Hello All -

I am new to Honda-Tech, and have no experience with Hondas (just Mopars), so please forgive my ignorance. I did a search on the topic and found a lot that makes this sound right, but I wanted to run it by you anyway just to get a better feel.
The car is a 91 CRX DX with just over 200k on it.The car is in great shape, save for deamons in the AC system, but it just started this odd problem the other day.
The car had been running great since we got it a couple of months ago, then the car sat for about a week at my place while my GF and I went on vacation.When we got back, she drove home one night, then to work the next morning (read: when the ambient temp was cool).The next day at work, it was nice and sunny and clear, but not too hot.At 5PM, she got in the car to start it and it just cranked and cranked with no actual running.
I had just done a full tune-up with plugs, wires, cap, button, valve cover gasket, etc. The Ignitor on the car had been replaced several years ago to a newer style. I have the receipt for this from the dealer.
Anywho, we left it at work and took my car, then drove back the next morning and at 8AM, I got in it and it started up as normal.We came out at lunch at Noon and again, it started up. Came out at 5PM, again on a nice sunny day (read: hot inside the car), and it would again crank but not start.
We left it there again, then came back the next morning, and it of course started right up, so I drove it home, but now I don't have a clue. I don't want her to drive it if she will get somewhere and it will do that.
One other tidbit: The previous owner said that it would sometimes do that, but if you let it sit for a few minutes it would start up. From dealing with old cars I thought 'Vapor Lock', but on a 91 model FI car?!
OK, so what I read on here so far tells me that this is basically either a design or manufacturing flaw, or both. The solder on the connections inside the relay wether and eventually develop cracks, and as the interior of the car gets warm, possibly these expand and the car does not start because the relay is no longer sending a signal to the fuel pump to work.

Can someone please confirm that I have this right and it sounds like the best explanation?

Also, where is the cheapest place to gget one of these things and about how much?

Thanks for the help!

- TripleJack

 

I think I'm having the same problem, I been told it might be the relay, but I have no clue where it is. Do you have any diagrams or a general location for me to look. Sorry I'm no help, but you might be able to help me

Thanx

 

lower left side of your dash...take out the pocket or door...look up behind there,to the left...should say mitsubo or something...take it out..take it apart..resolder all of the solder points...good as new

 

An article on troubleshooting a "No-Start Situation":
http://autorepair.about.com/cs...a.htm

An article on replacement of main relay: http://honda.hybrids.jp/tech/p...shtml

An article on the possibility of repairing main relay: http://www.markl.f9.co.uk/howt...y.htm

One quick note on an easier method of replacement:
What most honda-techs do is to remove the circuit board from a new main relay
and pop it into the old case without unbolting it from under the dash..





Modified by 88DXCRX at 1:11 PM 9/27/2004

 

PS> Welcome to Honda-Tech..
You also asked:
Can someone please confirm that I have this right and it sounds like the best explanation?
Also, where is the cheapest place to gget one of these things and about how much?

I replaced mine 05/14/01 and have not had a problem
as you described ever since.

Honda dealer is where I got mine:
part #
2907640 RELAY RZ39400-SH3-003 ----$48.60---- [over 3 years ago]

 

Thanx for the info bustah49 and again 88DXCRX you've been a big help. I didn't mean to rob your thread TriplejackinGA, but I got the info I needed and I hope you did too

Good luck

 

what i noticed is when the main relay starts going out, it will not start the car when its HOT outside or inside the car...later on down the road when its more messed up it does it frequently, but speradicly (sp)...

 

my way to check if the main relay works is :
turn the key two spaces (II) u will see the check engine light on wait till it goes away if at the same time that goes away u heard a click its working if u donr=t heard anything its the main relay

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sit220 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">my way to check if the main relay works is :
turn the key two spaces (II) u will see the check engine light on wait till it goes away if at the same time that goes away u heard a click its working if u donr=t heard anything its the main relay </TD></TR></TABLE>

I checked the relay just like you said. I saw the CEL come and go and then the click. But I did some research (thanx to 88DXCRX ) and found out the main relay is actually 2 relays.
"The main relay actually contains two individual relays. One relay is energized whenever the ignition is on which supplies the battery voltage to the ECU, power to the injectors, and powers second relay.
The second relay energized for 2 seconds when the ignition is switched on, and when the engine is running it supplies power to the fuel pump"

I heard the click so does that mean my relay/relays are functioning?
either way, I'm running out of ideas I'm changing it tonight.

keep'um coming