My girlfriend's car has all of the typical main relay symptoms, except it will try to start, then just spudder and stall out. Most of the time with the relay issues, it will just crank. Hers will start, stumble, stall, then just crank and not fire for about 10 minutes.

Any thoughts? I'd hate to replace the relay if that isn't it.... we're tight on $$$. It only does this occasionally and on warm or sunny days.

Thanks!

 

No, that sounds about right.....

'Gotta realize the engine stumbles for a few seconds untill the fuel pressure in the rail drops.

 

need to pay attention to one thing here...are the lights on the dash(oil, battery, etc.) still on when the cars "stumbles then stalls"....if not then possibly could be failing ignition switch.

 

You don't need to buy a new one, just take it out, desolder the joints, clean, and resolder all of the joints. Should only take a few hours to do and your starting problems will be fixed. I kept having the same problems and once I did this, my starting problems were solved. Here is a link to a site that explains what you need to do. Good luck.
http://www.markl.force9.co.uk/howto/...main-relay.htm

 

My car does that when its hot out but its the fuel pump. Listen to hear if it is turning on when start the car, on a hot day mine wont turn on sometimes. I just let it sit for 5 mins and it starts right up. It will start without the pump turning on but will die in a few secs the first time. Maybe its that....


Yager-

 

That is because your main relay isn't supplying power to the fuel pump, most likely because of a bad solder joint on the board. That is a typical problem of these main relays, especially in our 10+ year old CRXs.

 

first check to see why it stumbles, if its lack of fuel or spark, you may have an ignitor going bad.

 

The whole thing is tough to trouble shoot since it's her car and she never remembers to do what I tell her to do (like listen for the pump).

It did it to me once, and the thing that confused me is that it started and stumbled (def sounded like it wasn't getting fuel). Then it wouldn't start at all, but a few times, it fired and stalled out again. When it would fire I'd floor it to try to keep it running and get no response at all. Of course it did this to me at the auto parts store so I felt like a complete moron.

I'll try the relay. I think I have my old one around, so I'll try fixing it as mentioned above.

 

Try unplugging the ECT sensor the next you have a chance. When it starts going bad, it will send bogus signals to the ECU. If it starts up after doing so, then chances are thats the prob...

It will throw a code tho, just re-set the ECU to get rid of it.

 

there is a fuel relay under the dash that usally is never been replaced on our cars and that is usally the problem with starting. The solders inside are old and come apart and just plain get OLD replace them and you will notice a diff in starting time fires right up no problem at all!