TechniSkies

Hey folks, I've got a '93 Honda Del Sol Si 1.6L, with the D16z6 engine.

Recently I've been having issues with starting the car. The car will start up, but then die about a second later. Did this over and over, same result. Tried turning the key back and forth (with car off) to prime fuel pump, same result. I gave the car a little bit of gas, but it still died around 3k RPM.
I finally managed to get it started by flooring the accelerator and holding it at around 5K for a few seconds before letting it idle. Once the car is started, it runs+drives perfectly fine.

I have recently replaced sparks + fuel filter, and cleaned TB. Based on my limited car knowledge, I'm leaning to an issue with the fuel pump relay.

What do you guys think? Anyone else had this issue?
(I should add that this issue is only starting now that the car is parked outside in 90+ degree weather, never happened all winter. Maybe just a coincidence that it's doing this now, but thought it worth mentioning regardless)

muellersfan

Sounds like the engine idle speed may low.

Post the CEL codes.

TechniSkies

CEL isn't on, still worth it to check for codes?

muellersfan

Does the CEL work?

White_EG1

I’ve had the same exact issues once upon a time in a 93 s. Main relay it was

TechniSkies

Sorry for the late reply. As far as I know, the light works (comes on with oil/bat lights when turning key). I'll go ahead and see if there's any flash codes.

TechniSkies

Ordered a new main relay and fuel pump/sock (doesn't hurt to replace it, right?). I'll probably flush the gas tank as well.

Will update as time progresses...

Neth

random, if you hold the key just above on after it starts instead of letting the key go does it stay running? bad spring in the ignition switch?

TechniSkies

The issue is that sometimes I can release the key the second the engine catches and she'll start up fine, it's just that very occasionally she'll need me to hold the key / press the gas hard.

Recently the car has also been experiencing a brief loss of power when making sharp turns or accelerating from a stop. I give it gas, there's about half a second where the engine "stalls" but then power returns a moment later.

I'm going to go ahead and replace fuel pump and main relay, if it wasn't the issue I'll call it preventative maintenance.

I've also noticed one of my vac lines connected to the intake manifold has been damaged and repaired with electrical tape by a previous owner. I've done smoke tests and haven't noticed a leak, but I'm starting to think that maybe when the car gets hot, the tape loses its adhesive properties and creates a leak.

I'm no expert, so I don't even know if a vacuum leak on that line would be giving me symptoms like this. Sure it wouldn't hurt to replace as well.

I'll keep this thread updated on this little mechanical adventure

blobbymcd

Interesting. My 97 delsol has a bad starter, but it is a different scenario, as the issue is that it clicks and won't spin if you don't prime the fuel pump and wait a few seconds. But for your case, it most likely is the fuel pump relay, or maybe even fuel filter, but if it runs fine it shouldn't be the filter. If you have to replace the relay it might be for the best if you replace the fuel pump as well, but idk. The closest scenario to this I have ever encountered is that my uncle has a taotao scooter that he let me ride around his farm a couple years ago, and it had a vacuum leak that made it stall if you gave it too much throttle.

TechniSkies

UPDATE! I replaced the fuel pump relay, and immediately noticed that the fuel pump sounds much louder than before. I can't imagine why, maybe the relay had corroded over time and the resistance had increased? No clue. I haven't had any issues starting the car since I swapped it out, though it's hard to say for sure if it's actually fixed, or just lying dormant for a really inconvenient time to not start...

Haven't installed the new fuel pump, planning on waiting and seeing if this fixed it. If so, then I'll just hold on to the pump and install it when the old one inevitably fails.

Thanks for all your help guys, I really appreciate it