1990 wont start

hello i think i posted this to the wrong spot so reposting. I have a 1990 1.5 stock wagon that i did love untill it dird on me. I went to leave work started the car it ran for 5 mins then died. the fuel pump is working, I put new plugs wires, new cap and rotor, plugs . fuel filter and still noting. If any1 has any ideas that i can try let me no. thanks in advance

Comments

  • JDMWago666JDMWago666 Senior Wagonist
    Search. This has happened to a lot of others before
    Try your main relay. If everything else has been replaced that is one morething to take into consideration.
  • thank u. i will try that now, but if it is how would i know if it was bad? does it click like the fuel pump relay?
  • crxedcrxed Band Wagon
    djblisir wrote:
    thank u. i will try that now, but if it is how would i know if it was bad? does it click like the fuel pump relay?
    The main relay and the fuel pump relais is the same thing! It's 2 relays in 1.
  • Thanks, I never new that.

    I got the relay out and it does click 3 time like I read somewhere.

    going to resolder and see if that helps.

    I was wondering tho, if the fuel pump is working and the car has spark, and the relay is clicking

    the relay can still cause the car not to start? Im new to this so sorry for all the ?s

    Thanks for the help in advance

    Brian
  • The wagon still dont start after re soldering the main relay. It still clicks like it is supposed to.

    The fuel pump is working, spark is good but going to check again just to make sure

    Could it be possible that the fuel pump does'nt have enough pressure? The car has been running great and ran great for 5 minutes before it died.

    I herd also it could be the compression but I have know way of checking that.

    I'm clueless on where to go from here. Im going to search some stuff for now to what I can come up with. If any more ideas please let me know.

    Thanks,
    Brian
  • things to check now would be timming, fuel (yes if your not getting enoungh fuel or any at all in the cylinders she wont fire), spark. try switching the main relay out for a Known good one. u can pull your plugs to see if ur getting fuel in the cylinders. also check your plugs , if they are real bad it wont fire.
  • crxedcrxed Band Wagon
    Does the startmotor crank the engine, but it just won't start?
    The main relais also switches power to the injectors, so if it is still faulty, the car won't start.

    Since you got new plugwires...are they in the right order?


    If yes, check your timing belt and everything else fatmike says.
  • TIMING, had this exact same thing happen to me...I thought my car had stalled...turns out it jumped a few teeth.

    does the car sputter at all? or just turn over? if it sputters you're still getting some form of gas/spark (usually).
  • It does'nt sputter or anything, just cranks.

    Im waitng on a new main relay now to come in the mail. I hope that fixes the problem.

    I did also check the timing and it looks fine. It is right on the one line on the crank pully facing straight towards the marker on the cover. There is know white line or anything on the pully just one line and then three lines. The marker is right on the one line.
    The cam is facing up and the rotor is right on number one plug.

    If the main relay does'nt fix the problem I'm going to have to eat the money and have someone look at it.

    I need to keep this motor alive till tax time then I will be able to swap motors. At least thats my plan.
  • SiWagonSiWagon Council Member
    Is that twice it ran for 5 min?

    Try shooting starting fluid in to see if it even runs.
  • No it only ran for 5 minutes ounce. Cant even get a sputter out of it now.

    I did try to spray some gas in the from a spray bottle and still nothing. I dont have any starting fluid so I used the gas. Going to grab some and try it tho.

    Whenever the relay decides to show up, Im hoping that solves it.
  • This sounds bad, but you could try pro-pain in the intake, do you have a little torch? The car should run off a little pro-pain. If it does check you fuel filter.
  • quartersquarters Council Member
    sounds like distributor to me.
  • quarters wrote:
    sounds like distributor to me.

    Yes - I've replaced mine twice. Similar symptoms. Runs great. Quits without warning and won't start. Assuming your timing belt is OK...

    Takes $150 and 10 minutes. I keep a spare in the car now next to the spare tires and spare main realy. I've used the spare distributor more than the spare tire. I don't know what dies in the distributor and I don't care - covered under warranty now.

    I read somewhere once - 95% of all Honda problems are the distributor. It's been true for me.

    But before you buy one - is the rotor screw in place and the rotor turning like it's supposed to?

    On a related note:
    - low compression will start and run - #3 on my car is pretty low if I recall
    - timing belt off a tooth or two - car will try to start and might even run just really poorly - mine was off a tooth when I bought it
  • djblisirdjblisir Band Wagon
    sorry for the late responce.. to much drama going on right now.

    I took it to a shop and it was the distributor. They said it wasnt getting enough spark to start the car.

    Since I got it back my cat got clogged and the fuel pump went out.. WTF.

    I dropped the tank to replace the pump and cut a hole under the back seat and put a plate over it incase this happends again.
    Putting the tank back up the straps were so rusty they broke. I made some new one out of metal banding. Seem to be working out.

    I cut the cat off and put a straight pipe in its place to solve the clogged cat problem.

    Now the wag is running pretty good. About to start with some needed body work and save for the swap. Will be posting some pics soon of the car now.
  • cw00ekcw00ek Band Wagon
    I was gonna say alternator but glad you got it figured out with the new distributor. Do you have emissions check in your state, cause I know around me they visually look for a cat?
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