ive had this happen a few times when i first bought it and the occasional random time i start it. its happening everytime i start the car from cold tho now because its f-in freezing outside.

basically i turn it over, the engine fires up then instantly dies and i can hear a click sort of noise like when you turn the key to the ignition position. i start it again, same thing. usually does it first time but second or third time if i give it some gas when the engine fires up it starts and runs perfect.

guessing a relay but which and where is it and do i just replace it?

 

Main relay most likely, underneath the dash in the driver's side footwell. It will literally be labeled "main relay", so just search around a little bit. You can fix it, search around for how to resolder it.

 

you should be getting a code if its the main relay.

 

Get a code from a bad main relay? hmm,Mine went bad and I had no code at all.. The car would just die out at the gas station after filling up, and especially on hot days. I replaced part ($45.00 @ NAPA) problem fixed..

maybe it can throw a code, it just has to get to the point of complete failure before the cel comes on.. Ive noticed that with my obd1 converted b16 swap in my hatch. At first it ran great, then it started bogging(no torque off the line, and lack of power through all gears at low to mid rpms). I changed the o2 sensor, and it got a lot better... Still tryin to get it to run the way I want it to... Ima expletive with the idle screw a bit, see if that helps any...

 

nope... engine temperature sensor... try that first

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Pee Wee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you should be getting a code if its the main relay.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Umm, no. The main relay controls power to the ECU and fuel pump, so how could the ECU throw a CEL code when it isn't being powered?

In the hundreds (yes, hundreds) of bad main relay cases I've seen, not a single one has thrown a CEL.