ComputerJLT

ok; my car (90 civic si with d16a6) has gotten to where if the engine is at operating temp and its a warm day (west texas weather sucks) it won't start. I can watch the voltage on my turbo timer go from 11.7-12.1 to at or below 10 when i turn the key to start. I can also hear all the relays and i'm assuming the starter silenoid click on.

My question to you all is, since the car has some ricer metal radiator hoses that go right over the starter, do you think the extra heat from that is heat soaking the starter or is my starter just about dead?

mr. carpenter

main relay. i promise. located under the driver's side dash. take out the coin tray, it's a little box with a plug going to it by the door.

ComputerJLT

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mr. carpenter &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">main relay. i promise. located under the driver's side dash. take out the coin tray, it's a little box with a plug going to it by the door.</TD></TR></TABLE>

replace that or what?
does heat affect it? the car can be sitting out in the sun all day and i'll go to start it up and the interrior is hot enough to cook dinner in and the car will start; and at night it can be 60 degrees f outside and i can stop somewhere and try to start it and it won't...

mr. carpenter

i would start there. you might search because i know some people have just resoldered them. mine was pretty consistant when it went out in that it would start fine in the morning but not aftyer the heat of the day.

ComputerJLT

i'll check into it; and i'll try to put some sort of insulation between the radiator hose and the starter. at least rule those 2 things out as posible problems

EF Two.

Get in your car, turn the key and if you don't hear a click or your fuel pump turn on its your main relay.

crx_88_si

do u have email? I can send you a main relay diagnos and replace PDF file.

PM me.

Lil Red CRXsi

Besides the main relay-which might not be an issue from what you are saying.(do to the fact they act up with interior heat of the car)There might be one other possability-That would be the Ignition wiring harness.Have you ever replaced it?(The wire section that runs from the key switch to the fuse block)Honda has always had a problem with them-even back then,I had to replace mine in my Rex,not to long ago.

4drEF

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by H-Spec &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Get in your car, turn the key and if you don't hear a click or your fuel pump turn on its your main relay.</TD></TR></TABLE>





I've had a similar problem during warm days when the engine has been running for a while. I would shut down the car for getting gas or something and then find that it wouldn't restart. Everything would click like ti was supposed to. Battery was on it's way out. Voltage was find - cranking amps were LOW.

ImportHatch

Ya my car does this sometimes in a hot summer. Probably main relay.

Yager-

Honda Virgin

I was having similar problems with mine too.

for the hell of it, when the car does not start, get a screwdriver and lightly tap the starter with the butt of it. Then try to start.

It may be possible that the internals of the starter are expanding by the heat and getting stuck. A light tap will knock it loose.

This was my problem, so I just replaced the starter and it has been working fine since.

Good Luck!

ComputerJLT

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Honda Virgin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I was having similar problems with mine too.

for the hell of it, when the car does not start, get a screwdriver and lightly tap the starter with the butt of it. Then try to start.

It may be possible that the internals of the starter are expanding by the heat and getting stuck. A light tap will knock it loose.

This was my problem, so I just replaced the starter and it has been working fine since.

Good Luck!</TD></TR></TABLE>

i can beat on it with a beefy wrench and nothing;<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by crx_88_si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">do u have email? I can send you a main relay diagnos and replace PDF file.

PM me.</TD></TR></TABLE>

computerjlt@yahoo.com

i guess i'll try the main relay; i hope they're not expensive to replace

Honda Virgin

when you try to start the car by turning the key to the "Start" position, what happens. Do you hear a humming noise (your fuel pump).


When you let go of the key and let it got back to the "On" position, do you hear a click? If you do hear a click, then your main relay is still good.

you said there was a click that you assumed was the Starter Solenoid? Make sure that is the click you are hearing, and not the click from your main relay.

I would also suggest testing your starter with a volt meter. the main power wire coming from the battery should be getting 12 volts when the key is in the "On" position. The smaller wire (Female Connector) should get 12 volts when the key is turned to the "Start" Position, if it does not, then your ignition switch may be bad.

Also, double check all your ground wires and make sure that they all have good clean connections, no corrosion.

mrquimbie

Same problem here.

The main relays were never soldered right in the first place(cold solder joints). When mine started acting up I took it out and resoldered all the contacts on the back. Its very easy to do, and cheaper. I think new ones run about $40-$60. I also had to replace my ignition switch but that was a different set of symptoms. When that switch went bad I could start the car no problem but when the key turned back into the #2 start position the car would turn off.

EFSiR

I remeber reading over these honda tech pages and they suggested if I remember correctly the sensor under the distributor, coolant temp sensor or the one right next to it...

ComputerJLT

I think i've narrowed it down to shitty grounds.

i bought the car with the battery relocated in the trunk and the grounding around the engine bay is horrible at best.
I've got some 8awg wire and a ground block i'll make my own grounding kit but the car was acting fine today. It also wasn't as hot as the other day and i tightened the main ground wire to the block.

I also wired my fan to a permenant switch in the dash. I had had a light switch under the hood tapped into the main battery wire it was ghetto but when i put the car together it was cold outside and iw as going to school 4days/week. Now that it's getting hot and i dont drive as often the light switch wasn't cutting it; so now the inside switch is a lot more convinient; especially since my hood latch is broke :-/

but yeah; i'll check the main relay and reground the car and see if it still acts up.

0554

if you need a main relay i have one thats works perfect. 25 shipped