It's a '90 CRX DX, completely stock with lots of miles (164k). I thought I had the mechanicals sorted out so I drove it to work on a Friday. But I took a company car home for the weekend because of a trip on Monday. When I got back to work on Tuesday and went to leave, the CRX absolutely would not start. I could crank it for minutes at a time and "all day long" - starter, battery, etc were all working. But the car wouldn't even think of firing. Being at work, I had no tools or anyway to test anything.

So I got a ride home and came back the next day with an SUV and a tow dolly. Not wanting to deal with winching the car on the dolly, I thought I'd just try it. Of course it fired right up.

That was 3 weeks ago. I have done nothing to the car and I've been driving it ever since!?! (Although just around town, I don't want to be stuck at work again!)

Based on what I've found from searching, I am pretty sure it's electrical - most likely main relay or fuel pump. But in the posts I've read about both they seem to either work or not. Another possible "symptom" is that at times, when I start the car and turn on the radio, there is a terrible buzz from the speakers - I almost can't hear the station. But it's the factory Honda radio so that could just be flaky and have nothing to do with the other issue.

 

I would say that that is almost definately your main relay. Tiny cracks form in the joints in the relay and expand/contract with the temperature causing the intermittant starting. You can open the relay and you will probably see them. You can resolder them pretty easily and save the $80 it will cost for a new one.

 

its defanatly your main relay... if it happens again just turn the keys off and back on and wait for the click of the relay to engage and it should start right up

 

I am also saying main relay.

turn you key to on and listen for a click when your check engine light goes out. if no click try it again until you hear one. I lived with mine like that for almost 6 mths before I finally replaced it, only cuz on mulla.

 

Great, thanks guys. Like I said, I read several of the posts about that but it just didn't seem to fit.
I appreciate the feedback - I'll try pulling the relay and soldering it. See what happens.