First I'd like to say hello to everyone here. This is my first post and I'm glad to be here.

I'm posting at Honda Tech because I'm having a hell of a time trying to fix my prelude. I'm not a mechanic and don't act like I know more than I do. I bought the car from a cousin because she needed money and I thought it was a nice car.

When I first bought it about a year ago I had a problem leaving the grocery store. The car would keep turning over and over but not actually start. Finally it started and I was on my way. Recently it's been doing it even more. In the morning it cranks just fine but if I've been riding around for a while, park the car for a few minutes, and try to start it back up it just won't fire. It tries but something is wrong. If I wait a few minutes it will usually fire up.

Took it to a mechanic here in town and he can't figure out what the problem is. Says it's not the starter or anything that's normal. He says no pulse is being sent to the fuel injectors and it's electrical. Could be a loose wire or something else.

So before I go spending more money I thought I'd try here and see if anyone could help. Thanks for the time.

 

Sounds like the main relay

 

yes it sounds like the main relay. you will notice that it doesnt start when its hot out. and usually starts in the morning when its cold out.

 

I found the main relay this morning (which is also called Fuel Injection relay) and unplugged it. Tried to start my car and it wouldnt fire. It did the exact same thing my car does when it doesnt want to crank. Plugged it back in and it fired up. Ran it for a while this afternoon, turned it off, tried to start it back up and it took 10 minutes. I'm convinced it's the main relay now but don't think I can get it out. I'll see if I can order one online and have a mechanic put it in for me.

 

It was the main relay. I bought a new one and had it installed. Car starts every time now. Thanks guys.

 

Sorry for digging up a old thread, i have a ascot with a H23A from 92, it had the exact same problem you have described, this problem has been going on for about a year now, and its driving my wife crazy,

can you tell me where the main relay is

pic of the box in engine bay in Japanese so cant read it

 

I just found a relay up under the dash drivers side RZ 0088 is that the one??? (grey box with a brown plug in the bottom )

 

Don't know why you didn't post in the Accord/ Acura CL forum but Yeah that's it. Replace it with THAT SAME RELAY. No other number...
From what I remember, The Acura CL had the same Main Relay number..doesn't matter if it's the 4 or 6 cylinder, the Main relay is the same.

Right it's a beeotch to remove?

 

that bad to remove, great, are well ill just unplug the old one and plug in the new one, leave the old one where it is and put the new one somewhere else.

since the ascot is a JDM i guess it prob got released in the USDM as a Acura CL or accord, New Zealand imports lots of JDM so we are rather lost with whats what,

thanks for the help as i found a relay for the prelude with the same engine but part number was two digits different, see what i can find

 

Oh, You haven't removed it yet? Yeah don't bother, it's waste of time.
You can just plug in the new one and leave it there. You will never disturb it anyway...