1989 Honda Problem

Im sorry for post about this again. But when Im driving down the road, my car makes a sparking noise (sounds like some wires are sparking) then the car starts to sputer then it stalls. Then it takes me 10 - 15 mins to get it restarted. Iv replaced the fuel pump, the main fuel relay. And a few other odd relays. What can the problem be now?

I would have said Main Relay, but you say youve replaced it...or was it just the fuel pump relay?

I would have said Main Relay, but you say youve replaced it...or was it just the fuel pump relay?

Just the main fuel relay. I replaced the 2 other relays on the fuse holder.

Yea, doesn't sound easy. Did you try to determine under what exactly circumstances it happens? And where sound comes from?

Yea, doesn't sound easy. Did you try to determine under what exactly circumstances it happens? And where sound comes from?

Its just random. And the nosie comes from the fuse area.

Ok, so you didnt replace the main relay, its not attached to the fuse panel. Its on the left wall of the car just in front of the door hinge under the dash, hard to get to, but most common problem. And it will cause a sparking sound when it finally starts to go, from clicking on and off.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/FrodoGT/24Mar-03.jpg

Ok, so you didnt replace the main relay, its not attached to the fuse panel. Its on the left wall of the car just in front of the door hinge under the dash, hard to get to, but most common problem. And it will cause a sparking sound when it finally starts to go, from clicking on and off.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/FrodoGT/24Mar-03.jpg

Ya you have to remove the hood poper to get to it. Iv already replaced that. It came out of the junk yard tho.

Yeah..because I would trust a main relay from a junkyard..but if it still had the exact same symptoms before and after, you may be able to move onto another option. Or you just got another bad one.

Yeah..because I would trust a main relay from a junkyard..but if it still had the exact same symptoms before and after, you may be able to move onto another option. Or you just got another bad one.

Im Pay Pal ready, I really need one. My car keeps shutting off when Im driving it, and its taking longer and longer to restart. It shut off on my 2day and it took 10 mins to restart, Then I went to walmart and it took me 20 mins to restart. Then it shut off again on my way home, and it only took 5 mins to restart. But I need my car, its the only one I have, and right now I dont have the money the dealer wants for a new one.

Can sumone help me out.

Im Pay Pal ready, I really need one. My car keeps shutting off when Im driving it, and its taking longer and longer to restart. It shut off on my 2day and it took 10 mins to restart, Then I went to walmart and it took me 20 mins to restart. Then it shut off again on my way home, and it only took 5 mins to restart. But I need my car, its the only one I have, and right now I dont have the money the dealer wants for a new one.

Can sumone help me out.


When your car wont start check for spark. I'm willing to bet your problem is distributor related.

When your car wont start check for spark. I'm willing to bet your problem is distributor related.

But every single time is has made that sparking noise, comin from under the dash near the fuse's. S Im thinking its fuse related. But Im just not sure. I'll try replacing the distributor.

But every single time is has made that sparking noise, comin from under the dash near the fuse's. S Im thinking its fuse related. But Im just not sure. I'll try replacing the distributor.

Do you hear 3 clicks coming from the main relay? Do this, turn the key to the "on" position, you should hear one click when the check engine light turns on. After about 3 seconds, when the CEL turns off you should hear another click. Finally, try starting the car with your foot OFF the clutch. Your car won't crank but you should hear a third clicking noise coming from the main relay. If you hear all 3, your relay should be good. If not, I'd say either re-solder your main relay, or pick up a new one. Also, don't just buy a new dizzy if you haven't gone and at least checked for spark first.

Do you hear 3 clicks coming from the main relay? Do this, turn the key to the "on" position, you should hear one click when the check engine light turns on. After about 3 seconds, when the CEL turns off you should hear another click. Finally, try starting the car with your foot OFF the clutch. Your car won't crank but you should hear a third clicking noise coming from the main relay. If you hear all 3, your relay should be good. If not, I'd say either re-solder your main relay, or pick up a new one. Also, don't just buy a new dizzy if you haven't gone and at least checked for spark first.

Thats the thing, I have checked for spark many times. And its getting spark every time.

If you do have spark everytime, well theres only 3 things an engine needs to fire ..Fuel spark and air lol. Try cracking the nut on your fuel filter open and see if you are getting fuel to the engine.

If you do have spark everytime, well theres only 3 things an engine needs to fire ..Fuel spark and air lol. Try cracking the nut on your fuel filter open and see if you are getting fuel to the engine.

Did that, and its getting fuel. I did it before I changed the pump, and it was getting little to none. After I changed the pump it got plenty.

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/5205/dsc03706vp5.jpg

Thats the Main Fuel Relay, where the heck is it located under my dash?

Thats the Main Fuel Relay, where the heck is it located under my dash?

I know isn't it beautiful? j/k

Dude, look at the first page of this post. Frodo already put up a pic. But basically its behind the coin box. I had to undo some of the dash bolts to be able to bend the dash in order to get to the relay. Besides, in your first post you said you already replaced it with one from the junkyard...wtf?

I know isn't it beautiful? j/k

Dude, look at the first page of this post. Frodo already put up a pic. But basically its behind the coin box. I had to undo some of the dash bolts to be able to bend the dash in order to get to the relay. Besides, in your first post you said you already replaced it with one from the junkyard...wtf?

I didnt replace that one, I replaced a smaller one right above the hood popper.

Lol..that is the one above the hood popper man. If you look at my pic, behind the air vent lever that is laying over it..is the hood latch.

The one above the hood popper is a relay for the starter system. The main fuel pump relay is further near the sheet metal of the fender next to the support beam. Just remove the coin tray and get on your back on the floor board and take a flash light and look all the way to the side of the car and you'll see the relay. You can bend the support it's clipped to and pull it off and it won't mess up anything. You just have to make sure the wires are soldered tight and it will work. You don't have to put it back where it was either, just tuck it up under the fuse box cover or back in the corner... Piece of cake...

The one above the hood popper is a relay for the starter system. The main fuel pump relay is further near the sheet metal of the fender next to the support beam. Just remove the coin tray and get on your back on the floor board and take a flash light and look all the way to the side of the car and you'll see the relay. You can bend the support it's clipped to and pull it off and it won't mess up anything. You just have to make sure the wires are soldered tight and it will work. You don't have to put it back where it was either, just tuck it up under the fuse box cover or back in the corner... Piece of cake...

I already got it in, I broke a peice off my dash putting it in. But its in, and it seems to have fixed the problem. But I still need that other relay, the starter one.

I already got it in, I broke a peice off my dash putting it in. But its in, and it seems to have fixed the problem. But I still need that other relay, the starter one.

That starter relay tells the system when you have your foot on the clutch that it can start. Basically you don't even need it. I'm pretty sure if you connect the wires leading to the relay together, it can bypass the clutch start. So you don't need to start with your foot on the clutch. This is how it works for 88's i believe, they have no 'clutch start'. Its good that you replaced the main relay though, it seemed like the cause of your problems.

NO!! that isnt for the safety mechanism, that is the relay that power runs through to engage the solenoid. Dont just go sticking wires together man, thats bad news.

And yes, I forgot that the starter relay was there, the main relay is higher. And you said it fixed your problem, basically what was happening is that the soler points inside the relay had cracked a little and failed to make contact. You may have also notice a problem with your car starting or running in hot weather.

my car has the "no-clutch" start, I know this doesn't actually help the post but I had nothing else to contribute to it! I think I should take my riddlen for the day already.

There were years that didnt have it, I believe just 88. I had to use a relay to bypass the switch itself so that my remote start will work in mine. However the safety still works when starting the car normally. I basically just made it run the normal circuit in one position of the relay, and cut it out in the other. :)

Heres the new relay that I got today.

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/9083/dsc03707xa4.jpg