93 Prelude 2.2L 5spd. Anyway, i recently purchased this car, and thought I had it running nice. So today I took it out for a test run, after getting the engine right...and then the idle right. So off I went, and I noticed it bucked one time once as i pulled into traffic. But it righted itself. Then I went about a mile and a TERRIBLE screeching noise started in the engine compartment. I pulled over and opened the hood and it sounded like it was coming from the alt/power steering pump area. So since I was about 1/2 mile from home I just drove it home. Also I noticed the dash gauges flashed a few times.

Pull into driveway and turned off engine. Engine stopped, but then I noticed the starter was trying to start the egnine(Key was out). So I loosened and removed the battery cable, and it shut off. So I guess the starter was engaged...and the engine was motoring the starter motor...and that was the screeching noise I heard. I had to get to work, so didnt really have MUCH time to toubleshoot, so I parked it. But heres what i do know.

The starter solenoid is calling for the starter to engage. The previous owner had replaced the ignition switch/wiring assembly. I understand there is a relay in between the switch and the solenoid?

Any ideas? I will jump on it tomorrow afternoon. Hoping it is somthing cheap.

 

Spent a couple of hours on it htis afternoon. But didnt find anything really. I tested the ignition switch by removing the solenoid wire from the starter, turning the key to start and seeing it did indeed show 12V.

It almost seems like the starter solenoid is the problem, but when I tested the ignition switch, i did it about 10x, and one of the times...something under the dash started clicking on off on off on off until I removed the key. I am not sure what relay it was. But while it was doing it...the lights on the dash were fading in and out.