Random crank no start on crx

civicex442 · Post by **civicex442** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 2:25 pm

ok here is the deal. my brother has a bone stock 89 crx si. we just picked it up a month ago and it ran great. got it for 700 bucks and it has 110xxx miles. the rad was cracked so i replaced it and when i was done and cleaning up i was spraying it off with a hose to clean off the coolent that sprayed everywhere. i got in it to start it started right up. i rolled it out off the driveway and put it in first. when i left off the clutch it died and i didnt kill it. there is just no way. i tried starting it again and it just cranked and cranked and cranked. i opened the hood, jiggled a few wires and it started. no problem right? now it just randomly wont start. let it sit for an hour and it will fire right up. no cel. and i dont think it has died while it has been running since. is there any ceritan sensor that is super sensitive to water that i should check first?

TurboFreak · Post by **TurboFreak** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 2:39 pm

water in the dizzy?

civicex442 · Post by **civicex442** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 2:45 pm

i thought about that. of course i got hit by a car two weeks ago and have a broken leg so ill have to have my brother check it out. and its not like i power washed the thing. just a hose

Spork · Post by **Spork** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 3:17 pm

that, or it could be the main relay... completely unrelated to the water, but they are notorious for going bad.

civicex442 · Post by **civicex442** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 6:15 pm

Spork;75162 wrote:that, or it could be the main relay... completely unrelated to the water, but they are notorious for going bad.

whee is that located and could i just pick one up at autozone or do i need to go to the dealer?

Spork · Post by **Spork** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 6:41 pm

For diagnosing perposes: try to start the car, if it just cranks and wont kick over (=if its having the problem you are trying to fix) turn the key back to off, and try again. This time turn it to the click right before ignition, and listen. You should hear one loud click from the bottom of the dash right by the hood release (the main relay), and you should hear the fuel pump in the back kick on and prime. if you hear both of these things, it is NOT the main relay. try to start it again. if, it kicks over... then you got lucky and it still might be the main relay. if it doesn't, then you know there is another problem.

The main relay is under the dash on the left wall of the car (near the hood release) if you look up, you will see a 10mm bolt holding a silver metal bracket, and a big black/brown rectangle on the top of the bracket. that is the main relay. I dont know if you could get one at autozone tho.
fyi: might be easier to remove the change compartment to pull it out

But, I know for the main relays, if they are cold, they work fine, but if they are going bad they wont work if they are heated up and then you try to start the car before it can cool down again. which is one of the problems you mentioned.

JustRob · Post by **JustRob** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 6:46 pm

This is the same thing that happened to me the day that I bought my CRX. It was the main relay for me. Snag one from a junkyard or get one from a dealer. Mike gave me the hook up on one from FLA for about $45.

Spork · Post by **Spork** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 6:47 pm

junkyard ftw... I will be going there tomorrow morning btw, I can snag you one/a couple.

civicex442 · Post by **civicex442** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 7:05 pm

if your going and want to get me one ill take it. as long as it is like 10 15 bucks

JustRob · Post by **JustRob** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 8:37 pm

civicex442;75196 wrote:if your going and want to get me one ill take it. as long as it is like 10 15 bucks

The last one I bought from a junkyard was $3.