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brief history: bought crx a month ago. was throwing code 9. replaced dizzy. code went away. car ran fine for a few weeks. also replaced wires, plugs, pcv valve, air filter, adjusted the valves and timing, and recently replaced ignition switch.

problem: car died and won't start. it cranks and is getting fuel, but it isn't getting spark. it started this 2 weeks ago. at first it would die and start back up. then it would die and start back up in an hour or so. then it finally died and wouldn't start at all ( still cranked). then i checked the ignition switch per the honda manuals instructions. only three out of the seven connections that were supossed to have continuity did have continuity. so i replaced it. car started right up. ran great for a few days. now it's dead again. same symptoms. cranks but no spark.

i'm stumped. what should i do? any advice is appreciated.


Modified by sidewayz32 at 6:00 PM 11/10/2005

 

update:

when i finally got around to working on the car today, it had developed a new symptom. it won't crank. so i put a new starter, battery, and battery cables on it. still won't crank.

PLEASE HELP!



Modified by sidewayz32 at 8:32 PM 11/9/2005

 

also just replaced cap and rotor.

what else could it be? main relay? is there a way to check this before i go buy one? also, what exactly is it called, none of the auto parts stores have a "main relay" listed in their catalogs.

 

when the ignition switch is set to "on"(mode just before starter engages).....in the black box on the passenger side strut area....are all of the fuses and wires going into and out of the box HOT????

 

this last time the car died i was very close to my girlfriends house, close enough i was able to push it here. i won't be able to go home and get my voltmeter until tomorrow....but i will check that.

anything else?

 

Did you check all your grounds?
Also check the main relay, I had one go bad on mine and it would do some of the same thing your car is doing. Also from what you said i would defenatly look at the power distribution block under the dash, being thats where the ignition switch plugs into, and the main relay, and just about every other wire. But if you can snag a main relay from a Junkyard car, and swap it out. That would defenatly be the best next step, in troubleshooting the problem.
Also sometimes banging on the left side of the dash by the door, (location of the main relay) You can get the relay to come back on, this doesnt work all the time, But hell its worth a shot befor you swap it out.

Let me know what happens after you try the relay.

:EDIT:
Not everyone of those fuses should be hot even with the ignition on. FYI

 

i'll put checking all the grounds on my to do list for tomorrow.
i'll also try to find a main relay and possibly the whole power distribution block from a junkyard.

i'll update this thread tomorrow with my findings..

anybody else got any ideas?

 

didnt u say u get fuel?....so the fuel pump engages correct?

 

when i checked it the car was still cranking

i'll check it again when i get out of class today and reply

 

ignition coil still good?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sohcef9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ignition coil still good?</TD></TR></TABLE>

another thing on my to do list when i get back to the car later today...

but the car currently isn't cranking, the ignition coil wouldn't have anything to do with that

 

UPDATE

all fuses are good
all grounds are good
i am getting power to the starter
the crank and cam both turn manually with a socket and ratchet (its not hydrolocked or anything)


the only thing i can think of other than the possible main relay is the clutch engagement sensor (switch?). anyone ever have any problems with this?

i'm going to check the igniter and coil now just for ***** and giggles...

if anyone has any other ideas, please post them

 

just got the bright idea to check for codes, the cel light didn't come on when i turned the key ... i also just noticed that the check engine light, oil light, and battery light on the dash are very dim compared to the other lights on the dash when you insert the key.

any ideas?

 

how are the connections at the battery?(battery cables. if they are loose it might not get power to the starter) the clutch switch is a possibilty, but i've rarely heard of them going bad.

 

hey it might be the spark plug seals on the inside of the valve cover arent sealing good.this would let oil into the cyliner w/the plug and becuz it is filled w/oil there will be no spark.u can fix this by buying a new vavle cover set which comes w/the gasket for the valve cover and the seals for the spark plug cylinders.if there is oil and its not the seals leaking...it could be the piston rings are bad and oil is gettin through the clyinder into the spark plugs..

 

battery cables are brand new and tight

the spark plug tube seals on the underside of the valve cover are also brand new and i just verified that they are not leaking

 

the reply's i'm getting make me think people arn't reading the whole post, let me sum it up..


THE CEL LIGHT ON THE ECU DOES NOT BLINK TO INDICATE THAT IT IS ON WHEN I TURN THE KEY. THE CAR ALSO DOES NOT CRANK.
i'm assuming these two problems are related...

for full details you need to read the entire thread..

i'm really stumped here guys, please help

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sidewayz32 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the reply's i'm getting make me think people arn't reading the whole post, let me sum it up..


THE CEL LIGHT ON THE ECU DOES NOT BLINK TO INDICATE THAT IT IS ON WHEN I TURN THE KEY. THE CAR ALSO DOES NOT CRANK.
i'm assuming these two problems are related...

for full details you need to read the entire thread..

i'm really stumped here guys, please help</TD></TR></TABLE>

The main relay supplys power to the PCM also, If the PCM doesnt turn on, The car will not crank, the PCM most ghet power for the stater to engage.

It sounds like a main relay problem, Considering it controls power to the fuel, pump, PCM, and ignition. All on separate Circuits, the so the problems can be intermetant like you discribed. I know whenmine when bad i had pretty much the same problem. At one point i had to shove a paper clip in the backside of the main relay just to get home.

Please if nothing else try a main realy asap.

 

hey thanks alot MENACE for the reply

i don't have classes on friday's, so i'm going to go junkyard searching and if i can't find one, hopefully autozone has one.

i'll let you know what happens

edit: is this what i need?
39400-SH3-003 RELAY ASSY., MAIN (RZ-0063) (PGM-FI) (MITSUBA)

i have what i think is the main relay, but it doens't look like the part that advance auto has.

http://www.partsamerica.com/Pr...set=A

the one in my car only had 4 prongs and a 4 prong connector going to it. the one atadvance auto parts has 7.

it does have a bracket like that attached to it though. it is right above my hood release lever. am i looked at the wrong thing?

anyone have a picture of a main relay ON a 90 crx si?


Modified by sidewayz32 at 8:33 PM 11/10/2005


Modified by sidewayz32 at 8:33 PM 11/10/2005

 

Modified by sidewayz32 at 1:01 PM 11/11/2005

 

UPDATE

got a main relay from the junkyard today, swapped it out.
didn't change a thing.
car still won't crank and the CEL light on the ECU doesn't come on when i turn the key.

i also took the old one apart and there were no signs of cracks or broken solder contacts.


what else could it be!!!??????

 

a bad wire between the main relay and the PCM?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sidewayz32 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">UPDATE

got a main relay from the junkyard today, swapped it out.
didn't change a thing.
car still won't crank and the CEL light on the ECU doesn't come on when i turn the key.

i also took the old one apart and there were no signs of cracks or broken solder contacts.


what else could it be!!!??????</TD></TR></TABLE>


well you mentioned the clutch safety switch, assuming your car is an 89+ then you may want to bypass that and see if it fixes the problem, if not i have some other ideas

 

you said your ecu does not blink anything at all right? in that case i would find a friend with the same ecu and swap them out see if that fixes things.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by teler86 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you said your ecu does not blink anything at all right? in that case i would find a friend with the same ecu and swap them out see if that fixes things.</TD></TR></TABLE>


if you arent throwing codes the LED wont blink anyways