Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

car is a 98 honda civic sedan with a ls turbo

I had it running PERFECT one day, turned it off for the day and came back in the morning to a no start. Timing is ON, there is spark and fuel but car doesnt turn over. It jus stays cranking. So i checked my fuses and noticed that the Fuse 31 starter signal fuse is blown, i put a new fuse and as soon as i crank the engine it blows, then when i put a larger amp (for the purpose of seeing if it will turn on) it slowly cranks and hesistates almost in a pause. I dont have a wiring diagram and dont know where to find one online (i know there gotta be a place to download it or view it without buying a helms or ETM book from honda) i dont know where to start or what's before the fuse. If anyone can help me that would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

Check your ground wires

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

Grounds are good, I have four grounds in the engine bay and they're all good. So I finally got a wiring diagram that shows what fuse 31 is part of. So before the fuse it gets power from the ignition switch and starter. I check the signal wire for continuity all the way to the starter signal relay and it's good. The relay itself is good so I'm stumped. There should be a short somewhere before the fuse for it to blow a fuse correct? After the fuse it goes into the main relay but the main relay is switching on seems to be working fine. I don't know where to go from here and don't know exactly why the engine won't turn over

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

The engine wont turn over because the fuse is popping. Did you check your starter ground wire? along with your alternator ground wire?

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

The test:
Reinstall a 7.5A fuse into the dash fuse 31 slot. One at a time, unplug the integrated control unit (in dash fuse box), the main relay, or the ECU. Then crank the engine. Does unplugging one of these components prevent fuse 31 from blowing?


http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/u...cture_5073.jpg

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

i will try that and let you know, thank you

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

It has not yet been said, but there is an electrical short somewhere downstream of fuse 31. As you can see from the diagram I posted, the short can be in a wire (Blu/Wht), the ICU/dash fuse box, main relay, or ECU. Determining whether unplugging one of the components downstream of fuse 31 prevents it from blowing will help to locate the source of the short.

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

where is the integrated control unit?

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

It plugs into the rear of the dash fuse box.

Start with the main relay and then the ECU.

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/u...cture_5075.jpg

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

thank you

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

The Blu/White wire pins to 31P ECU connector C (C6), so only this connector needs to be unplugged:

http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/u...cture_5076.jpg

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

So...i took each component off like you said and it still it blows the fuse. when i took all main relay and ecu off it didnt break, but when i put it back it on, the fuse stopped breaking but the starter only clicks. i took the starter off and had it tested, it kicks on but doesnt turn real fast. the guy who tested said it seem to be fine, but i swear the starter kicks on hard and spins real fast. it sounds like a fan spining. So...im confuse

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

Sounds like your battery is low on charge or dead. Have it tested and charged/replaced if necessary. If the battery is fully charged, then check the large starter wire and its connection. Of course, the starter problem is separate from your fuse 31 problem. Once the starter/battery problem is solved, redo the tests. If disconnecting the three components does not prevent fuse 31 from blowing, then you have a short in the Blu/Wht wire leading to the main relay and/or ECU or the dash fuse box is bad. Do you have a multimeter to test for shorts?

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

yeah the battery is fully charged, that's what im using to check the circuit is a dvom, i'll check the blue/white wire

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

My troubleshooting strategy assumes that the circuit downstream of fuse 31 is stock and not modified. Is this correct?

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

from what i can tell it is

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

Remove fuse 31 and unplug the main relay and ECU connector C. Then test for continuity to body ground on the Blu/Wht wire.

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

blue/white wire at the relay or ecu? or fuse?

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

Testing the wire at the ECU or main relay plug should be fine.

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

hey wat's that green plug that comes from the engine harness, i was curious what the pin out is what goes in there

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

What green plug?

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

it comes off the engine harness i think...there's the plugs that go into the ecu and another that connects to a plug that comes from the chassis

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

Post pictures. What are you trying to do? Did you test for a short?

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

no not yet i havent done it yet im at work, bout to get off so i can do it...i jus remember seeing it yesterday and there was a plug there that looked kinda chop up

Re: Starter signal fuse keeps blowing
 

https://i.ebayimg.com/21/!BwRH7-wEGk...!w50w~~_12.JPG

this green plug...i wanna know what's it for