I own a black 1988 CRX Si glasstop with a DOHC ZC motor, totally stock AFAIK. I'm noticing a few minor problems with this car. The performance is fine, I just want confirmation on a few things.

First of all is an intermittent problem that shows itself every now and then where when I start the car hot it will start fine, run for a few seconds then slowly die as if its not getting enough fuel. Crank again and it does the same thing only it dies faster. Third time and it just cranks without even trying to start. By this time I notice that the main relay isn't clicking when i turn ignition to "ON" nor is the fuel pump running for 2 seconds. I get no CEL; however trying again and again will eventually get the pump and the car running fine; OR I can bump the dash around where the fuse panel is and it will run fine after that. This sounds like a main relay and/or loose connection problem am I right?

Second problem is that when I remove the oil filler cap while the engine is running there is a small amount of pressure behind it, and with it removed I can feel a breeze. Is this normal or could it be something like the PCV valve or valve seals?

 

bump and extra info: when the fuel pump fails to run, the ECU also appears to have no power.

 

sounds exactly like the main fuel relay for question one. you can pull off the pcv and test it, just take it off and blow into it it shuld let air one way and not the other

 

Yeah I think it is the PCV valve; I havn't checked it yet but around the same time that the pressure appeared under the cap a small amount of oil seepage around the valve cover also appeared which is consistent with PCV failure.

Thanks

 

Roughly how much air/gases/whatever should actually be escaping the piston rings and/or valves to be recirculated back into the throttle body? What I'm feeling out of the oil filler cap seems a bit much, however the engine starts and performs fine. I guess I'll check out the PCV valve and go from there.