When I try to start the car, it clicks like it has a dead battery. If I just sit and hold the key in the ignition trying to start it, the clicking goes away and the motor turns over. It takes about 30 sec - 1 minute for the engine to fire up.
If I jump the battery, it fires up right away.

If anyone can help me out on the problem, I would really appreciate it.

I've searched and couldn't find the right answers.

Battery, Alternator, and Starter has been changed, so everything is basically brand new.

Thanks

 

Check your battery terminals and also check you positive and ground cable!

 

checked all grounds. cable to battery and cable to starter havebeen replaced and still having the same problem. im thinking it can be a defective starter. im going to measure the amperage tommorow.

 

bump can anyone else help me out.

clicking has gone away, since ive changed the wires. all it does now is it trys to turn over. it feels like i have to get the current moving, then the car will have enough juice to fire up.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tsjeff &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">bump can anyone else help me out.

clicking has gone away, since ive changed the wires. all it does now is it trys to turn over. it feels like i have to get the current moving, then the car will have enough juice to fire up.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Could be your main relay.

Sean

 

wheres the main relay located? just ordered my helms last night, so hopefully its coming in this week.

 

ok, so this morning when i went to start the car, it fired right up. When i was leaving for school, the problem came back. I had to smog the car today and the smog tech turned off my car, when i got into it, the car didnt have problems starting up. anyone else no whats wrong with this thing?

 

Here is the write up from a popular 3rd gen site: http://www.prelude2g.com


Problem: Car wont start when its hot out, or takes a long time to start.



If you don't know how to solder or are unconfortable in repairing your own, you can probably take it an electronics store (not radio shack) and they can do it for you. Or just buy a whole new one.

Part Numbers for new relays:
1988 Prelude 2.0Si - 39400-SF1-003 RELAY ASSY., MAIN (RZ-0045) (MITSUBA)
1989-1991 Prelude 2.0Si, Si - 39400-SF1-013 RELAY ASSY., MAIN (RZ-0081) (4P) (MITSUBA)

What you'll need:
- Philips head screw driver
- small flat head screw driver
- 10mm socket
- rachet with 6" extension
- a soldering iron (I have a 30watt, but a 40w probably would've been better)
- some solder
- some time. If I had to do it again, I can get it out and back in, in about 30min. But you should probably give yourself about an hour to be safe.

Before starting, be sure you're ready to solder or have a replacement relay ready to go (your car won't run once you remove it).
Remove the coin tray covering the fuse panel.
Remove the 5 philips screws holding the plastic cover under the steering column. (1 in each corner, 1 where the coin tray was)
Unplug the 3 electrical connectors attached to the plastic cover, taking note where each one goes.
Using the 10mm socket and the rachet with extension, remove the 2 bolts holding the fuse panel up.




Work the panel out from under the dash. You'll have to disconnect some of the shorter wire connectors to get it all the way out.
Unplug the connector from the main relay. Use the small flat head screw driver to press on the tab that locks the main relay onto the fuse panel and slide the relay off.



Remove the plastic cover from the relay. You'll see the printed circiut board and all the solder points. Add a little solder to each making sure you melt the old solder.



Put everything back the way it came out and start it up!

Sean

 

cool thanks man. hopefully its the main relay then

 

changed out the main relay, still having problems starting up. Now i really have a feeling its a defective starter. im going to change that out when i get the time. ill let you guys know watsup.

 

found out the problem. got a defective battery.

 

it is the fan relay trust me..I own a 1990 Prelude si and it does the same **** but I took the fan relay out and it stop...fan relay for the a/c

 

dude, found out the problem already. it was a defective battery. thanks anyways.

 

You two are the only ones I can find discussing the problem I am having. I find that when the relay doesn't kick just right the fuel pump makes no sound so I would also check your wires there also I am also wondering if the RZ-0081 fits on a 87 Prelude also I only see one extra wire and both goes to a single connector or maybe just the harness would fit and make it work. Please let me know something Thanks
mcihaelw2581

 

Almost at the end of my tether with this one! Next step might be a 5 litre jerry can! Mine is a 1989 Prelude model
Bought the car about 4 years ago and for three years have had a persistent problem with re-starting the vehicle after taking it out for a spin. It is certainly to do with the warming up and cooling down process but nobody seems able to fix it. Typically, it won't always restart after a trip downtown and then must be left to cool down (hopefully 10 mins or so - sometimes up to 45 mins) before it'll splutter back to life.
I've so far replaced the coil, distributor and ignition module but to no avail. A lot of people seem to be aware of this particular problem with this vehicle but no one has a solution! HELP!!
Cheers
Geoff