mynameizstitch

Car got new starter, alternator, distributor, spark plugs and wires within the past 6 months or so. 1990 civic ex all stock. hot summer in cali. happened 3-4 times to me within the past 4 months. recently when i do quick stops at a gas station or store when i try to start my car back up it will crank and start and then rpm jumps down very low and car dies. will then try to crank it back up and it will crank but wont start. let car sit for a couple mins and start it up and it starts back up again. drive home normally no wierd noises or anything like that. no buring oil.

***first guess it should maybe be my main relay if not then maybe fuel pump or ignition coil. when i have the time i will pull my main relay out to check the solderings of it and maybe resolder it up some more and see if that helps. any other suggestions will help. thanks.

netfreak

Yep I had the same issue with my Integra. Started getting worse and worse, so I got around to swapping the main relay with one from the wreckers and it works great now.

Vagitarian

Sounds like I should just keep a main relay in my car, all these damn threads about it

mynameizstitch

yeah will try it and let u guys know.

Rand The Man

Sounds like my buddies rex it bogs but everything is brand new on the motor or has been replaced in the past 1000 miles new rings exc, I reckon Ill tell him to try the main relay.

xxOldschoolxx

You don't need a new one just re-solider the board. And your good.
But a new one would be piece of mind I guess.

KLeSe

any luck?, most likely your relay is on its way out. Had the same issue on 90 Lx, I would just go ahead and replace it with a new one being all other major components are good.

mynameizstitch

yeah when i have time off i will pull the main relay out and check it out to see how it looks. i resolder my wife's main relay in her DA and it started up everytime since then.

Civic ef99

If the situation ever happens again listen and hear if the main relay clicks or if the fuel pump primes

Canadian_EF

I got sick of my main relay always crapping out.

I replaced it with an EG one... it's holding up good so far.

mynameizstitch

so an eg main relay is a direct fit also??? ima just probably solder mine if it looks bad when i pull it out

ef hatchDUDE

i had the same problem in my 90 dx hatch. resoldered it works great now... good luck

Canadian_EF

Solder works. Mine wasn't fixed by doing that, so I replaced it. It's not a direct fit, but, simple repinning fixed that. If you go that route, I'll help you with the wiring. Around here, it's easier to find an EG main relay compared to an EF/ED one.

NJ-JDM

Where is the main relay? New to hondas and this 91 CRX, mine is doing exactly the same thing as described above. I don't mind buying a $40 part to make sure I get home.

sstupid

You will see the main relay where the red circle is, if you look under your dash.

It's hard to get to, though. Don't be a dumbass, like me, and try to pry your dash outward to get to it or you'll end up with that bottom part of your dash on the floorboard as you see with the red arrow.

Take your whole dash loose to get to it. It's a pain, but worth it, because now I have to get a whole new dash, anyway.

NJ-JDM

Everything I touch on this car needs the dash to come loose. Arrrgh!!!

fredefhatch

lol not really look... take off the coin pocket that opens 3 screws you have access to the main relay then take off the 10mm bolt holding the relay you can accesses it through the bottom of the dash right next to the hood prop and they just unplug it from the harness not even 2 minutes to do it lol

NJ-JDM

Cool. I already had the whole thing loose cleaning out all the mice nests two weeks ago. Maybe I will figure out where those extra screws are supposed to go. :lol:

NJ-JDM

What are the relays behind the pass headlight, in front of the battery?

NJ-JDM

Well my car won't really start now. Got it running twice today. Heading to the JY to grab some spare relays until I can order a new one. According to the Rockauto interchange one from an Intregra should be the same and I know of two in the yard.

M-benz

Which integra tho? 90-91 will work? Or?

NJ-JDM

Just to clarify, I am a complete noob when it comes to hondas. Have been a car hobbyist for 20 years though on mostly Fords.

At the rockauto site it lists this part for a 91 CRX.

STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS Part # RY168

There is also I link that then lists all the cars it fits.

ACURA INTEGRA (1986 - 1993)
ACURA LEGEND (1986 - 1990)
ACURA VIGOR (1992 - 1994)
HONDA CIVIC (1988 - 1991)
HONDA CRX (1988 - 1991)

I doubt the are selling a part that won't fit. Anyway its just information. I will post back once I grab some from these models.

netfreak

Most likely is accurate info. I grabbed some spare main relays at the wreckers from EFs and DA Integras and they look identical.

NJ-JDM

I got two today. They were from Civic sedans, I assume 88-91. Part number is the same as my OE one, Mitsuta RV-0063 or something like that, going from memory. Plugged it in and my CRX fired right up. It may last a day or a year, who knows.

M-benz

That is a good info . 91-HF-ER . Time for me to hit the JY too.