Roach360

My 92 Civic is not starting, although it is cranking.

Fuse 24 (The 15 amp) is blowing every time the ignition goes on, regardless of if the fuel pump is plugged in, it even blows the fuse when the main relay is disconnected.

I'm stuck, since this is keeping my car from sparking or pumping fuel.

I saw RonJ@HTs responses and was hoping he, or someone else would be able to help me out.

Ask me questions, I poked around in there today and tested a few connections and tried to start the car with some spray starter.

Former User

Does unplugging the 4P alternator connector prevent fuse 24 from blowing?

Roach360

Could you point me to where the "4P alternator connector" is? Then I would be happy to tell you!

Former User

Do you know where your alternator is? The connector plugs into the alternator - 4P means the connector has 4 pins/wires.

Roach360

Understood, I unplugged the green 4pin connector from the alternator, and it blew fuse 24 (15amps).

Should I leave the main relay set and the 4pin alternator disconnected for the next tests?

Next step?

Former User

What car trim/engine do you have?

Check whether doing ALL of the below prevent fuse 24 from blowing:

-Remove the charging system and SRS bulbs in the cluster.
-Unplug the VSS sensor atop the transmission.
-Unplug the EVAP purge cut-off solenoid valve.
-Unplug the airbag control unit.

Roach360

Beyond being a 92 standard, I don't know much else about this car. Though it looks like there's no longer an airbag, power steering, or air conditioning. I bought it for next to nothing this summer, so it's not surprising.

Here's an under the hood shot.



Where can I find more explicit instructions on how to follow the steps you gave me?

Former User

Did you read what I posted and look carefully at the diagrams? Do you have any specific questions?

On the front of the block and transmission below the distributor facing the radiator, you will find codes stamped on them. Post these engine and transmission codes. Also enter the VIN stamped in the driver's door jam into the VIN Decoder under Tech Tools. Does the chassis match with the engine and transmission?

Roach360

The two that weren't obvious to me were the SRS "Blubs" and their location, as well as the where the airbag "control unit" is located, since I didn't see those specific terms on the diagrams.

I'll post the number when I have access to the car again later this morning.

Roach360

The Vin decoder here wasn't working, but another site confirmed that it's a DX hatchback.

Here's my VIN, if it helps: 2HGEH2356NH544931

Here's what it said about the engine:
Engine capacity: 4 Cylinder, 1.5 L
Engine series: 4-Cyl. 1.5L
Engine type: 1.5L L4 SOHC 16V

And then all it gave on the transmission: 5-Speed Manual Overdrive

The engine had two stamps: A25150383 and PM9-8

And the transmission reads: D15B7 and 15G4704 (The "G" could also be a 6)

Also, in looking through the fuse box today I found that fuses 12 and 23 were blown in addition to 24. Though they might have been this way for some time partly because the stereo is VERY poorly installed and I haven't taken the time to try and fix the wiring issues there.

Former User

Yeah, our VIN Decoder works with some but not all browsers. Try a different browser when it doesn't work.

Your VIN says you have this car/chassis:

1992 Honda Civic 3dr Hatchback 1.5L DX 5-Spd

It looks like your car is stock (except for the intake and exhaust manifold), assuming that you have a manual transmission.

Former User

See diagram below.

The airbag control unit (SRS unit) is shown in a lower diagram in post #6.

Roach360

So it's the main plug that goes into the SRS unit?

Former User

Yep

Former User

92 Civics have either fuse 12 or fuse 24, not both. Since your Civic has airbags, it will have a fuse 24 but not a fuse 12. Somebody probably mistakenly installed a fuse in the #12 slot.

Install a good fuse 23 to see whether the radio now works or whether the fuse blows again.

You'll find useful hood and dash fuse box diagrams in the FAQs sticky.

Roach360

Fuse 24 still blew with all 4 of those items disconnected, in addition to the main relay and fuel pump being disconnected as well.

There was no connector going into the SRS indicator area of the gauges.



Also, there looks to be some wire spliced into the harness of the gauges.



Though I just want the car running, I'm not worried about airbags or accessories, since the car doesn't have them as is.

Sorry for the delay in posts, it was cold and snowing for a week here, and I don't have a garage.

Roach360

Anyone have any advice on what might be going on?

Roach360

RonJ@HT, anything?

Former User

Okay. That rules out the unplugged components as sources for the short to ground.

Try to locate unplugged yellow SRS connector E. It's a 5P connector that I think has 3 wires, one of which is the Blk/Yel wire of interest. It may be shorted to ground.

I don't see any spliced wires. Or do you suspect splices underneath the electrical tape. Is there a Blk/Yel wire in that bundle?

Roach360

Where will I find that 5P connector?

There is a red wire that has been added, I can open it tomorrow and see what it's spliced to.

Former User

Look around behind the cluster.

Look at the diagram in post #2. Fuse 24 also protects the red wire that runs to the SRS control unit. Is the red wire you see the same one?

Roach360

So after taking what seemed like 2 miles of electrical tape off of the wiring harness, I found the issue.

All of the accessories were running off the yellow and black wire, intended for the SRS indicator unit in the cluster.

I just removed this (The red wire I was talking about) and now I don't blow fuses and I'm up and running again. The only issue is not having a 12V outlet or a radio, but I'll sire those back to the actual accessory fuse when it's nice out.

Here's a picture of all of the extra cuts and splices.



Let me know if you have any questions, and thanks for all your help RonJ@HT, I should have known it would be a simple thing.

RIKITIN

Hello Roach 360

I know this is an old post but I am facing the same issue, fuse 24 is blowing up, do you have the picture?