Dave P

My daughter's civic has a very strange problem- starts up and runs great no problem at all. But, after engine gets warm(worst in hot weather) and if you turn engine off and try to restart it will start then die. It won't start unless left for a few min. then, starts right up and runs great. This problem used to happen maybe once a month but now happens all the time. I put in a new coil but that was no help. She looks to me to fix all her problems so I'm hoping you guys can keep my hero image.
Thanks,
dave

DohctorVtec

Possibly a headgasket? Im not to sure. Hope I could help though...

cxSHOE

its your main relay. known, common never ending problem on used civics, buy a new main relay and it will be good for the next 10 years.. this only happens on hot days..... try starting the car at night,,, i bet you it will start up with no problem

find your hood release, remove your drivers side kick panel. find the silver square box. buy new main relay..




Modified by cxSHOE at 6:47 PM 8/22/2006

brockscivic

yup ^^^^ its the main relay happened to me twice

cxSHOE

check your email.... that should cover any and all future repair how to's

Dave P

Thanks to all for the help. This is a great site.

I'm having trouble locating a main relay(AR559) from my local parts house. I guess a dealer is my only option?

Thanks again
Dave

BauleyCivic

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dave P &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks to all for the help. This is a great site.

I'm having trouble locating a main relay(AR559) from my local parts house. I guess a dealer is my only option?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yup. They actually modified the part so that it won't fail anymore. You can pick it up at your local Honda dealer, its ~$50.

hondaless

Do you hear the fuel pump kick on?

But yea it's prob the main realy. But you might want to check your battery also.

dem0nk1d

dont buy a new relay, just take your old one out of the car. remove it from the case, heat up the soldier points on back, add more solider fixed.


here is a link it's the same....
http://www.honda-acura.net/for...43947

6spdKEG

WOW I'm so glad that I found this thread. I think we are having the same problem. I was about to go to great lengths to track down this problem for my 94 cpe not my Kswap.

Most of the time this was happening to me when my gas was real low.

The other day it happened when it was at a 1/2 tank and I was like WTF. I was going to go through and redo some grounds but prolly not now.

Just to make sure I have the same problem. Here is a breif description. 1st I've check the Fuel pump voltages when it is working properly and everything checks out good.

Most of the time if I hear the fuel pump come on, the car starts. If I go ignition on but don't turn it over, I hear ithe pump come on, then turn the key off again, then put the ignition in the on position again and the fuel pump doesn't make the same on sound, it usually tries to start but wont. Most of the time I can just wait it out and keep trying to turn the ignition on and off and listen to the pump. If it starts it stays running as well.

thanks for verification if you can give me some people .

Ryan

B18C5-EH2

You guys are definately pointing out a POSSIBLE problem, but I have a few questions:

1. Are you 100% sure this happens only after the car has ran and warmed up?

2. Have you tried checking for any check engine light codes that may be stored?

3. What year is her car?

The reason I ask is because a main relay problem usuaaly has nothing to do with the car warming up, but more the outside temps when you try and start the car.

Example:

When the car sits in a garage, or if the car sits out at night and you start it up when it's still relatively cool and it starts every time, but the car won't start if it's been sitting in the sun and is hot as hell on the interior, I'd say 99% sure it's the main relay.

In your case I'm wondering if you have a check engine code 6 being stored for the engine coolant temp sensor/switch or what some mechanics call a "TW" sensor. The TW/ECT sensor can cause a car to be difficult to start only after the car has been driven and warmed up regardless of outside temps. If your daughter's car has A/C and she runs it, then the inside of the car and main relay should be cool even if it's hot outside, so I doubt the main relay would cause the problem while it's chilling in the A/C.

Do you know how to check en engine code? If not I'll try and dig you up a how-to.

Be back soon...

Oh and lastly:

I'd still replace the main relay first. My shop stocks like 20 of them because they do go out that much in the summer time. Repairing them can work, but hell the part is like $50.00 and IMO it's worth it.

The only reaon i'm adding this input is because when you work at a shop you learn VERY quickly that you cannot always assume the problem is the most common problem. If I guessed main relay at every car with those symptoms, quoted the price, and then found out it was something else I'd look like a moron to my customers. I'm not ridiculing anyone helping here - just pointing out that although the problem may be the main relay, there are other things it can still be.


Modified by B18C5-EH2 at 2:07 PM 8/24/2006

B18C5-EH2

Here is a link to show you what you need to know when checking ECU codes:

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/1171263

Good luck! Keep us posted please, because I'm always curious on how stuff like this turns out.

Dave P

Lots of great input so let me try and clearly explain this problem of mine.

The car (92 civic) will start in all conditions-hot day,cold day. It runs absolutly perfect. Never skips a beat. But, when engine is hot and say you stop for gas and get back in to restart , it will start then shut down right away. It will not start again uless you just sit there for around 60 sec. and then you're on your way. As a side bar, just for the heck of it , I drove the car and got it warmed up and turned the key off on hill(standard tranny) and tried to pop start it. No go.
Also if you turn the key off when hot and turn it on again quickly it will restart. This problem is more severe when weather is hot. Crazy uh?

Thanks again to all,
Dave

6spdKEG

about the same problem here. My problem is mainly just whenever it is hot now that I think about it. I can wait it out just like Dave said as well.

No check engine lights.

When this "something" is malfunctioning, the car acts like it wants to start but basically runs out of fuel in the lines it seems like. Thsi is why I trouble shot the fuel pump and it checked out good.

I'm ordering that master relay today from honda of Ames

B18C5-EH2

Well if neither of you have any check engine codes stored then I'd say start with the main relay and go from there.

However not seeing a check engine light doesn't mean you should not still check for stored codes - check just in case. some of my customers do not report check engine lights, but we still find codes stored sometimes.

Evs-One

I had an ecu fail on me doing the exact same thing...

I've had a few cars like this and have seen things from ecu's, main fuel relays, and igniters(ICM). Does the tach move when cranking?

Dave P

One,

I'll check tack but with cooler weather I've not had the problem .

Dave

B18C5-EH2

Well if it's only outside temp. dependant than I'd stick wioth main relay first then.

An ECT/TW sensor problem will act up regardless of outside temps once the car is warmed up.

6spdKEG

well I fixed my problem with the main relay. I replaced it with a new one.

I heard that you can take the main realy apart and re-sauder the connections and it should act fine. I baught a new one from honda before I found this out. They had one left.. .

I have not taken my old one apart, but I will soon. But if the contacts are worn as well.. then the relay is shot.

Ryan

Dave P

When I started this thread I didn't hold out much of a chance that I wouold be able to solve this problem. But, thanks to you folks I did. I resoldiered it and it works great.

Thanks,
Dave

street dreams

man B18C5-EH2 knows his **** he answered the hell out of this question

Striker_1818

They are great indeed!

H-T FTW

mdr191

MAIN RELAY MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

B18bEG6ick

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 6spdKEG &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">well I fixed my problem with the main relay. I replaced it with a new one.

I heard that you can take the main realy apart and re-sauder the connections and it should act fine. I baught a new one from honda before I found this out. They had one left.. .

I have not taken my old one apart, but I will soon. But if the contacts are worn as well.. then the relay is shot.

Ryan</TD></TR></TABLE>
here is a site that i found searching around not too long ago because my car was doing the same symptoms, but i knew it was my main relay. i just wanted to know how a cracked seuder (sp) looked like. here is the site that helped me a lot! good luck. http://techauto.tripod.com/mainrelay.htm