried re-soldering. Same issue, same symptoms.

Also, how can you bypass the main relay? I've seen it done by connecting some parts of the plug with others directly with a cable. . . anyways, thanks in advanced!!!

Vindicator9000

There are a lot of factors at play here... It really sounds to me like classic main relay problems. I don't mean any offense here about your soldering skills or anything, but do you have a lot of experience soldering circuit boards? It's quite a bit different that putting stereo wires together or something, and it's a lot more touchy.

Lots of people assume you can just fire up the soldering iron and gloop some more junk on it (I know, I thought that for awhile), but that just masks the problem for awhile or makes it worse.

If you don't get the solder joint perfect, it'll start doing it again quick. Did you use solder paste? you didn't oversolder? Did you remove all the old solder, or just try to heat it up again?

I'm not picking on you, I've just seen a lot of crap solder jobs cause this sort of thing, and I'd like to rule that out, because it's the most obvious cause I can see.

Also:
Did you replace it with a new main relay, or a junkyard one? I keep a pile of junkyard main relays just for this reason... because you never know the condition of the one you're grabbing. If you got one new, was it OEM or aftermarket?

It's totally not unheard of for one to fail that quickly. It happens.

Vindicator9000

Just thought of something else off the wall:

How's your battery/accessories? They working good? I know that when my battery starts going out, I start to get weird main relay noises. If it's happening while you're driving, I might suspect alternator is not charging properly.

Juan_Mitosis

Thanks for your reply, and the detail involved! I just did a main relay bench test on this site http://techauto.awardspace.com/mainrelay.html

it seems that when powering through certain pins, all the main relay components would 'click' like they were supposed to ( checking for continuity). According to that test, the main relay is fine ( won't swear by this, just stating according to what I read). I also read at some other post on this site while doing extensive searching, that it could be a ground issue. I removed, sanded, and torqued back the thermostat ground, the valve cover ground, and the transmission ground. Problem is still there ( the ground problem had been stated as a solution at that other post. Also, I bought it new. Are there any other ways to test the main relay so that I don't have to fork over $40-60 for a new one before being entirely sure it's the culprit. Thanks in advanced again!


BTW, no oversoldering, entirely removed old solder before adding new, followed some online manual as to how it's supposed to look like when done correctly, but anyways the relay seems to be fine according to the bench test.

Vindicator9000

hmm... It still could be relay. Have you tried heating it up a bit and testing it? Sometimes they act completely fine, but then start acting strange when they warm up or cool down.

I'd try warming it up to like 90 degrees with a hairdryer or something, then try continuity testing it again.

Also might try testing your alternator. I think autozone or similar places will do it for free.

rcharr2k9

Just to give you a heads up, I also had this problem with my 94 del sol VTEC recently.
I replaced the main relay w/a new one, OEM, and it solved the problem for about 2 weeks or so, then started again. Replaced the main relay again, with a tested and verified GOOD used one, from a running car, same exact problemwithin 24 hrs that time.
Cleaned ALL, and I do mean ALL grounds on the car. Even replaced battery terminals, ignitor, coil, did a tune up in the process, but nothing worked. Finally, I narrowed it down with the help of some great guys here on the forum.
Try swapping out your ECU with a known good one. Solved my problem, and my car has never run better.
Just a suggestion from a fellow Sol owner!

Juan_Mitosis

Another thing I just noticed. I was driving it today and after some driving time it started acting up again, until I got the CEL and limp mode. I shut off the car, almost inmediately turned it back on, and it was all gone and it didn't return for the rest of the drive ( maybe 10 min) Should I still buy a new main relay or do some other troubleshooting?

rcharr2k9

Definately do more troubleshooting!! Don't do like I did and just start throwing new parts at it in desperation!!
If you have a spare ecu available to you, just swap them out, and see if that's the culprit.

Amccowan

Did you ever figure out what the issue was?

Former User

Create your own thread rather than bump an old one. Also add car information and problem details.