Ok here's the situation. When I go to my ignition to the on position. The main relay clicks non-stop until I either try to turn it over in this case it doesn't or when I turn it back to the off position. The ECU light stays on also when this happens. I can hear the fuel pump running. I double checked all my connections. I did had an MSD Ignition box on there. I've disconnected that and ran the wires back to the distributor. The battery is brand new and I had the starter and alternator checked out at a local Autozone and they were both ok. I've also tried a new ignition switch and that didn't work either. I've checked all the fuses and they was fine also. I've ran out of choice at this point and is stumped on what to do.

 

have you replaced the main relay yet?
Thats the first place I would look.

and did this all happen after taking the msd ignition off? do you have a coil?

 

I've tried another relay I've snatched off a civic from the junkyard. Not sure if that one is good either. And this had happen before I've disconnected the MSD box. I have a aftermarket power coil I've just reconnected back to the distributor.

 

well.... get a brand new one!
I have heard the new relays are different, in that they have been re-designed to fix the problems that existed with the origonal relays. not sure if thats true.

can anybody confirm if the relays have infact been changed?

 

If the relay tests good on the bench (use a battery and some excess scrap wire with the Service Manual) then you likely have a bad ground. When I did my DPFI -> MPFI plus OBD-0 -> OBD-1 plus Civic -> Accord Climate Control ALL AT ONCE, I accidently left one important ground wire disconnected at the ECU and it did this exact same thing.

 

Ok update. Just bought a new main relay and it's till giving me the same result. The thing is. The car was running fine that day until I had made a stop and then when I tried to started it back up that's when I started to have the issue with the car.

 

My experience... when relays chatter, it's usually because there isn't enough poop left in the battery. In that case of course, there wouldn't be enough for the starter to turn the engine either. Is that what's happening?

 

Well the battery is brand spanking new. ANd the starter was tested good at Autozone. But I'm having my thoughts that the starter might be bad anyway and I'm also thinking about replacing the distributor.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by civicman98 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> the starter was tested good at Autozone. But I'm having my thoughts that the starter might be bad anyway and I'm also thinking about replacing the distributor.</TD></TR></TABLE>

where is the clicking coming from? if its not the relay that is clicking then its got to be the starter, probly not the distributor.

 

bump for you. My car won't start either. i've tried everything.

 

the clicking is coming from the main relay when I turn the ignition to the on position. I've tried a brand new main relay but it's still doing the same thing. Well I'm not sure it's the starter cause I had pulled the starter off and took it to Autozone where it tested good.

 

Lmao simple fix. Its the ecu fuse under the hood. Change it, im sure its blown.

 

I recently had this same problem on my Ef
i checked all fuses and even bought a new main relay
and come to find out i just had a loose ground on my engine harness
make sure all ur grounds are tight
there are 3 main ones under the hood
the one on the tranny the one the tremostat
and the one on the vavle cover make sure are all tighten up

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by grog &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

where is the clicking coming from? if its not the relay that is clicking then its got to be the starter, probly not the distributor.</TD></TR></TABLE>

actually when my relay was clicking it was my dizzy

 

its all that msd stuff, you should never put an ignition on the car unless you actually need it, all that power from the coil will just mess with your cars sensors. i know because i had the same problem, and once i took off all that msd stuff it all went away.

 

All that stuff was on the car when I first bought it. I had this car for over three years now and it just started doing that mess.

 

listen to the other guy.

its a ground wire i had the EXACT same problem on my 92 hatch.

i just went to start my car one day and it started clicking a bunch.

found the loose ground wire and it started right up.

EVEN if your ground are all attached and look good doesnt mean they are, those wires can mess up somehow. go buy all new grounds at the autoparts store and i bet it starts up.

 

I had a similar problem and the clicking turned out to be a bad ecu, they can sometimes just go bad.

 

main relay has to do with the dizzy, is your dizzy fine

 

i just had this problem last night go under ur hood and look in the fuse box and change ur ECU fuse its bad.

 

my zc did the exact same thing when i first tried to start it up....dizzy was clicking and so was the main relay...turned out i forgot the ground on the T-stat housing...if everything was working fine, and then the problem started...then check the ECU fuse and the grounds, more than likely you'll find your problem

 

ok update on car. Just bought a circuit tester. Tested all the grounds. Grounds are good. Now here's the thing. I've just tested the fuel pump. Checked both hot wires. One of the connector I've check is dim than the other one and when I've disconnected the fuel pump and retested the connector. both lights are bright on the connectors. So I have a feeling my fuel pump is causing the issue. The ecu is good also. All the fuses under the hood are good as well.

 

the reason the other wire makes it dim, is that is the wire for the fuel sending unit, so unless the tank is full it will dim

 

did u every fix the problem? im haveing this problem and cant figure it out.

 

No I never found out what was wrong. But when I went to check the wire from the starter the little wire is getting a weak light when I use a led circuit tester. Someone on the other forums told me to check the Starter relay and the clutch interlock switch which I have no clue where either one is located.