my car is an 88 HF and it died at a friends house... i went inside for about 5-6 hours, and when i come back to leave, it wouldnt start. heres the symptoms:
when i put the key in and turn it to run, the check engine light does not come on, but the e-brake light and the battery light do and they stay on. (my e-brake was not engaged)
the 'click' when you turn the key to run is not there.
there is a humming, which i assume is the fuel pump, so thats not the problem
i'm almost positive its something electrical... something either in the ignition, the starter, or the distributer.

please help... TIA

 

This sounds notoriously like a failed/failing main relay. I know you said you can hear a humming sound, but it may not be your fuel pump priming. Check to see if you are getting spark.

 

the car will not turn over. sorry, i forgot to add that... when it gets late my mind shuts off. i cant check the spark.

 

Maybe your battery is too weak or is dead.

 

i told you its that damn purple barney color thats ****** your car up. check the main relay

 

it takes a real man to drive a purple car... i'm about to head over to his place, so i'll check the main relay. but what would cause it to blow?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by boosh &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it takes a real man to drive a purple car... i'm about to head over to his place, so i'll check the main relay. but what would cause it to blow? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Possibly a short or bad ground in the system somewhere?

 

take it to XMDs. it sounds like a wiring issue. Can you jump the car ?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zc-rex &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">take it to XMDs. it sounds like a wiring issue. Can you jump the car ? </TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree that it may be a wiring issue, before towing it though try checking the following...

If the car cant be started even while jumping it, then you wanna check all the fuses in the main fuse box (right side engine compartment?). Arwp onw for any type of problem like this should be to check the main fuses. Check for blown fuses, also check the connections and wiring leading away from the main fuse box and see if any of the wires are grounding/shorting out on something metallic in the engine bay and see if any of the wires are frayed or exposed.

If there is a blown fuse in the main box, then replace it of course. But be prepared because the fuse may blow again. If it blows again, then you more then likely have a short or grounded wire somewhere, and you'll have to find it.

Here is a link to the FSM, go to the electrical section t help you troubleshoot your problem.

http://tech.hybridgarage.com/t...l.pdf


Modified by BlueShadow at 8:06 AM 12/31/2003


Modified by BlueShadow at 8:24 AM 12/31/2003

 

what he said, thats what id do.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by boosh &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">my car is an 88 HF and it died at a friends house... i went inside for about 5-6 hours, and when i come back to leave, it wouldnt start. heres the symptoms:
when i put the key in and turn it to run, the check engine light does not come on, but the e-brake light and the battery light do and they stay on. (my e-brake was not engaged)
the 'click' when you turn the key to run is not there.
there is a humming, which i assume is the fuel pump, so thats not the problem
i'm almost positive its something electrical... something either in the ignition, the starter, or the distributer.

please help... TIA
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Define the humming?

If you hear a high pitch wine for a few seconds when you put the key to run, its the fuel pump, any other hum is not normal. If you are hearing a hum when you try and turn the key to start, and only then, then its your starter...it could be seized or stuck on a bad coil. Hit it with a hammer and hope it starts.

If you dont hear a click when you turn the key it means either the solenoid is jammed or not getting any power. Take a voltmeter to its power connection (small guage wire on the starter) and see if it gets any juice when the car is put on start. If not, then it could be your clutch switch or any number of ignition related issues.

Also check the battery voltage (should be ~12.3 V)....if lower than say 10.5, TRICKLE charge it DO NOT JUMP it as you will significantly reduce the battery's life. Once its carged try the car again. If it starts, then you need to find out why the battery died in the 1st place. Either the battery is on its way out (you know if the car fails to start again soon) or the alternator is fux0red (check the voltage at the battery when teh car is running, should be 14-14.3 volts)

Good luck

 

i tried hitting the starter with a hammer, but it didnt work. i have a starter sitting in my shed, but i dont want to tear my car appart in my friends driveway... so i'm gonna tow it back o my place and replace the starter tomorrow. i'll see if that fixes it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by boosh &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i tried hitting the starter with a hammer, but it didnt work. i have a starter sitting in my shed, but i dont want to tear my car appart in my friends driveway... so i'm gonna tow it back o my place and replace the starter tomorrow. i'll see if that fixes it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Have you checked the fuses and all the wiring? I dont think you've mentioned if you checked those.

 

for anyone who searches for this topic... it was my starter. then i come to find that my batterey died too.