Hi Gang I am proud to announce I just picked up my wife’s first car (clone) an 88 CRX dx Automatic with 75k original miles on it
It's her birthday tomorrow and I am in danger of having all my brownie points disappearing (as well as my life hahaha) if I can't get it going ! hahahaha SAVE THE BROWNIE POINTS HAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Bullet points
Have an 88 crx dx Automatic (new to me )
It Sat for several years when I bought it, (started fine and I turned it off it several times while looking at it , and once on the way home )
I changed fluids and drove 30 miles home
Turned it off
It would not restart (not even crank over !I tried for 30 min)
Came back 3 hours later – started right up!
Did my homework everyone on here said MAIN RELAY!
I replaced with one from another 88 seemed to help, it ran for most of a day then same thing! Grrrr
I re-soldered all the connections in both Main relays , it does the same thing with either one in the car.
It will start right up, It idles forever in my driveway,
when I test drive it, it does it again (won't crank)
I immediately replace the Main relay with the spare but it does not crank over
?'s
I think I have eliminated the Main as the problem.
I have heard someone say starter relay, ignition control module and ecu ground
what other modules or relays can I try (because they seem to bit the bill)
Please let me know (before I go mad hahaha)*Please enlighten me?

Thanks in advance?
PS

 

When you the turn the key and the engine does NOT crank, are the gauge cluster lights still lit? Or do they lose power like the car completely died altogether?

 

If you send me a private message with a good email address I have a .pdf file that shows the locations of the ground connections to inspect. May help.

 

yes the cluster gauge lights are still on.

 

I send the msg , thanks I am new to that so let me know if you did not get it
God Bless
Brian

 

After dealing with this same issue, checking all the grounds, battery, main relay etc. It ended up being the starter for me. It was very sporadic like yours and surprising that it was the starter itself.

 

I was going to say the same thing^

 

Can I bench test the starter, since it starts when cold will I be able to see if it is not 100%. or do I just replace it and hope for the best?

 

Here is a quick link for a diy bench test http://www.misterfixit.com/starttst.htm

 

take the starter to autozone or what ever they will do it free

also it could be your distributor that was the problem with my old motor same symptoms

 

when you go to crank over, do you hear any noise, like a click? have someone tap on the starter and starter solenoid while you are trying to start.

 

was it your distributer , or just the ignition control module, or something else in the distributer

 

no there is absolutely no sound from the engine compartment at all ! the only click is from the main relay when I turn the key!

 

Do this, but hold the key down and tap on the starter itself, sometimes they stick when they wear out. It would crank over if it was your dizzy or main relay. It has to be something in your starter or starter circuits.

 

OK I'll try it

 

i replaced the whole thing bro goodluck