help, starting - Honda Prelude Forum

WOT247 · 05-15-2002, 01:01 AM

Okay folks,
I have a '93 vtec, I have been doing various mods (listed in sig), one night, say a month ago i picked up a funky ass noise coming from the trans, so since i had just done my clutch and flywheel i thought maybe i hadn't torqued something down enough. So i took my trans off everything checked out to be A-OK so then I put that back on and took off my valve cover and oil pan to check and make sure all of that was okay and that i didn't have any metal flying around. All checks out. This has been a slow process.

PROBLEM is:
I put it all back together last weekend and the damn thing won't start, it cranks and you can hear it fire once or twice, but the damn thing just WON'T turnover, I know it isn't battery cuz i checked voltage on it, and even charged the batter to be sure that it is tip top. SO HELP ME. any thoughts? suggestions?

Again it has been over a month since it has been started

Any input welcome

marcucci · 05-15-2002, 06:09 AM

What was the noise like?

When you say it cranks... you mean the starter turns and it sounds like it's making compression? I assume by turning over you mean it just doesn't "fire" and start running. What do you mean by hearing it fire once or twice?

The most common no-start problem on older Preludes is the ICM (or "igniter"). It's in the distributor if I recall. Second to that, fuel delivery problems, usually related to a bad fuel pump relay.

Have you checked for spark yet?

genlude · 05-15-2002, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by marcucci
Second to that, fuel delivery problems, usually related to a bad fuel pump relay.

Have you checked for spark yet?

Check to see if your FI-Main Relay is bad.
Do this when you turn your ignition without starting the car, Listen for a small sound on the left side under the dash, next to the steering wheel column

or

Locate the FI-Main relay, it has a big marking of number RZ-0139. To see it, you will have to take out the panel where your knee is when you are sitting on the driver's side. Slide in, with you head facing the steering wheel column and on the right side, all the way to the top of the cowl, you should see the relay.

Memorize where it is and slide out. Sit in the drivers seat and try to find it by placing your hand on the relay. If you can do this, then turn your ignition without starting it. You should feel a click on the relay if the relay is primed.

If not, you have a bad relay.

Take you time and watch you head.

MR.CLIFFORD · 05-15-2002, 10:37 AM

I would say check the distributor also. Look in there and see if there are metal pieces floating around and a sorta brown dust. If so you jumped a bearing. New Dist. time. Did you not get a CEL? You might jump it to see if you are throwing any codes!

WOT247 · 05-15-2002, 01:16 PM

ok... let me try to answer all of these, when i say it fires once or twice i mean just that, i had my exhaust disconnected at the cat and it will pop once or twice and flames will shoot out (thus combustion).

When I click the car into accessory mode you can hear the fuel pump prime, so i am not worried about delivery, all i think it might be fuel wise is possibly the fuel lost tons of octane, but i doubt it.

what is the best way to check spark?

i'll check my distributor again

thanks for the thoughts thus far (and I know it isn't battery, i have a meter for that and it is in good shape) any other ideas let me know

marcucci · 05-15-2002, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WOT247
When I click the car into accessory mode you can hear the fuel pump prime, so i am not worried about delivery, all i think it might be fuel wise is possibly the fuel lost tons of octane, but i doubt it.

Sounds like you have fuel then (combined with the flames). If you have flames it would make me think that you're lacking ignition- you're not actually burning the fuel in the cylinder.

Quote:

what is the best way to check spark?

The safest way is to remove the plugs, lay them on something that won't conduct (like a piece of wood), and crank the car (still plugged in). The engine obviously won't start, but you can watch for spark.

The easiest (old school) way is to pull a plug wire and see if you get arcing to the chassis when you try cranking. It's fine until you accidentially zap yourself and piss your pants.

Quote:

i'll check my distributor again

There's unfortunately not much you can "check" here. If you check for spark and don't have it, you need to troubleshoot the coil (see if the coil lead has spark) and then try replacing the ICM or distributor.

Quote:

thanks for the thoughts thus far (and I know it isn't battery, i have a meter for that and it is in good shape) any other ideas let me know

That's pretty much it... check for spark.