My son has a 1990 CX HB 5spd. We have done the usual for a car this old, all new hoses, rad., thermostat, sensors etc. etc. etc.
The car runs great but the problem is the usual one you hear on here. When you drive for awhile and the car is at normal operating temp. and you shut it down it won't restart.
Now I know you are all saying it is the main relay. Well we replaced the relay with a new one and I opened it up and checked all the solder points in the new one with a magnifying glass and it is good.
I should elaborate a little more as to what is actually happening. The car does not turn over, everything works but it will not turn over when you turn the key all the way forward to the start position.
If I push the car it starts up, if I put jumpers on ithe battery it starts. So I had the battery load tested and was told it was good. Well I got pissed and bought a cell tester and it said two cells were dead so I replaced the battery with a brand new one.
The car has run fine with no problems for several days and tonight it just did it again. would not turn over with the key But as soon as we gave it a push in gear it started right up.
I replaced the ignition switch harness with a low mileadge one from another civic hatch, which I also opened up and cleaned and serviced as well as checking the wiring for any cracks etc.
I also bought a second engine harness and between the two harnesses I made a new one with all the best wiring and fitings. I then tested all those wires for continuity before plugging the harness back in.
The starter selonoid does not click or act up in any way when it won't start so I am at a loss and open to any help I can get.

 

have you checked starter....

 

Bad ignition switch?

 

That sounds like a bad ground or the starter is on its way out

 

make shure u have a ground wire going to the trans and one from valve cover to core support,my buddy bought a 91 si and he had same problems and i replaced all grounds and power wires and its perfect

 

Check your grounds like others said and check to see if your alternator is charging and starter solenoid is working and your battery connections. sounds like its a charging issue if it does this...

 

Thanks for the replies, and all the suggestions. My son and I are going to tackle the battery and ground connections tomorrow and see what happens. I will keep you posted. Thanks again.

 

definitly check the grounds, then check the alternator, if its bad pick one up from the junkyard take it to autozone get it tested if its good put it on if its bad return it, better then paying 100 bucks for one that could **** on you in the same amount of time

 

90 cx hatch?? never heard of that model until the 92 and up lol

 

another word for std

 

never heard of that one ever...hmm weird, nobodys ever said hey i like your clean 91 cx lol

 

Probably means DX, C and D are right next to each other on the keyboard.

 

Well guys tonight we made up and replaced both battery cables, all the ground straps and made three additional ground straps and installed them as well. I went so far as to make a 10 ga. ground strap and attach it along with the harness straps to the thermos stat housing and run it back to the main battery ground strap on the tranny.
My son took the car out for a run at normal operating temp and turned the car off. Unfortunately it would still not turn over, so tomorrow night we are removing the starter for inspection and going to have the alternator tested. I will keep you posted on the results and thanks for the advice.

 

If it won't turn over, I'd look into the starter solenoid. We used to have a Dodge van that had the starter near the exhaust manifold. It was a bad design because when the solenoid got hot, it wouldn't start. The easiest test would be to swap a known good starter and see if it does the same thing.