So about a month ago I bought a very clean 91 Civic Si. It ran great, and still does, but over the last two weeks I have had to put in a new battery, starter, then a new alternator. After that it ran great started everytime for about 4-5 days. Then today I went out, started it, and it turned over kind of hard and slow but started. Then I stopped at the bank for about 10 minutes, went out and it isn't even turning the starter?

I think the car has some electrical problems after all of this. Everything turns on in the car still, when I press the brake down (running or not) the dash lights, and clock get dimmer. As of right now, when I turn the key over, there is a clicking that sounds like it's down in the area of the fuse box/ clutch relay, and nothing happens under the hood.

Could this be just a starter relay? Should I be worried about anything else going wrong? Any help is awesome, I really want to get this thing going and start having fun with it.

I plan on rebuilding or doing a b series swap. I am VERY new to working with these cars so talk to me like I'm an idiot, I need it .


Thanks!

 

It sounds like you've got something draining your battery while the car is sitting -- it seems as though your alt, starter and battery are ok. Do you have an aftermarket stereo or alarm? Either of these would be a good place to start looking for wiring issues.

 

Thanks for the input. I have an aftermarket stereo I installed myself. 99% sure I did everything right on my end. There are some odd things with the cluster though, when the turn signal is on the tach jumps, and like I said when the brake is pushed in the lights dim. I don't think it's a dead or weak battery, sometimtes it will turn over fine, then after driving or sitting, it will just not do anything. I'll try jumping it tonight anyways just to see. Is there a common ground amonst any of these things I could check? THanks.

 

He's right, you have a constant drain.
All the clicks you hear is because the battery is dead. Charge it and it will start.

Check under the dash for anything obvious, check battery voltage when car sits over a couple hours. This way you can see if volts drop over time.

 

but why would it do it after being driven? the alt should be charging it no matter what

 

Quick update, tried jumping it. Did the same thing. Alternator and starter are less than a week old. However this morning I went out and the battery did seem weaker than last night. So I do think something is draining it, but I still think there might be something else keeping it from starting?

I don't know really just guessing as I'm really amatuer to car work . Checked all the fuses, all good. All connections under the hood are solid from what I can see from top.

I do have one more question if anyone knkows. What are the two purple wires under the steering wheel? They are hanging disconnected from a connector? I can't trace them to anything but just wondering if it has anything to do with it? Nothing changes when I clip the connectors together that I can see. Thanks!

 

when you figure out this problem, please let me know.. my car is doing the same thing an i got a 90 Si. Also just replaced starter an alternator. Ill let you know if i figure it out first, thanks.

 

Definatley, I'll race you to it. I'm hoping it's just something draining it but I'm not convinced 100%.

 

put a multimeter on the battery and start pulling fuses. once you pull one that causes the voltage to go up you will then have a better idea where to look for the drain.

 

Wow, I never would have thought of that! Thanks for the advice, I'm sure that will come in handy.

 

Good post, you could also disconnect the negative cable from the battery and put a ammeter in between the negative battery pole and the negative cable. If the ammeter is reading above 0.5amps then there is definitely a draw. The aftermarket stereo could be the problem, just disconnect it over night and see if the car is fine the next morning

 

Looks like I win.. got my **** fixed but it was a super easy fix... battery just wasnt charged enough to start my car . Goodluck with yours

 

Alright so, I am about to set fire to this little Si right about now. Anyways here's a run down of what I found out and did.

I went through and pulled each fuse with a multimeter on the battery. Found the one that was draining it. It was the fuse for the brakes and horn??? So then I checked only what I could see for anything obvious like disconnected wires, something touching something it shouldn't etc. I found nothing. And none of the other fuses had any draw so it is only this one. I am going to try disconnecting the horn being easier than tracking where it is at in the power brakes ( I also have no idea where I would start with that, help anyone). Right now I have pulled the fuse and jumped the battery, took it for a half hour drive to try and charge it and wait over night to see if it holds charge still. When I was driving it after pulling the fuse, everytime I pushed in the brakes the seatbelt light and the open door light would come on along with the beeping sound. It also made the tach either jump or go all the way down.

Seriously, if anyone can help me I am at the end of my patience with this for tonight. I really REALLy want whatever I do to be done right and preferably back to original factory condition. No shortcuts or cutting corners .

A step by step of what I should check would be amazing, I have absolutely no idea what I am looking for when it comes to this new problem.

Thanks in advance!!!

 

Alright so, I am about to set fire to this little Si right about now. Anyways here's a run down of what I found out and did.

I went through and pulled each fuse with a multimeter on the battery. Found the one that was draining it. It was the fuse for the brakes and horn??? So then I checked only what I could see for anything obvious like disconnected wires, something touching something it shouldn't etc. I found nothing. And none of the other fuses had any draw so it is only this one. I am going to try disconnecting the horn being easier than tracking where it is at in the power brakes ( I also have no idea where I would start with that, help anyone). Right now I have pulled the fuse and jumped the battery, took it for a half hour drive to try and charge it and wait over night to see if it holds charge still. When I was driving it after pulling the fuse, everytime I pushed in the brakes the seatbelt light and the open door light would come on along with the beeping sound. It also made the tach either jump or go all the way down.

Seriously, if anyone can help me I am at the end of my patience with this for tonight. I really REALLy want whatever I do to be done right and preferably back to original factory condition. No shortcuts or cutting corners .

A step by step of what I should check would be amazing, I have absolutely no idea what I am looking for when it comes to this new problem.

Thanks in advance!!!

 

Sounds like you might have a short somewhere in the wiring for the brakes,I'm new here myself so not sure where the workshop manuals are but try searching and find a helms manual online(probably on here somewhere) and try to find the short.
Wiring problems tend to be a pain in the a*s but it is worth it to fix the car in the end.