sometimes car wont start

wagodizzle

ok, so just this past week i developed a highly annoying problem... when i go to start my car, it refuses to. the starter motors cranks and everything, just the engine wont start up. i tried to see if the fuel pump primes, and i dont think it is, so i know that the reason it wont start is cause it isnt getting any fuel. after like 5 attempts it will finally crank though...

i guess my question is, why isnt the fuel pump always priming? it does, then sometimes it doesnt.. so far this only happened to me 3 times... but, all in a week.. could it be the Main Relay? or....????

Haydz

Main fuel relay, brown, right up under the drivers side dash, pull it out and resolder all the joints.

jpciii

Pacifier wrote:

Main fuel relay, brown, right up under the drivers side dash, pull it out and resolder all the joints.

X2

this is a very common problem. Basically, every old Honda needs this done at some point.

Haydz

Yeah basicly you turn the key two clicks and you should hear the fuel pump prime and then a click noise come from the dash. If you don't hear that it's 90% likely to be the main fuel relay. Other problems can cause the main fuel relay to not work efficiently but try resoldering the joints first and see if that works.

More often than not this problem occurs when the car is warm and you stop at a petrol station, sitting there like a knob trying to start your car after filling up is embarrassing. :oops:

gp70hs

If it's not the fuel relay, then the fuel pump is probably on the edge, or over the edge and it will need to be replaced. I would certainly try soldering the joints on the fuel relay first.

wagodizzle

thanks for the replies, guys...

wagodizzle

ok, i'm really starting to think it might be the fuel pump so this leads me to a different Q, will the fuel pump off a Hatch/sedan work or is this also wagon specific?

Kahuna

I have the same problem. After I get gas I just turn the key on where it primes about five times, then it starts. I think mine is directly related to fuel pressure. I don't think I have enough and it has to build up pressure before it has enough fuel to power the motor.

I need to find an FPR!

wagodizzle

yeah, like today i could here the fuel pump prime, but it still wouldnt start.. also sounded kinda weak... after 5 tries or so it worked. so thats why im thinking my pump is slowly dying. all the other times though i didnt hear anything kick in. :?

blahhhh this sucks, i dont have any money for things to go wrong right now!!

Kahuna

Yeah it's annoying. Though I'm supposed to have 54-58 PSI according to Skunk2, and I know I'm not getting anywhere near that..

SiWagon

Let's start with the free & easy stuff first:
http://www.hondacivicwagon.com/board/vi ... .php?t=104

wagodizzle

yeh, thanks for that Si do you guys know if the fuel pump is wagon specific or not? the part # at Advance is the same for all civics...

the junkyard here sells them for $10 so imma see if that works.

and i really need to setup an appointment with my Honda dealer... they are such dicks though, meh... but yeah (i need new seatbelts and the Ign. upgrade )

bam-bam

Tell me about the seatbelt/ ignition deal. They're really doing cars this old? That's service!

I've seen references to the recall in other threads but just haven't followed up. How does one proceed? My belts are pretty badly frayed, and the ignition thing hasn't been done either (no punch mark above the VIN).

bam-bam

SiWagon wrote:

Let's start with the free & easy stuff first:
http://www.hondacivicwagon.com/board/vi ... .php?t=104

D'oh! sorry, didn't read this first.

wagodizzle

so my problem ended up being the Main Relay.

just want to thank all you guys for your responses 8)