Car starts randomly

michaelhinkle1michaelhinkle1 Senior Wagonist
in Engine & Drivetrain
Yesterday, it was really humid and hot outside, my car would start for a few seconds when I used starter fluid.

If I didn't use started fluid, it would just turn over and over and wouldn't crank.

This morning it's around 55 degree's, and the car starts fine.

Would this be a main relay problem?

Comments

  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    michaelhinkle1 wrote:

    Would this be a main relay problem?

    yes!
  • quartersquarters Council Member
    %100 main relay.

    i used to have an accord that would not start unless i parked in the shade.

    ps. you have a lemon.
  • michaelhinkle1michaelhinkle1 Senior Wagonist
    quarters wrote:
    %100 main relay.

    i used to have an accord that would not start unless i parked in the shade.

    ps. you have a lemon.

    lemon?

    and how much are main relays? and does any 90 civic fit?
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    yeah all 88-91 main relays are the same.

    lemon denotes a car that has endless problems, haha.
  • michaelhinkle1michaelhinkle1 Senior Wagonist
    wagodizzle wrote:
    yeah all 88-91 main relays are the same.

    lemon denotes a car that has endless problems, haha.

    :cry: she won't always be a lemon.

    and thanks i found a main relay, autzone 40$.

    is that too much?
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    thats normal. i think from Honda its $41. haha
  • michaelhinkle1michaelhinkle1 Senior Wagonist
    wagodizzle wrote:
    thats normal. i think from Honda its $41. haha

    is this the right part?

    http://www.autozone.com/R,APP1233871/ve ... Detail.htm
  • quartersquarters Council Member
    if you really want to you can go to a wrecker and they might charge you $5 for one that may or may not work.
  • farfetchedfarfetched Wagonist
    michaelhinkle1 wrote:
    Yesterday, it was really humid and hot outside, my car would start for a few seconds when I used starter fluid.

    If I didn't use started fluid, it would just turn over and over and wouldn't crank.

    This morning it's around 55 degree's, and the car starts fine.

    Would this be a main relay problem?
    Haven't I told you do do SO?
    Here is the prof!!!
    http://www.hondacivicwagon.com/board/vi ... php?t=3518
  • GoeletteGoelette Wagonist
    you don't have to buy a new one. You can take out the old one, open it up and solder it again. 95% chance that it will work fine agein. Problem is that the tin will break due to vibrations in the car. Just heat it up again and it will be attached properly again.
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    quarters wrote:
    if you really want to you can go to a wrecker and they might charge you $5 for one that may or may not work.

    this is what i did, and so far no problems. well, twice... but those dont count. haha.
  • michaelhinkle1michaelhinkle1 Senior Wagonist
    wagodizzle wrote:
    quarters wrote:
    if you really want to you can go to a wrecker and they might charge you $5 for one that may or may not work.

    this is what i did, and so far no problems. well, twice... but those dont count. haha.

    i'm just going to drop the risk and buy a new one since i'm driving all the way to the beach and back this summer (around 400 miles there, so 800 round trip)

    i'm just trying to work all her bugs out, would the main relay be the reason my ecu is throwing the code 16? and the problem isn't my injectors?

    after that i'm replacing the fuel filter, dropping the gas tank and taking it somewhere to have it cleaned since im sure an 18 year old car has a lot of shit up in there.
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    yeah the main relay can throw a code 16 sometimes... i'd get a genuine Honda one though if i were you ;)
  • quartersquarters Council Member
    go to the wrecker, say you want to go see if any of the civics have a center console or side view mirror, throw a few main relays in your tool case and leave saying 'those cars have been ravaged'

    there, i said it. i do it with little clips all the time... usually i do buy something though. i bought a coil spring for the 88' mazda wagon last month (75$! used) so i treated myself to the digital clock out of the donor 88' mercury tracer. seemed more fair.
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    quarters wrote:
    i bought a coil spring for the 88' mazda wagon last month (75$! used) so i treated myself to the digital clock out of the donor 88' mercury tracer. seemed more fair.

    lol, i do the same, sometimes... the entry fee is $1 to the yard, so i help myself to a couple emblems here and there to compensate the fee.
  • michaelhinkle1michaelhinkle1 Senior Wagonist
    how big is my main relay? pocket size?

    if so, i'm going to pull-a-part. :wink:


    wheres my main relay located?
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    its definitly pocket sized. but i mean, its not nice to steal :P unless the junkyard wants to steal from you.


    http://www.fourthgenhatch.net/mainrelay.html

    btw, that website has a LOT of good DIY info ;)
  • michaelhinkle1michaelhinkle1 Senior Wagonist
    wagodizzle wrote:
    its definitly pocket sized. but i mean, its not nice to steal :P unless the junkyard wants to steal from you.


    http://www.fourthgenhatch.net/mainrelay.html

    btw, that website has a LOT of good DIY info ;)


    so i acess it via the inside of the car?
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    yeah dude, its under the dash.. to the side. bigger-ish black box like in the pics. you kinda have to feel your way up there to it. removal is also slightly different in the 90-91 wagons, cause we dont have coinboxes and have a different layout for the fuse box. but anyways, its still located in the same place.
  • michaelhinkle1michaelhinkle1 Senior Wagonist
    thanks man :]

    so if i replace that should my ecu stole throwing cels?
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    who knows. you can try by resetting your ecu.. this is done by unplugging the positive (+) battery terminal for like 30 seconds. then see if it still throws codes.
  • michaelhinkle1michaelhinkle1 Senior Wagonist
    wagodizzle wrote:
    who knows. you can try by resetting your ecu.. this is done by unplugging the positive (+) battery terminal for like 30 seconds. then see if it still throws codes.

    ok, but i remember reading whenever it's throwing code 16 is was either your fuel injectors or main relay.

    that's why i was asking.
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    after you install your new main relay it is still good to reset the ECU as it sometimes will throw the same code even if the problem doesnt exist anymore ;)
  • michaelhinkle1michaelhinkle1 Senior Wagonist
    wagodizzle wrote:
    after you install your new main relay it is still good to reset the ECU as it sometimes will throw the same code even if the problem doesnt exist anymore ;)

    oh, ok then. i'll go to pullapart tomorrow man.

    :wink: love yuns!
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    michaelhinkle1 wrote:

    :wink: love yuns!

    creepyyyyy :lol:
  • farfetchedfarfetched Wagonist
    wagodizzle wrote:
    yeah the main relay can throw a code 16 sometimes... i'd get a genuine Honda one though if i were you ;)
    That is exactly what I was getting when I hadmy forst 2WD waggy.
    When I got my 4WD waggy, I re-soldered main relay ...
  • michaelhinkle1michaelhinkle1 Senior Wagonist
    i'll go to the dealership and get one next week to be on the safe side.
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