1990 civic starting problems

i have a 90 civic lx that has 2100000 miles on it but now that it is summer
it will not start sometimes some one told me to replace the main relay so i
did but i still have a starting problem can anyone help please?

 

Are you sure you have the right number of zeros there?

Not start how? Does the starter turn the engine over?
Can you hear the fuel pump run?

 

Might be the ignition switch. Had the same problem with a 01 Prelude.

 

sometimes the main relay will click and the engine will turn over just
wont start

 

Do you hear the fuel pump run when the ignition is turned on, before
you try the starter?You should hear it whirring behind you between the
time you turn the key to the on position and the time you hear the
relay click.

 

2.1 million, really?

 

Im having the same problems with my 93 del sol. it runs great 98% of the
time and then wont start out of no where. its usually when its cold.
from reading on the net about the problems it seems like alot of people
seem to think its the main relay or the ignition switch. so thats what Im
checking on mine to see if it works. keep in touch and let me know what
happens with yours and Ill do the same.

 

======================

If you turn the key to position II, but don't hear the fuel pump run for
a second or two, try smacking the dash, on the LEFT side of the speedo
cluster. If you hear the fuel pump run then, it's 99% sure that your
relay needs to be soldered / replaced. Your car will now start, and you
can drive your car like that, BTW, because the vibration of the car will
keep it running, but you should get it fixed ASAP.

'Curly'

 

'Curly',

At the point where I placed {***} as a marker, it would be worth
interjecting "turn the key to position I (engine off) then again
turn the key to II and simultaneously thump the dash as above."

The reason for this is that the initial relay signal turns off after
the two seconds worth of 'priming' and thumping the panel
later than this won't get the pump running.

 

Jake,

I had the starting problem with my Civic 90-Lx that you have and I fixed
it.

Sources of problems can be:
1. distributor failure (it fails to send sparks to the engine)
2. Alternator.

For (1), if you do not have sparks.
you can remove the igniter inside the distributor and test
it. ( I took it to AutoZone for a free test and replaced
the igniter and the car started right up).

If it is not (1), you may want to have your alternator tested. Good Luck.

Tom

 

today when it was time to go to work i went to start the car i heard the
fuel pump start and the main relay click but did not start then i turned
the key again and nothing i did not hear the fuel pump are the main relay
then finally heard it and it started right up do you thing that it could
be the ignition switch

 

Assuming that the car was cold and it was the first start of the day,
it sounds like the switch. Main relay problems arise when it's hot
or after a short/medium/long run.