HELP!!! I went searching through the archives, but didn't find much that I already haven't found.

I have a '88 CRX HF that is having starting issues. It starts fine for about 3 seconds and then dies as if it is out of fuel. This is an intermittent problem. The first instance of the problem happened about 2 months ago. It then started right up after about 2 or 3 minutes. Then it happened again 3 days ago. This time it took a good hour before it started. I had a friend, who is a mechanic, come by and check it. He checked for spark and said everything looked fine there. We then broke the seal on the inlet side of the fuel filter and tried to start the car. Nothing came out. I searched through some of the archives here and most things pointed to the main relay being the problem. So I picked up a replacement and changed it yesterday. Then today at lunch time, BAM! Again it won't start. This time I had to wait 30 minutes before it would start. It started once or twice but only lasted 2 seconds tops before dieing again. It seems almost as if something was overheated and just needed time to cool down.

Is the fuel pump starting to go on it or is it something else electrical? I always thought a fuel pump was mechanical and it either works or it doesn't. Though I can't afford it, I'm trying to get it into a mechanic to check it out.

What the heck could be wrong? Any ideas?

 

Check the ignition switch.

 

i had similar problems with my 91 hatch if you have the stock crapy motor like i do means your Dist. is starting to crap out on you check your wires and sparkplugs my car went throuh 2 dist already last problem i had that it didnt want to start was just the Rotor lost the screw but i was having problems with it just shuttin off or not wanting to start all it was the dist was goin bad
then it just craped out so try changing that cap and rotor.

 

and change dist or borrow a friends for a week

 

I managed to get it over to a mechanic yesterday. They are gonna look into it today. As for the ignition switch, that may be a possibility. I have been hearing a small spark every few seconds whenever the A/C is on. I mentioned that to the technician and he said its probably the ignition switch. They were gonna look into that as well. As for the dist cap and rotor, I replaced the cap and wires recently. The rotor look in good condition so I left it as is. Who knows, maybe the dist is crapping out on me. I'll find out later today. Thanks everyone for your help. Peace out.

 

next time don't let your brain crap out.

work on your own ****.


'tis the only way to learn

 

Well, finally got the news back from the mechanic.

As it turns out, the problem was an electrical connector on the fuel pump was starting to break off. He fixed the connector and it is good to go.

It is nice to find an honest mechanic. Almost any other mechanic would have tried to get me for a new fuel pump.

I probably would have found it if I had checked myself, but I'm only mechanicaly inclined enough for tune ups and oil changes. I'm not too good with deeper rooted stuff.

Thanks everyone.

 

so how much did he charge you to replace the connector? (which in a CRX is readily accessible without removing a single thing)

 

All in all, they only charged me $40. A simple diagnostic charge.