CLo89

Just bought a 89 Lude SI from a co-worker for $300, car is fully loaded. He sold it to me because it does not start after running a while. Here is what I have experienced first hand, when I first picked up the car, the check engine and S3 light were on. I got it home, turned it off and it started right up. I found some tech data for troubleshooting, checked the codes on the ECM, they were 6 and 8. I pulled the clock and ECM fuses, started the car up and code 8 was not present and has not come back after 2 days. After driving the car 30 minutes, turned it off, it would turn over but not start. I checked fire and fuel, both good. I read somewhere about a main fuel relay but could not locate any such animal. Also, I watched the temp gauge fluctuate from mid-point to hot then drop back to mid-point. Help!!!
Next, as I am driving down I-95, I noticed the RPM's are high, atleast I think so compared my Stratus and Silverado. At 75MPH it shows 3500 ROm and 80MPH shows 3750 RPM, this can't be right. From a dead stop, tranny shifted 3 times, am I missing an overdrive gear?

Thanks DL

PreludeChick89

i have an auto '89 lude too... when the S3 indicator light somes on.. usually that means something is wrong with the tranny.. i've never :knocks on wookd: had the s3 indicator light come on....

the auto tranny only has 4 gears so it's not missing anything.. so 1-2, 2-3, 3-4.. 3 shifts ..... that high rev is normal on most imports and that's where my car's revs are at at those mph... must be strange going from a domestic to an import....

check out the link http://www.honda.co.uk/owner/PreludeManual/index.html...
i don't have my honda service manual but that is a comparable copy.. it is also located at the top of the forum in case you need to reference that once again...

6 is the Water Temp Sensor (TWS in the book for whatever reason)
8 is the TDC(top dead center)/Crank censor

the manual will also give you a clear picture of where everything is located... i find this car pretty easy to work on (with the exception if the timing gets all messed up and that is a bugger!)

fyi.. i don't mean to offend you if you konw what TDC and such means, i just want to make it clear for future searches on such a topic for people that may not know...

i LOVE my 3rd gen... for the exteme cheap cost.. it's a great car to have... i've had very few problems (problems i have had were mostly my fault) besides my engine swap, the biggest expense has just been tires.... it's also perfect for living in the city b/c i don't want to worry about a newer nicer vehicle...

welcome to the board and if you have any more questions.. feel free to post

also try doing a search b/c i remember someone having a similar problem and i believe a guy named Todd (another mod on this site) was able to give more insight...(dunno if the search function works b/c our website moved to a different server and host... some things aren't complete yet)

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paulyg

You should just go out and replace this sensor. I had a similar problem on my 2nd gen. It would start cold and run fine, but it would not start if the engine was warm. Replacing the TWS fixed it. It should be like a $50 part.

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Paul
2009 Mazdaspeed3 | 1995 Miata | 1999 Crystal Blue Base - bought 6/13/02, sold 3/11/09

89SILuder

One thing you should try in regards to it not starting is that the 3rd gens are netorious for having the main fuel relay act up when it is warmer. Try tapping it a coupe of times with a screw driver or something. It is under the dash on the driverside. Tucked up next to the wheel well. It is a small brown box. Like 1 x 1 x 2. You may have to take the under dash off. I can get it without taking it off though so you should try getting to it before taking of the under dash.

CLo89

Thanks for all the advice, I will definitely address it all. The guy I bought the car from gave me a new Wells water temp sensor, I will install that as well as the main fuel relay. 89SILuder, really apprecoate the clarity on the location of the relay, I looked but did not see a thing.
One quiestion are the relays the same ones used on a civic?

DL

89SILuder

I don't know if it is the same as the civic. Did you take off the lower pannling under the dash or just look? It is hard to see if you don't know exactly where it is untill you take off the pannel.

CLo89

I just looked but tomorrow I will go into disassembly. Thanks

CLo89

I believe I found a big part of the problem, the previous owner rigged up a few terminal lugs. There is no connectors on the temp sensors and a few others, he used aviation terminal lugs to make the connections and they are real loose, probably barely making connection.
Does anyone know where I can buy the connectors or psoosibly have a junk harness they'd be willing to sell?

DL

PreludeChick89

^^ unfortunatly not..... try calling local junk yards...

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89SILuder

You might be able to get the connectors from Honda. Are you looking for the wiring harness that is on the drivers side? If so I have an extra but it don't have a main fuel relay. Sold that to a buddy. Let me know. You should be able to use the same one from your car. If I can remember I will take a couple pics of what the realy looks like tonight fo you.

CLo89

I am looking for the engine part of the harness. I have located a coupled on Ebay, but I think $110 is a bit high for a stock harness. Thanks all for the help

DL

89SILuder

So you are talking about the harness that is just in the bay? not the one that goes in the cab of the car on the drivers side? I have one left as well. Let me know.

CLo89

Hello all,
Hubby is away on business, he asked me to check the site, to the gentlemasn with the harness, he says he is definite interested. He asked if you could email him at DL0336@yahoo.com with a price.

Thanks Chelle

reyke

instead of swapping in a whole new harness why not repair the existing harness, besides it would be far more easier than trying to pull out the entire harness especially with the engine already in the car. Just my opinion one of my customers wanted it done and I gave him my price comparisson of full replacement and just repairing the wiring and he was adamentv 80 dollars differerence adament

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89 4WS
91 DSM GSX
93 240SX

Too many damned projects keeps me poor.

PreludeChick89

^^ i was thinking the same thing... those wiring harnesses can be tricky with the engine still in the car...

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CLo89

He says he agrees, he just wanted the whole harness for future repairs.

Chelle

PreludeChick89

^^ great thinking

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