I need some help with my car. for the past 6 month or so ive experienced the symptoms of a bad EFI-main relay. Car was difficult to start early in the morning and usually took about 5-10 cranks to start. Last week it started to need more cranks (about 15-30) before it would finally start. while driving to work i got on the freeway and immediately lost power and enging was backfiring/bogging when i would hit the gas pedal. i could not go over 40mph even if i floored the gas and i was worried that i blew my engine or had a cylinder mis fire. i pulled over and let it sit for an hr, when the temperature outside warmed up the car started with about 10 key turns/cranks and drove fine but my check engine light came on. I bought and replaced the main relay, but i was told by a mechanic that the same relay is used for the turn signals and other stuff. now my question is, is the MAIN RELAY/ EFI RELAY in the same location in a 97 accord as it is in the 94 accord? I cannot seem to find it. there is a silver cruse control box under the dash, but there is no relay behind it and i do not see the bolts holding the silver box in place so i cannot remove it. i have attached pics of my car. the main realy in the pics is a brand new one, it is located under the dash opposite side of the silver cruse control box. the black looking relay is rite next to the main relay in the pics. i hope this helps because im out of options and i really cant afford a visit to the repair shop rite now so any help is appreciated.

 

Here is the main relay.

 

normally the main relay is responsible for ur car dying while it's running not for problems starting. Normally problems starting WHEN CAR IS COLD can be attributed to the ECT sensor.

 

thanks, the relay that u circled in the above pic has been replaced with a brand new one about 2 months ago. i was not sure if there was another "main' relay located on the other side of the steering colum above/behind the silver cruse control box like it is in the 94' accord. so now that thats clear i guess ill get the sensor that u mentioned and hope for the best. My car struggles to start in the cold, when it heats up outside it still requires multiple attemps before it starts but starts faster/easier than it does when cold. could this be the ECU relay or sensor? and would it cause my car to have intermitent starting / cut off while driving problems?

 

It normally won't cause your car to cut off while driving. That is usually the coil or the ignition switch. You can test the coil. Just do a search. If that checks out you can replace the switch. It's really easy. If the problem is the ignition switch, when the car turns off if the dash lights all go off. Also, it will happen more when you have lights, radio, and electrical stuff on.

 

You could also check the health of your battery and the condition of the power and ground connections. Make sure the connections are all tight and free of dirt and corrosion and that none of the wires are cut or worn.