I have a 94 prelude and recently my car has been acting up. I have been driving it then when I got to work and shut my car off, I went to start it back up then and I would turn the key and nothing would start or do anything. I had full power to the vehicle. I was listening and the started or nothing was kicking in. So one of the guys at work helped me puch it down a little hill and I got it started that way and then I had it running for about 30 mins and then shut it off and the I tried to start it ujp and it started right up and I shut it off and turned it back on about 10 times and it was and it started back up every time. So the next morning I was going to work and it started up just fine then when I went to start it up to leave work it wouldn't start up at all again. So I pushed it down hill alittle bit and it started right up. I got home and shut it off and it wouldn't start. I haven't tried to puch it yet because I didn't have anyone to push it for me. I don't know what this is and I called my friend that also has a prelude and he said it is the starter relay since I am not hearing the starter or anything kicking in or trying. I need to figure out what this is and any help would strongly be appreciated.
James. Listen closely. If you turn the key and you only hear one click, go to Step 1. If you hear multiple clicks, go to step 11.
Step 1: Go out to your car (at night) and turn on your headlights.
Step 2: Turn on your overhead lights (all 3 of them).
Step 3: Check all interior lights, making sure none are dim.
Step 4: Check all exterior lights, making sure none are dim.
If any lights are dim, proceed to step 5. If no lights are dim, proceed to step 8.
Step 5: Try to jump-start the car. If successful, your alternator, battery, or wiring is the problem.
Step 6: If the car does not jump-start, replacing your batter with a known-good battery and try again.
Step 7: If still unsuccessful, I have no clue.
Step 8: Write down your VIN #.
Step 9: Call a Honda dealership and ask them if your car is covered under the ignition switch recall.
Step 10: If the answer is Yes, get it replaced for free.
Step 11: Try to push-start the car. If your car will not push-start, the starter is not your problem. If the car DOES start, your problem is with the starter or the starter wiring.
Step 12: Report back with your findings.
^ give that a try, if you follow those steps, sounds like it could be your starter, battery, alternator, or wiring, just go through one at a time to rule as many of those out as you can.
Last edited by indylude18; 06-08-2009 at 07:22 AM.
1. One of the clutch switches is bad (Had this happen to be, I just bypassed it. I can start the car without pushing in the clutch now lol)
2. Ignition switch (Had this happen also... easy to replace)
3. Main relay
Sounds like the exact same problems I was having first it was my main relay. pulled it out and resoldered the connections then the negative terminal on my starter came loose so it wasnt working properly unless it was sitting in the right place.
Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I think it's safe to rule out the main relay because the car can be push started. If the main relay is bad the fuel pump won't work and the car wouldn't push start...right?
i'm thinking bad starter... Mine would do the same thing. When it doesn't start, try tapping the starter with a hammer (by tapping, i mean giving it a good WHACK) and try to start it again
Indy grabbed my troubleshooting steps from a different thread (where the OP's name is James).
__________________
1988 Prelude S - victim of an 80mph backflip
1991 Prelude Si - sold
1989 Accord DX - impounded
1998 Prelude SH - totaled on 3/29/12
2006 CRF150F - sold
2006 YZ250F - sold
Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I think it's safe to rule out the main relay because the car can be push started. If the main relay is bad the fuel pump won't work and the car wouldn't push start...right?
IIRC the main relay controls more than just the fuel pump I am pretty sure it sends the signal to the starter as well so once the key is in the on position it could still prime the fuel pump and allow it to work once the engine is running if only the starter part of the relay is malfunctioning
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