Car not wanting to start sometimes...

[Phat_Si]

ok, my car is doing the same thing!!! can you guys describe how to get to this thing in extreme detail??? What is it behind, the coin box that is in the center console??? let me know ASAP

[FourthGenHatch]

OK just as a follow up I did replace the Main Relay ($41 at Dealer!) and it fixed my problem.

Ok here's how to replace this monster...

Take out your Coin thing, 2 screws appear visible when you open the coin thing, and the other one is right underneath the coin thing. Once this is out set it aside, now what I did was lay down on my back all crazy with my legs up on the seats so that my face was looking straight up underneath all this stuff. So then I thought it was in the fuse box, it is NOT in the fuse box, don't pull that stuff out. Look all the way over right where the Hood Release Lever is, the Main Relay is right above that, it maybe be partially covered up by a piece of interior panel. You can undo that screw holding that interior panel in place, and remove the two screws holding the hood release lever in place. You will know it's the main relay because it says "RELAY ASS'Y, MAIN" right on it in white letters. It is held in place by a metal tab attached to it with one bolt. Take that bolt out and unplug the wire harness attached to it and just pull it out. Do the reverse to install the new one.

[Phat_Si]

ok, your prob sounds like my prob. so could you describe exactly what your car would do when it would and wouldn't start??? I have to wait like 30 mins. for it to start, did yours do that too?
is there anyway i can test this thing to see if it is actually the prob??? thx and let me know!

[FourthGenHatch]

OK heres my "experience"...

It would be hot outside, around 90* and very humid.

My engine would be perfectly cold, not driven in many hours.

I would turn on the car, it would start, I would drive somewhere far enough that the engine would have time to warm up fully.

I would park my car, turn it off, go inside the store for like 5 minutes.

I would come back out try to start my car and it wouldn't start. The engine was still very hot at this time.

The car would crank (as in starter worked) but it just wouldn't start.

I popped the hood and opened it so I guess heat was released and the engine was cooled a bit from the breeze. The car sat for about 20 minutes since it's last start before I got it to start again.

Now I don't remember this but I know there is a way you can check...

The Main Relay controls the fuel pump and opens the injectors and basically primes the car to start. Now if you turn the key to the ACCII you will usually hear a sound like a "whaaaa" and that is the fuel pump turning itself on. Now from what I have read, if you turn the key to ACCII and you don't hear a sound, then there is no signal to the fuel pump, and then the Main Relay must be broken.

Anyhow replacing a main relay isn't a bad thing to do anyway since the old ones are made kind of crappy and it is going to break eventually. So if I got 14 years out of my first one I wouldn't need to replace this in theory until about 2016, so no loss.

[FourthGenHatch]

Thats what it looks like...