i gotta 1990 crx si, everything is stock except the intake

last when when i changed the spark plugs i noticed in the number 2 plug valve that there was oil. I thought nothing of it, mostly cuz i was lazy to go out then and buy a valve kit, put the new plugs in and that was that.

Today! about a week later, I had the care die on me, here ill explain more. I drove to the bank fine, then when i started the car again, it turned and turned and turned and didnt start. Being so pissed about my mystery problem with my last crx i sat there for a couple of minutes. Turned that key, and it started fine! wheh, though i thought to myself... "damn i better go to the dealer now, just in case later on."

So i drove to the deal, parked and went inside. When i went back outside after buying the gaskets and seals i tryed to start the car. I tryed i think three times and the engine was turning but it wasnt sparking i guess. I sat there again, tryed and it worked. I went in reverse to get out, maybe i pulled the clutch up to soon but it choked and "calmly" died. (It wasnt like if i were to be in first and i just let the clutch go, it really was a calm death) So I was sorta confused.

so my problems are:
1. Turning but not starting.
2. Maybe the rpms didnt stabilize when i was backingup and thats why it died.

Now igot the kit, I did get home succesully. Do you think the oil in the spark plug valve would have something to do with the car not starting? All other maintainence on the car is up to par, so i doubt it would be anything else. I may go buy an entire starter if it doesnt work. It only costs about 100 bucks new...

Anyone have any ideas?

 

no, the oil leak has nothing to do with the car not starting. fix it anyway.

as for your starting problem, my crx had identical symptoms at one time. then, the fuel pump finally died. for good. i'm not making any promises, but check your fuel pressure. in fact, i would replace the fuel filter then check the pressure. try to see if you can recreate the symptom with a fuel pressure gauge hooked up and see what the pressure is doing.

what im saying is, i experienced exactly the same problem. the problem no longer persists now that i replaced the fuel pump, but look into it and see for yourself.

 

It sounds like a bad main relay. when you turn the key to the on position can you hear a click (relay) and a humming sound (fuel pump)?
If not then its bad

 

First off thank you both
2 = fuel pump

ill be sure to change that and the pump and that gaskets asap... @@

@grog: when u say on, u mean II? when a/c and everything works but the engine hasnt turned yet? or you mean III? I turn to II and I here the click and the hum, that lasts for about .5-1 second. maybe im totally off here...

I guess I'll need to wait until it doesnt work, then when i have no patience at all try to listen to there two things, becuase it just started up fine

edit: CRAP! also, going to autozone or ebay is fine for the fuel pump right? i dont need to spend 200 at the dealer? @@

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mog &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
2 = fuel pump
ill be sure to change that and the pump and that gaskets asap... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Woh slow down there, i didnt say to replace the fuel pump, I said<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by grog &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It sounds like a bad main relay. </TD></TR></TABLE>

and if you read what Trucrxer says
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TRUcrxEr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">as for your starting problem, my crx had identical symptoms at one time. then, the fuel pump finally died. for good. i'm not making any promises, but check your fuel pressure. in fact, i would replace the fuel filter then check the pressure. try to see if you can recreate the symptom with a fuel pressure gauge hooked up and see what the pressure is doing.

look into it and see for yourself.</TD></TR></TABLE>

he isn't saying to replace it either, just to investigate a bit.
so dont just start throwing parts at it!

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mog &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">@grog: when u say on, u mean II? when a/c and everything works but the engine hasnt turned yet? I turn to II and I here the click and the hum, that lasts for about .5-1 second.

I guess I'll need to wait until it doesnt work, then when i have no patience at all try to listen to there two things, becuase it just started up fine

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, and start paying attention to the sounds from the relay every time you start it. if it doesnt make those two noises then it's probably bad, and its common for them to be intermittent when they start to go bad.

 

hmmk lol. sorry about that.

I go ahead and look into the fuel filter, since it is fairly cheap to replace. How do I check the fuel pressure?

 

you attach a gauge to the fuel filter

 

Ok so I got one more thing for you.

Don't laugh please haha but when I had my jeep, I turned the key and it would go "zgzgzgzgzg tik tik tik vrooooom!" Same amount of clicks everytime when I start it.

On my crx starts it differs everytime, sometimes it doesn't start, sometimes it doesn't even "tik" and immediatly start. Does that help you understand which I need? Or what the problem is?

If not that's fine, tomorrow ill be working on the car. It totally started fine this morning.

 

Like the other guy said its probably the main relay. Turn the key 2 clicks to II, and listen to see if you can hear the fuel pump priming. You will hear it really well in a crx, it sounds like a "Wiiirrrrr" and should last as long as the check engine light stays on. If it doesnt make that sound, check the relay, and then if it turns out to be fine, check the pump.

 

a good service manual will show you how to test the different circuits in the main relay. all you need is jumper wires, a battery, and an multimeter.

if you don't hear the pump whine when you turn the key on, then simply test for voltage at the fuel pump.

voltage not present=more than likely a main relay.

if voltage is present (at least 12v on a full battery) then test the fuel pump ground. if all is okay its more than likely the pump is going.