jfreezySi

I have a 1992 Prelude Si 4WS 5-speed, and have been having some issues with it.

This is the issue. It started about 2 weeks ago. One Monday morning, after not driving my prelude at all on Sunday, I went to start it, and it just wouldn’t start. It would crank, but not start. I had recently had some battery issues, and thought that my battery was probably due for a change, so I bought a new battery.

So Monday night, I put the new battery in, and the car starts up just fine. The only issue is the after market alarm wouldn’t stop going off, so I disconnected the siren, then pulled out the alarm box. (It was a rattler alarm if that give any details.) This normally would seem unimportant, but I wonder if any lingering electric problems may help cause the problems.

So, after Monday, I drive the car every day no problem until the next Saturday. I don’t drive it that Saturday (5 days after the initial incident) until I try to leave to go out later that night. I get in my car, and it won’t start. It will crank, but not start. I soon realized my diagnosis of battery trouble was way off.

I leave the car and then my dad and I look at it Sunday afternoon. The distributor cap is getting spark and he tested a spark plug, and it was sparking no problem. Also, we checked the fuel pump, and it was pumping fuel no problem. The pump turned on when the ignition was switched to the “on” position..

So I let the car sit a few more days, then try to start it again the following Wednesday evening, and it starts up no problem. I let it idle for a while, then start it again, then wait a little while, and start it again, and there was never any issue. Well, the next day, Thursday morning, I go to start it so I can go to work, and it won’t start.

The mystery is, we’re getting spark, the engine is cranking, the main relay seems to be working and we’re getting fuel, so what else could it be? The intermittent behavior makes me think it’s electrical, and also the conditions it’s occurred in make me think the same thing.


Here are some of the conditions common to each incidence:

Each time it wouldn’t start, it hadn’t been driven much if at all the day(s) before.

Each time it happens, it seems to be pretty moist or cold out. For example, Wed evening it was dry as a bone out, and the car started no problem, but Thurs. morning, the car was covered in dew and wouldn’t start, but Thurs. evening when it was dry and warm, the car started no problem.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEAS ABOUT THIS? I’m stumped, my dad was a mechanic for 30 years, he’s stumped, my brother’s a gearhead and he’s stumped, and basically anyone I know with car knowledge can’t figure it out. I was wondering if maybe anyone has ever had a similar issue before and could lend some Honda knowledge. I had a similar issue before a few years ago, but that was the main relay preventing the car from starting in extreme heat and we fixed that no prob. Please let me know what you think, this sucks bad.

Jkster

I have a 92 si also, and i ALSO had the same mystery you are having. I thought there might have been a short in the wiring harness somewhere. But never got to figure it out because my head gasket went on me. So i replaced the engine with another 1994 h23a and now i never have a problem.

SoCalBA8

I had a similar problem that I just corrected this past weekend. It is most likely your main relay. You can get one from Autozone or Pepboys with a lifetime warranty. I personally like Autozone better so, I had them price match the relay with Pepboys and saved $25. Autozone has the relay for $85.99 and Pepboys for $59.99.

Here's the Autozone link if your car has the 2.3 like mine does:

Relay - Main | 1992 Honda Prelude 4 Cylinders 2 2.3L MFI DOHC | AutoZone.com

And here's the Pepboys link:

Vehicle Replacement Parts: In-Store Pricing & Availability Information | Pep Boys

Be sure to let me know if you need pictures of where the relay goes. Mine was located on the driver side under the dash. First I unplugged the relay from its harness, then to get the relay out of its clip, you first push up on it and pull the relay towards the back of the car, and it's out. You then just simply reverse the instructions to get it back in. It sounds easy, but the space was cramped and tight.

Autozone includes a new metal bracket with the relay in case yours is broken somehow, but I didn't need it, I just used the old one because the bolt that holds the bracket on seems almost impossible to get to with any kind of tool and I do not wish to ever have to take that thing off, LOL.

A way I heard you can check to make sure it's the relay for sure is, the next time you have trouble starting your car, flick the relay real hard with your fingers and then try starting the car. I didn't do the test, I just figured I would replace it and see what happens since I was having the problem occur every 4 to 5 times I would go to start my car, and I haven't had the problem since installing the new relay almost a week ago. Good luck!

jfreezySi

I got a brand new main relay and changed it out, but same problem. The frustrating part is it starts 85% of the time, and if it is actually starting, there's no way to tell what's going wrong. I coulda sworn it would have been the relay too, but 4 or 5 days after I switched it out, it wouldn't start again that morning, but it has been starting just fine lately. It's so fkkkn frustrating.

SoCalBA8

That is weird. My car (knock on wood) has been starting every time for over 2 weeks now. Your best bet is to start going through your electrical system if you still believe it is electrical. It could be something like your ground wire is loose and maybe not making contact sometimes causing your car not to start or your wires from your alarm are grounding out causing the issue. I would make sure there aren't any wires from your alarm still connected to power anywhere and grounding out. Also make sure your engine ground wire is secure as well. I would also check:
-Alternator
-Starter
-Battery cables
-Make sure there isn't excessive corrosion on the battery terminals
-Make sure all spark plug wires are tightly connected and that there are no tears in wires or corrosion from moisture on the ends.
-Check all of the connections and the cap for the distributor.

Even though a part seems fine, it doesn't always mean that an intermittent issue is out of the question. You can also check some fuel system components like:
-Fuel filter in the engine bay
-Screen filter that is attached to your fuel pump. It may be dirty and clogging once in a while.
-Make sure the hard fuel lines aren't clogging.
-Make sure the rubber fuel lines aren't getting pinched anywhere or are collapsing from age.

If you can't seem to find anything after checking all of that, I would say it is time to bring it to a mechanic that specializes in Hondas and have them check it out.

bgreatteach55

I would check the electrical system. starting with the altenator.

1992H23A3

that really sucks..
to me it sounds like it could be a fuel problem.. if it is still turning over but not starting, then that should rule out electrical problems. if you think it may be electrical, check the battery (i know you already have), alternator, and starter (but if it's turning over then it can't be your starter). have you tried checking the resistance on your fuel injectors? maybe they are going bad? if not do what the guy above me said, and check your fuel lines, fuel filter, and also check to make sure your fuel rail is in tact.. it takes air, fuel, and spark for an engine to run. if your car has spark, and i'm assuming all your vacuum lines are fine, then that only leaves fuel. please correct me if i'm wrong. i'm just trying to throw out ideas to help. i am in school to be an auto tech so idk..
hope it helps

elhatch1016

bro it might be the modulator inside the distributor , even though it fires it might not fire well enough. iam for sure thinking its that modulator, either that or the coil pack . Specialy if ur not getting any check engine code. Any distributor issues dont throw code