like the title implies, i need some quick help here guys.........my 1990 crx dx won't start....it was presenting very much like a dead battery, and since i didn't put a new one in after i bought the car i went ahead and replaced it. nothing. turn the key and the car cranks like mad, but doesn't actually start. i'm kind of at a loss here, and since i need the car to get to work in the morning i could really use some ideas here. thanks in advance

 

If it cranks but will not turn over I suggest either your Main Relay or Ignition Switch. Can you hear your fuel pump prime when you turn the key to the position before Start?

 

do the basic check,

are you getting, fuel, compression, spark?

 

Get in your car and buckle up. This gets a few beeps out of the way so you can hear.
Next hold your breath and turn the key to the first notch . You should be able to hear a faint click followed by a slight wirring noise(fuel pump) then another click.
The timing of the clicks is the same as the check engine light. The first click is when the light turns on and the second click is when the light shuts off.
If no wirring noises are heard it's probably the fuel pump although rare. If only one click is heard it's likely that it's the main relay.
If you can hear both clicks and the wirring it's some other problem.

 

Try getting a new Distibutor cap and rotor they are pretty cheap and can be changed quick and easy

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by xisda1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Try getting a new Distibutor cap and rotor they are pretty cheap and can be changed quick and easy </TD></TR></TABLE>

when you say pretty cheap, about how cheap are we talking? $10, $15? unfortunately the funds are a bit limited right now, so anything more than about 20 or so might be a stretch hahaha.

what's the best way to check for spark, fuel, and compression?

one more quick one......i have the chilton manual and was looking for the main relay, but when i looked for it in the car i wasn't real sure of what i was looking for. if someone could point me in the right direction there's a beer in it for you.

 

come on guys......need some help here. don't let me down h-t.

 

'cranks like mad'.. describe the situation better. Is the motor turning over? Is the starter free spinning? is the car sputtering?

If the starter is spinning the motor, this in no way is what you would diagnose as a dead battery.

 

poor connections, defective ignition switch, neutral start switch

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SyTyArchives &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">'cranks like mad'.. describe the situation better. Is the motor turning over? Is the starter free spinning? is the car sputtering?

If the starter is spinning the motor, this in no way is what you would diagnose as a dead battery.</TD></TR></TABLE>

alright, maybe i didn't explain it very well....the important thing is that it's not starting, and i'm not quite sure how to explain what it's doing. the starter is not free spinning, or at least it's not free spinning now. i had a spare battery, so i put that in when it didn't start initially. before that, i really don't remember if it was free spinning or not, but i know it's not now (just double checked). replaced the distributor cap and rotor, nothing. at this point i don't think it's the main relay. turn the key to the first notch, click, fuel pump primes, click, pump cuts off, just like it's supposed to. from what everyone's said in other threads, this indicates that the main relay is good.

so anyway, car not starting, running out of ideas. anything else you guys can think of would be appreciated.

 

Ignition module.
It's in the dist.

 

Check to see if you have spark, <TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Speed--Freak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ignition module.
It's in the dist.
</TD></TR></TABLE> This guy is probally right. More then often it is always the dizzys fault. Damn things!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Speed--Freak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ignition module.
It's in the dist.</TD></TR></TABLE>

thanks, i'll give that a try.....