Hello Honda-tech world,

Bare with me on an issue that has surely been covered before, but I am unable find a solution. I have a 1989 CRX HF. The car starts and runs fine if I bypass the the relay and ignition switch etc. by jumping from the starter solenoid terminal to the positive battery post, as described Here

However, the car has power but no crank when trying to start using the key as one does in a functional vehicle.

The clutch pedal sensor has been "tested" as good (by bypassing the switch using a jumper between the two wires on the connector).

The main relay has been tested as good (multiple times) using the method described here

The main relay harness has been tested as good (multiple times) using the method described here, although it is important to point out that there was no voltage when testing for ~10v (as described in steps 7 & 8) when turning the key to the start position, indicating that there is an issue with fuse #2 or the wiring between the main relay and the fuse box or an issue with the wiring between the fuse box and the ignition switch.

Fuse #2 is good (visually inspected and continuity tested). The wiring from the main relay to fuse #2 appears good by way of continuity test.

The ignition switch has been tested as good as described in a youtube video and on page 16-30 of the CRX Workshop Manual, f(testing rom the mid-harness connector to the ignition switch).

It would seem the only wiring that I haven't tested for continuity is from the fuse to the connector that goes to the ignition switch, but I cannot figure out how to do that. Any suggestions? The wiring color sceme seems to change from the relay side of the fuse box to the ignition switch side. Does anyone know how to test that?

Is there anything else I should be testing or checking?

It is also important to note, the car had been in storage for 21 years. The cylinders were lubed, the fuel tank and fuel pump were replaced and the car was driven a few times over the course of a few weeks (less than 10 miles total), including a trip to the car wash in which (among other things) the engine bay was degreased. The car drove fine after that wash. However, the current issue started on a follow up trip to the car wash, in which the engine bay was sprayed lightly. I've looked over all of the electrical connections in the engine bay (the ones I can find) and have not found any issues such as loose or disconnected wires, but I'm not sure which wires & connectors I should be checking.

 

The starting circuit goes through the starter relay, not the main relay. The starter relay is a separate and different relay than shown in those links you included.

 

Thank you for your reply. Any advice on how to find the starter relay or if it might be called something else?
While I admittedly have very little experience or expertise in auto mechanics, and it appears that you have a great deal of knowledge and experience, I have been researching this particular problem with this particular model and I have found many posts indicating that there is not a starter relay. All searches for starter relay for a 1989 Honda CRX HF point to the main relay; the Haynes manual has no reference to a starter relay; and as I mentioned most posts/threads on the subject turn out to say that there is only one relay for starting/ignition/fuel pump etc. If this in fact not that case, it would be helpful to get a little more info to identify and test the starter relay.
Thanks

 

This image shows the starter relay.

 

That is very close to/exactly where the main relay is located in my vehicle. But the main relay is larger. I don't recall seeing anything like the relay in the picture you posted, but I will look again tomorrow. It would be helpful to know the source of this photo. I suspect it might be for a different year or model.

 

I had the same issue where I could not find that relay and I found it behind the center console instead of where it was supposed to be.

 

I was able to find the starter relay, it was exactly where shown in the picture, I just hadn't noticed it previously. Initial testing indicates that the relay is good, but it was recommended on a different forum that some additional testing would be prudent.