Weird Starting Problems.. - Honda Prelude Forum

jsmooney · 06-30-2003, 01:54 PM

i went on a cruise for a week, came back, got in the car and it cranked as good as new. but this morning, i got in the car to go to the doctor and tried to start it - it turned over again and again and again.....took AT LEAST 10 seconds to start it up finally. then today i went to get gas.....in the driveway, again! Any ideas? Is this something i should worry about? I am just afraid that it might worsen and then maybe just "not start" one day when i am away from home.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

PDUNZ · 07-01-2003, 03:40 AM

Pretty sure it's the main relay. Usually these start acting up when it gets hot but if it is bad enough, they will also act up when it's cold....

jsmooney · 07-01-2003, 02:16 PM

main relay? dammit, i sold mine! will the main relay ever just "go bad" and not work anymore?

HI HO · 07-01-2003, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by UBetterBelieveIt
main relay? dammit, i sold mine! will the main relay ever just "go bad" and not work anymore?

Yes.

jsmooney · 07-01-2003, 06:00 PM

damn, so the relay just "goes bad"....any ideas why? Someone said something about getting one for a '96 lude because it was upgraded or something....

HI HO · 07-01-2003, 08:16 PM

There is a solder joint in the relay that develops a crack which then expands under heat and breaks the connection. You can open the relay up and see the bad joint and resolder it. I have done two of them following these instructions.

The two I've done were on Accords, a 1990 and a 1992. I need to do my Prelude now, it is just starting to exhibit the relay symptoms.

jsmooney · 07-01-2003, 11:56 PM

is it "easy" or hard? i have a little soldering experience...

Fast&furiuslude · 07-02-2003, 12:55 AM

Over time such as 10 years the wires begin to come apart and unsolder themselves. I had this exact same problem and if you play around with the main relay like mess with the wires u might be fine. I did this and havent had a problem starting it since. Cheap fix but it worked. Do a search cause theres a pic of one to see what it looks like.