hey all.....i am a proud owner of a 94 prelude si 2.3 auto and sometimes it wont start.....it turns over but wont fire......i have noticed the d4 on the dash blinks when it wont start but there have been other times it runs fine i know i need new plugs maybe wires but shouldnt it not start at all if those were completly gone?
i want to fix it without taking it to a honda dealer i am very particular about who touches my car any help is greatly appreciated

 

When is the last time the plugs were changed?

 

no clue i have owned her bout a year and 3 mos.........put like 1500mi on her...she dont see the road much cuz i dont take her to my job so mostly nites and weekends and never in the snow.....barely in the rain....

 

Change the plugs.

The preludes have a main relay issue that can sometimes cause this, but it would be tough to explain all that to you it doesn't seem like you know a whole lot about working on the lude yet.

See if the plugs fix the problem, if not, its only about $10 and its good maintenance anyways.

 

yes i will agree she is a complex machine im learning alot i did read about the relays it was a bit confusing if thats the prob i will take her to my local honda dealer just to be safe i do plan on plugs what do you think about bosch platnums?

 

main rely. I had exactly the same issue car was cranking d4 blinking and no start

 

how hard or should i just take her to the dealer?

 

http://techauto.tripod.com/mainrelay.htm

 

relay cost at honda around 80 bucks but if you have some soldering skills you can do it yourself

 

thanks this seems to be very helpful but i might just change the whole relay its not a cost issue i plan on keeping this car for a long time

 

Does it do it when it's hot only?= main relay.

The main relay on my beater has been on it's way out so i swapped it for the one i had lying around and it starts 1st try everytime now.

 

it started last november i went out on thanksgiving (was a nice day) warm for ohio in winter wouldnt start i noticed the d4 flashing so i left it go went out a few days later and still nada so she sat the remainder of the winter
i went out again early april and it started a week later same sinario not starting a d4 flashing i have started it a dozen times since and she fires rite up more aggrivating then anything i have read some other place the d4 means alot is there a way to check codes in the obd? all in all for a 94 with 130XXXmi its seems like a new car she handles like a dream and man will she go down the road
thanx

 

yea its gotta be the main relay

Get a $10 soldering iron from radioshack and fix it, maybe practice a little first, its very easy.

 

Yea it sounds like the main relay, they have a tendency to loosen at the contact points for the primary part on the first relay.


To check the OBD1 codes you need a jumper wire, The connector is a two wire connegter with a blue plastic contact it is located behind the center console on the drivers side towards the fire wall it is located next to the abs one wire connector.

 

thanx alot guys for all the great advice. i am gonna look into that relay is there a place where i can get the meaning for any codes my car might have?
and i changed my plugs sat really seems to idle alot better had her out for a bit on sat she runs fine
the only downfall rite now is the premium fuel rite now