i'm stumped

89 dx sohc zc, dpfi


well im having the "car won't start when hot problem." here what happens:

when i turn the key to ingage the starter (replaced) to turn the engine over, i hear two clicks. one of the clicks comes from the main relay that i have replaced once already in the past week. the other click comes from a relay that is about the size of a man's thumb. i can also hear the fuel pump turn on. the engine will not turn over and i have to push start my car to start it, and it runs normal. if it was the dizzy then i would think that it wouldn't be able to be push started. any help would be great.

thanks in advance.
cris

Sounds like the starter to me...

Does it only do it when its hot?

i was gonna say main relay... but if it starts when pushed id say starter too


gunnmen01

i was gonna say main relay... but if it starts when pushed id say starter too


gunnmen01

Plus, he said he just replaced the MR.

Ok here is a test. OK MAKE SURE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL BEFORE DOING THIS STEP. Take a piece of wire +18 gauge, pull the wire off your starter solenoid take the +18 gauge wire attach it to where you pulled the wire off the solenoid make sure it stays. Then take the other end and just touch the positive side of the battery. This should get the car to kick over. I had this problem it became the ignition switch would get hot while driving and when I went to go turn it over again it would just click everything on but the starter solenoid. Hope that helps alittle

i will try the starter test today and let you know but there is less than 5k miles on that starter as it was purchased new when i put the zc in.

thanks for the suggesstions
i will report back.

ps it started right up this morning. no prob but the engine is cold.

Man, I love seein progress in people here. Thats a good diagnosis Cjz89civic. That will bypass your whole ignition system really narrowing down the problem to either your ign. switch, relay, clutch safety switch, or the starter.

here is the scoop.....

it appears as if autozone strikes again......
it was the starter afterall and whats worse is the starter that i put on looked nothing like the starter i took off. and whats even worse is the starter i took off was new (not remanufactured) and only six months old


well i REALLY appreciate the advice as this is my dailly driver and im a courier, and yesterday was my second day on the job. so you can imagine that i was pretty ticked off when my car wouldn't start and i had to keep push starting or finding a close/steep hill to park on. once again i say thanks, i don't think anybody will understand how much y'all helped.

Glad you got it running again!