91 Teg no start

ASSISTANCE Stock Engine-Bay Components
1

This is a good one. Yes I’ve searched and still don’t understand why it’s not starting sometimes.

Here is the symptom…
No start, but cranks great. When the car does start, it runs like a top and never dies/stalls.

When it doesn’t start, the S3 light flashes and the check engine light will stay on. If the check engine light goes off (while you have the key on waiting), it will then start. Sometimes the S3 flashing will continue, sometimes not. Sometimes it will start instantly when you turn the key and sometimes you have to wait for the check engine light to go off and sometimes it will never go off.

When the check engine light goes off, I hear a click and the LED on the ECU flickers - like it is just getting power maybe?

There are no ECU codes. I do occasionally get a 12 (EGR system), but it resets and doesn’t come back for a while (before I had this starting issue). When it had happened in the past, I woudl usually be driving around town (35-55) at a constant speed. If the check engine light came on, I would simply turn the key off then on real fast so that even motor would not die and just keep driving.

Testing the EGR valve today, it does function (with vacuum on it the engine will almost die, no vac runs great). I don’t know if the works to operate the valve are functional or not… Or if the position sensor on the valve is operational. But the valve itself does work.

There is a 2, 3, 7, 8 code on the trans CU. I understand this is why the S3 light is also flashing. I have had 1 or 2 times over the past 4 years (all I’ve owned it) where the S3 light will flash from start and the trans will start out in a different gear than 1st (not sure which gear). When it happens, I simply turn the car off and restart it.

Thanks in advance!
Wayne

91 Integra LS, Auto trans, 220k miles, stock drivetrain.

2

Please help… I need to get this fixed soon!

3

Check all the connectors c/t the distributor. Make sure the P or N lights up on the dash, if not, jiggle the shifter till it does come on, also keep your foot on the brake(don’t know why, but that helps in some cases). That problem and its solution is in the above stickies in this forum. If your confident the coil is good, then check the ignitor. Some people say you can have that checked at Schuck/Kragens/Checkers /Autozone/Pepboys and I say bullbleep to those that have. I have brought mine to them and they feign disinterest and say no way. Good luck on that one. Next, I’d turn the key to the run position and listen for the pump to prime. Do this twice, and if the car starts, then your looking at pump, pressure regulator or filter. Sure your plugs, plug wires, cap and rotor are OK? These cars sound like they’re running strong even when those things are weak. Yes the MFR is a on and off culprit. Lastly, I’d suggest the coil again. A resistance check is what the FSM calls for and that is fine for broken wires within the coil. What does happen is the bakelite container the coil wiring sits in is pathetically thin and if you don’t ground all your plugs/wires and turn the car over it will shoot thru that case to the metal bar that holds it in the distributor. You can verify this by removing the coil and where that bar would hold it there should be a oil in a puddle like sheen, a 1/4 inch dia. Thats the heat from the spark as it ground itself to the bar. Good luck.:slight_smile:

4

I think I got it… I suspected something mechanical in the beginning… After putting a meter to the main fuel relay and not getting a response, I pulled cover and there were two solder joints that were cracked up, one from each relay. So I blasted it with some brake clean to get the brown flux off, then removed the solder with my trusty solder suck station, then resoldered it up. Then I sprayed the relays with some contact cleaner, put it together and viola. No more TCU or ECU codes and it starts! Honestly, I think it runs better, too. Definately pulls better (smoother) from a stop at full throttle to 60 mph.

Ninja edit: I went to the fuel relay, after spraying carb cleaner into the intake through a vacuum hole and it started, kinda.

5

Yahoo! Try not to spill your beer.:angel: