Sup people, so im new and just got my hatch not long ago...you might have seen my first post of some of the things ive done to it so far..

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=2292974

So here is the question ( i also searched as well )

i have had some issues with start up sometimes, im starting to think it might be a bad wire or ground? sometimes before starting up, the car will just pause for a few seconds then start...this only happens if i have already drove the car for some period of time...does it have to do with being at full running temp? the battery is new and so is the wires, plugs and distrib. Today was the first day it took about 5 minutes before starting back up again... any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

anyone? help?

 

Its probably the main relay. Is the fuel pump priming when the car wont start?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bobjohnson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Its probably the main relay. Is the fuel pump priming when the car wont start?</TD></TR></TABLE>

ya i think its possibly the same thing, ive had friends who had similar issues and i doubt all of the cars had a fuel pump issue....

is there any other way this can be fixed? is it just relays go bad?

 

from what i understand, the main relay has some soldered points that tend to go bad over time from thermal cycling.

it is a part that is known to go bad, and if your relay is bad, you can replace it, but i've heard of some people taking theirs apart and resoldering the joints successfully.

 

Thanks for the help!!

i'll start looking around and checking prices on relays. Thanks again

 

Could be a main relay, but could also be an ignitor.

When you say "it took about 5 minutes before starting up," do you mean that the starter wouldn't crank the engine at all when you turned the key? Or did it crank but the engine just wouldn't start?

Also, does this happen when the engine itself is hot? Or does it happen when the interior of the car gets hot, as when you leave the car bake out in the sun for a while?

Can you hear the fuel pump prime when you turn the key on? If not, then the main relay isn't sending power to the pump. Replace the main relay.

If the pump primes and you're getting fuel but not spark, then the ignitor is bad.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Targa250R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Could be a main relay, but could also be an ignitor.

When you say "it took about 5 minutes before starting up," do you mean that the starter wouldn't crank the engine at all when you turned the key? Or did it crank but the engine just wouldn't start?

Also, does this happen when the engine itself is hot? Or does it happen when the interior of the car gets hot, as when you leave the car bake out in the sun for a while?

Can you hear the fuel pump prime when you turn the key on? If not, then the main relay isn't sending power to the pump. Replace the main relay.

If the pump primes and you're getting fuel but not spark, then the ignitor is bad.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Actually i got some more updates if this helps, ok so it happened again today. And i found out that if i step on the clutch then release it the car will start right up...??

If i dont step on the clutch and i try to start it up, ill turn the key to the on position and i hear 1 click and then just silence...the car doesnt turn and yes the fuel is good.

this always happens when the car itself is hot from driving and being under the sun...but usually always happens after i just got done taking it for a drive. so the interior and the exterior are both hot.

so you think this can possibly be a ignitor?

 

If your car is an 89-91, you need to have the clutch pressed down to start the car.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bobjohnson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If your car is an 89-91, you need to have the clutch pressed down to start the car. </TD></TR></TABLE>

i know that....hahaaha and yes its an 89 SI

i meant when i push the clutch in ( while turning the key in the on position ) to start the car i sometimes have to release the clutch with the key still turned then push the clutch back in and it'll start...

does that make any sense? i pretty much pump the clutch acouple of times and the car will start...anyone know why that is? or what problem is related to me having to do that?

 

Could be a sticky clutch switch.

 

check the volts on the main relay, they should be 12v expectly the yellow with the black strips

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Targa250R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Could be a sticky clutch switch.</TD></TR></TABLE>

See but it doesnt happen all the time, only when i drove the car already and its warm/hot... if its cool like in the morning when i first start it its fine...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by StOnErTuNinG &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">check the volts on the main relay, they should be 12v expectly the yellow with the black strips</TD></TR></TABLE>

i havent checked that yet...ill have to do that...

im thinking it could be the relay and maybe pumping the clutch triggers something to make it work? cause it has a lot of the syptoms of a relay issue...or would the ignitor cause similar issues?

 

Sorry for the confusion....i was using my friends account yesterday and thought i was replying from my account....i use his accounts to send people PMs since im still new.

---------- i have reposted everything from my account, sorry again.

Quote, originally posted by Targa250R »
Could be a sticky clutch switch.

See but it doesnt happen all the time, only when i drove the car already and its warm/hot... if its cool like in the morning when i first start it its fine...

Quote, originally posted by StOnErTuNinG »
check the volts on the main relay, they should be 12v expectly the yellow with the black strips

i havent checked that yet...ill have to do that...

im thinking it could be the relay and maybe pumping the clutch triggers something to make it work? cause it has a lot of the syptoms of a relay issue...or would the ignitor cause similar issues?

 

Any other help or assistance?