harley4jcs

95 Del Sol, I've owned 3 years. LOVE it, RUNS LIKE A TOP!! This last Aug, in about 110 Deg. temps I had the proverbial & dreaded "NO START CONDITION" So being old & have many carbs I thought possible fuel lock. I sprayed a little start fluid in the air filter & BANG, she fired right up. NEVER TO START AGAIN !! So by reading past threads here (after replacing the fuel pump !!) I have embarked on a 7 MONTH quest to get her running again !! Here is the history: about 2 years ago the ignition switch "for the starter only" went out so I threw in, and direct wired a starter button that still requires the column key switch to be on to fire the engine. Have had no known ill effects from this set up.

BACK TO THE CURRENT NO START : 1st) replaced fuel pump (no prime or function)
2nd) READ THREADS, checked fuses, replaced fuel relay (rebuilt?) ( result: on & off ( sporadic) prime functioning) even with the pump giving prime there was just a hint of fire at the very end of the starting cycle. SO after an hour or so of serious starter burn up cranking & babying it, I got it running. RAN PERFECT, ripped around 10 or 15 miles to blow out the cob webs, shut down & restarted a few times GREAT, NO PROBLEMS, till the next morning !!! It was back to part time fuel pump activity. Even with the pump priming "NO START" "NO FIRE"
3rd) had the ECM rebuilt ( NO CHANGE )
4th) yesterday popped in a 2nd (rebuilt?)Fuel Relay and things went to good & consistent prime with a hint of fire at the end of running the starter like hell. Shoved in the 1st replacement F/relay with the same results. 20 min or so got her started. Black, suity, (rust?) flakes out of the tail pipe left on the drive. RAN PERFECT !!! Ripped her around for 25 miles, 90 MPH up to 7000RPM a few times to clean things up. Shut down & restarted 10 to 15 times NO PROBLEMS. Thought I had it!

WRONG: This morning, NO F/PUMP PRIME ON EITHER RELAY !!!!! Tried 15-20 turns of the key to no avail !! WTF!! I'm lost as a goose on this one.

ANY THOUGHTS OR IDEAS ON THIS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED !!


Sorry for the long post & THANKS for reading if you got this far.
Peace out...

Former User

Clean and tighten the G101 ground on thermostat housing. If you get no joy, start shopping for a replacement ECU.

Do you have a multimeter?

harley4jcs

PS: It's got the V-Tec SOHC under the hood with a standard 5 speed trans.

harley4jcs

DANG, your quick & THANKS. I read your post on the ground & just printed the location pick. I'm Doing it after I type this BUT I just could not believe that was it. It looks good BUT I'm doing it now. Rebuilt ECM was my 3rd step in the saga. I'll send it back for inspection if the ground does not work. ANY OTHER POSSABILTYS ?? YES I have a meter.Thanks

Former User

It's nearly impossible to test an ECU so what exactly does "rebuild" mean? Who is doing this work and how much do you pay them?

There are some (ECU and non-ECU) electrical tests that can be done. Are you willing and able if I give you instructions?

D16Z6 engine and P28 ECU?

harley4jcs

HOLY F-ING CRAP BATMAN: Cleaned & snugged G101 ( which is NOT on my diagram!!)
AND BANG, she fired right up !!!! I feel like a total IDOIT !! THANKS,THANKS & MORE THANKS !!!!!!!
I don't feel bad about rebuilding the ECU I'm sure it was a time bomb anyway BUT DANG!!! All the time & NON DRIVE TIME for a frigin ground THAT LOOKED GOOD !! LOL U-DA-MAN RON

I wish the sight had the icon of the bowing little man, I'd line the bottom of this page with them if'in it did !!!!!

Former User

Thanks, but you should reserve final judgement until the car has been driven for a few days without the problem recurring.

harley4jcs

Hey Ron ( or any other guru!) What does it normally take to get cruse control working again ??? THANKS AGAIN

harley4jcs

I hear you BUT after all this time, THIS IS THE ONLY TIME it really been right after the fall !! IT's GOOD & I've got a LOT OF JOY. I CAN FEEL it, IT's GOOD.

Former User

Are all cruise control components still installed?

Former User

harley4jcs

Yes, looks like I've got them all. I'll run some driving test today (because it's be so long now I don't quite remember all the details) BUT I think the main switch turns on but no action from the wheel switch that I can tell.

tony_2018

What the hell is a rebuild ecu?

harley4jcs

That's the magic box on the kick panel that when your car don't start or doing really strange crap, you pull it out & mail it off to someone that knows how to fix them.

tony_2018

No what I meant to ask was what is the process of a rebuilt ecu.

Former User

After turning on the main switch, cruise control is activated by holding the set button at least 2 seconds, at which time the cruise control light in the cluster should also illuminate. Generally, the car must be moving at greater than 30 mph or so to activate cruise control.

bamaland601

iTrader: (1)

35mph, its the lowest speed available to set in 5th gear and putt putt along.
anything below 35 it wont activate

harley4jcs

From this I take it has to be in 5th ?? I'm sure I did not always try it in 5th but sometimes did for sure. What ever gear I would try, I guarantee I was doing over 35mph !!!!

HOWEVER, I'M BACK TO TRYING TO GET IT TO START !!!!
It was so perfect yesterday & the ground cleaning was uncanny BUT THIS MORNING
NO FUEL PUMP PRIME!!!!!!!

What is the possibility that since my ignition switch already was acting up & would not hit the starter that something else within it is not hitting the fuel pump ??? The radio & other stuff still comes on But it's been doing that for 2 years & not hitting the starter??

VERY SAD , Ron this issue is making me bi-polar !!!!!

PLUS: getting a prime on the pump did not equal a start condition UNTILL YESTERDAY, OH HOW I LONG FOR YESTERDAY !!!

harley4jcs

"when your car don't start or doing really strange crap, you pull it out & mail it off to someone that knows how to fix them. "

Former User

See diagram below from the 6th generation Civic service manual. As 92-00 Civic speedometers generally read ~3 mph faster than the actual car speed, I round up and use >30 mph as the minimal set speed.

The minimum set speed for 5th generation Civics may be different.

Former User

Nope

Former User

Do this basic diagnostic:

When you turn the key from OFF to ON(II) [engine off], does the CEL remain on steady and does the fuel pump fail to prime?


Are you saying the starter won't crank the engine when the key is turned to ON(III)?

You'll find a diagram describing how to test the ignition switch in the FAQs sticky.

harley4jcs

UPDATE: Just checked & the pump primed...Engine fired right up. SO, so far since the ground cleaning if I can get the pump to prime (come on) then so far it will fire right up. THIS IS A BIG IMPROVMENT !!! However, I'm not getting the pump to come on consistently.. I thought I was going to try to answer your question by memory. HA I went to check & YES U guessed it. NO PUMP so YES, ON(II) the idiot lights all come on & stay on including the CEL.

ON (I) does nothing (but unlock the wheel)

ON (III) does nothing (it used to fire the starter but stopped doing that 2 years ago & has never done so since) at least that malfunction has been entirely consistent.

"When you turn the key from OFF to ON(II) [engine off], does the CEL remain on steady and does the fuel pump fail to prime?"
YES for sure it stays on right now & the pump is not priming again.
It does go out if the pump is priming.

tony_2018

Might wanna double your push start wiring and also take apart the ignition switch.

Former User

This^

And the ignition switch can be easily Ohm tested with a multimeter.

You likely have 2 separate problems - (1) bad ignition switch or starter circuit and (2) bad main relay/ECU circuit or ECU.

Get into diagnostic testing mode ASAP. Otherwise, you'll be stuck throwing expensive parts at the problems. If you need guidance with the tests, just holler.