Hey everyone, so I have an issue with my 5th Gen Prelude and I basically just need slight guidance into where to start my journey.

I recently have started having problems with my car while i'm driving. I suddenly lose power (engine wise as all electrical things still operate) and my car will stall. As it's a stick shift though, sometimes I can start it right back up no problems, or sometimes I have to pull over and let it sit for a bit and start right up.

Also, sometimes to start the engine, the first time I go to start it, it will not start. Than my 2nd attempt it fires up just right.

There are no recent mods done to the car. And my timing belt is fine as well as the tensioner. Since all my electrical is good, I doubt it has anything to do with a Coil, Dist., Wires, or plugs which leads me to believe that the culprit would be fuel. If this is the case, it's either my fuel pump or main relay.

My question is, is it common for a fuel pump or main relay to cause symptoms like this when they're about to die out? Please any advice, help, answers, or facts would be of great help! Thanks.

P.S. Original engine, 2nd owner. 90K on it. Nothing crazy. Thanks!

 

fuel pump been changed with the engine? sounds like its overheating and when u pull over and let it sit it cools down enough to run again... could also be fuel pressure regulator but most likely fuel pump... does not sound like ignition at all

 

Fuel pump has not been changed. And there is no new engine. There was never a swap, it's all OE. As far as overheating, it's not that either because the temp. is all within range. When I say I pullover to let it sit, I mean SECONDS. I will pull over and sit 5-10 seconds and it will start right back up. So my only 2 options I figured are Fuel Pump or Main Relay. Thanks for the help and insight though!

 

ohh 90k oe kms. umm yeah i dont know much about the fuel pump relays. 90k on engine id actually have no idea what that could be.. any engine checks? does it drive funny before it stalls?

 

Well not funny, but the engines power suddenly surges (as it completely loses power) and than it stalls. But as stated, there is all electrical running. It feels as if fuel cuts out completely for that moment but than my car can be started up again no problem. So that's why i'm led to believe it's a Main Relay issue more than a Fuel Pump. Especially with the hard starting issue of not starting up on first attempt sometimes.

 

refer to service manual for testing procedures

 

I know lol, but i'm just wondering if anyone else has had this same problem, even with another Honda and what was the culprit. Just some feedback to make sure if i'm on the right path or if I should start looking elsewhere...

 

Theres a little black wire, with a L shaped connector that plugs into the starter that i had a problem with for a while...

My car would just randomly stall while driving.. but i didnt lose full power and it started right back up... eventually my car didnt start again..

and thats when i found that the connector wasnt on very tight... i tightened the connector and havent had a problem since.

good luck

 

I've been having a very similar problem. I have a 92 integra ls vtec turbo. I have put to different warlboro 255 fuel pumps in the car as well as changing the entire gas tank due to rust. (its an old car but the tank rusts within a year? wierd.) I changed the tank thinking that rust was stopping up the pickup and not allowing the fuel pump to work properly. The most recent time I've changed the tank it doesn't die on me as much but it still stalls out at about the 1/4 mark on the fuel gauge. At that point it stalls while going in a sharp left turn or a rapid stop down hill or slowing down quickly while coming off of the exit ramp of the interstate. Just today at 3/4 tank it stalled out while on the exit ramp. I came to a stop and the motor started to idle rough and the car died. I can hear a different pitch in the sound of the fuel pump when I turn the switch on while trying to refire the engine. If I wait about 5 minutes while switching the key on and off to check, the pitch changes from a high pitch sound to a lower pitch which tells me its finally picking up fuel again. Then I can hear fuel running through the car. It then starts and runs fine. This thing is doing the wierdest **** and I can't figure it out. I even used the OEM honda fuel pickup sock on the pump. (aftermarket ones don't sit at the same angle like the hondas do.) I'm wondering if its the fuel pressure regulator or something. Because the fuel pump is still actually working but its just not picking the fuel up for some reason. Also the rust thing has me confused. All hoses look fine on the car and I've changed the filter regularly. If anyone can figure out the wierd fuel pump problem let me know it sounds like we have similar issues.

 

Well now I ran a couple of small tests and it's deff. leading me to believe there is some kind of problem with most possibly the Main Relay. I noticed that when I turn the key to the ON position, the very first time, my fuel pump does NOT kick in. When I do it the 2nd time and every time after that it kicks in.

Than if I let it sit for a minute, once again, the fuel pump won't kick in, but every other time after that, it kicks in and works fine no problem. Also, this issue basically kicks in every time I drive now, and it usually happens when i've been driving for about 10 mins. than the issue occurs. Due to the fact that i've never seen a fuel pump with intermittent problems, i'm leaning towards the Main Relay. I'll update this if that fixes my problem, but any other input would be of great help!

 

its because its a ugly *** prelude. and its old as hell. just give it up, your car is ugly, slow, old, and unreliable. have fun watching the fast and the furious

peace out
Jarule

 

what a hater!! I hope you are not trying to be the rapper, Jarule, because his career ain't going nowhere for beefing with others

 

Haha well played

 

Has your ignigtion switch recall been done yet? check it out on
www.ahm-ownerlink.com

 

It sounds like your problem is a main relay. You can actually remove the cover on the main relay and look for weak spots in the solder. Usually there are two or three places that tend to get weak over time. Look closesly for small cracks on the solder and take the soldering iron and re melt it. Thats usually what causes main relays to go bad. Once you are finished soldering while the iron is still hot take the soldering iron and shove it in Jarules eye.

 

i would check the ignition switch and main relay. ive seen them both go bad with the increased heat during spring and summer months. trust me i live in miami and its hot as bawls down here

 

Thanks Vtak and Miami. I'm checking the car today and will post what happens or what fixes the issue ASAP!

 

Thanks Lude Acts for the info. Apparently my car has had that recall done on it already but thanks!

And thanks to everyone else for the advice and help. The culprit ended up being a bad Main Relay and i'm back in business!

 

If it kind of sputters for a few (5-10) seconds and quits, then maybe the fuel line, filter, or tank pickup is plugged.

If it just out right dies, I would vote for the main fuel relay. As I recall, there is an issue with the main relay having a cold solder joint that is brittle and tends to crack with age.

 

yeah id say a fuel relay too my buddy had the same problem but good at least you got it figured out

 

FML! New problem guys. Though I fixed my previous issue and my car was running just fine... I went to a friends house, and as I'm about to go somewhere... My car won't start... Cranks. No Start.

And when it does start, the car dies right after it starts. It chooses when it wants to start.

So now I've come to the conclusion that I got a faulty Main Relay from the start.... well I will know come Monday so wish me luck world!

 

Try reflowing the solder on that main relay rather than buying a new one....Save the $$

 

Well I had already bought a new one from my previous job for about $50.
But since this one failed, i'm just going to warranty it with them. I mean it was only one day so yea... it just sucks though. I was happy to have the thing running fine

 

So swapped out the Main Relay to another NEW Main Relay and we're back and running!

 

FML.... new relay is causing exact same issue as the original problem. Car runs, but will stall. Considering that the last Main Relay fixed this issue and than took a dump, i'm kinda stuck...

Could it be cuz it's not an OEM Main Relay and the car is acting funny towards it? Super lost now... Imma do extensive tests this Saturday and will let people know my finds.