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Car Forum / Acura Cars / November 200497 Integra stops running
My daughter left school in her 97 Integra, got about two blocks, and the engine just stopped running. She tried starting the car a few times but no luck. She called me to come and help her. When I got there the car started for me and ran just fine. I drove the car home and did not detect any problems. I asked her if she heard, felt, smelled, saw, anything out of the ordinary before the engine died. She said she might have heard an "eeee eeee" kind of high pitched sound just before the engine stopped. I just got back from driving the car around for a while, lights on/off, heater, stereo..., and could not detect anything unusual. Any ideas? Honda/Acura owners tend to think "main relay" first for intermittent complete engine failures. Presuming the engine cranked but wouldn't fire, it is a likely suspect. The main relay is actually a dual-relay module, with one side controlling the ignition and the other side controlling the fuel pump. Either side will kill the engine, and I get the impression the fuel pump side fails most often. You will find several thread here, I think, with more details. Also see http://tegger.com/hondafaq/MainRelay.HTM for a good rundown. I'm not sure exactly where it is in the Integra; in my daughter's '93 Accord it is above the drivers knees, hidden above the cruise control box. Many people who fix it themselves don't actually unmount the relay, but pry the cover enough to get the guts out (eeew!). If it happens again before you can get it looked at, she can try banging on the dash in front of her to see if that will make contact again. If not, it's a good way of venting frustration ;-) Mike > My daughter left school in her 97 Integra, got about two blocks, and the > engine just stopped running. She tried starting the car a few times but [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > back from driving the car around for a while, lights on/off, heater, > stereo..., and could not detect anything unusual. Any ideas? > Honda/Acura owners tend to think "main relay" first for intermittent > complete engine failures. Presuming the engine cranked but wouldn't [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > I'm not sure exactly where it is in the Integra; In the '90-'93 Integra it is to the left of the steering column, behind the flip-out coin box. '97 may be similar.  SignatureTeGGeR? The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ Appreciate the info, Tegger - my son and I will be installing a remote entry / alarm system in his '94 Integra soon and we want to resolder the main relay while we are in the area to ward off evil spirits. Mike >> Honda/Acura owners tend to think "main relay" first for intermittent >> complete engine failures. Presuming the engine cranked but wouldn't [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > the > flip-out coin box. '97 may be similar. On 11/22/04 10:13 PM, in article Xns95A9EC6F39084teggeratistop@207.14.113.17, "TeGGer®" <teggeratistopdotcom@changetheobvious.invalid> wrote: >> Honda/Acura owners tend to think "main relay" first for intermittent >> complete engine failures. Presuming the engine cranked but wouldn't [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > In the '90-'93 Integra it is to the left of the steering column, behind the > flip-out coin box. '97 may be similar. In a '97 its much more likely to be the ignition switch rather than the main relay, especially with the symptom of stopping dead in the road. If it is the switch, the stalling episodes will become more frequent until it won't run at all. > In a '97 its much more likely to be the ignition switch rather than > the main relay, especially with the symptom of stopping dead in the > road. If it is the switch, the stalling episodes will become more > frequent until it won't run at all. How do you check the ignition switch? This would make a good addition to the FAQ. SignatureTeGGeR? The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ On 23 Nov 2004 18:22:47 GMT, "TeGGer®" <teggeratistopdotcom@changetheobvious.invalid> wrote: >> In a '97 its much more likely to be the ignition switch rather than >> the main relay, especially with the symptom of stopping dead in the >> road. If it is the switch, the stalling episodes will become more >> frequent until it won't run at all. >How do you check the ignition switch? Listen for the fuel pump... Also, try pushing inwards on the switch, which is held together by little bent-over tangs which can pull apart sometimes. >>> In a '97 its much more likely to be the ignition switch rather than >>> the main relay, especially with the symptom of stopping dead in the [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Also, try pushing inwards on the switch, which is held together by > little bent-over tangs which can pull apart sometimes. Won't the warning lights be out if the switch is bad? That's what happened with my Volvo. Mike >>> In a '97 its much more likely to be the ignition switch rather than >>> the main relay, especially with the symptom of stopping dead in the [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Also, try pushing inwards on the switch, which is held together by > little bent-over tangs which can pull apart sometimes. I'll put this in as well. Thanks! SignatureTeGGeR? The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ On 23 Nov 2004 23:38:01 GMT, "TeGGer®" <teggeratistopdotcom@changetheobvious.invalid> wrote: >>>How do you check the ignition switch? >> [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >I'll put this in as well. A point that can confuse is the fact that there is a second path for voltage to get to the fuel pump relay, through a diode from the 'start' contacts of the ignition switch. This means that the pump could be running while the starter is turning, though it can't be heard over the noise of the starter. If the 'run' contacts of the switch are dirty however, the pump relay could be dropping out as soon as the switch is turned back from the start position. This will result in teasing "it almost ran there for a second" type symptoms. >>> In a '97 its much more likely to be the ignition switch rather than >>> the main relay, especially with the symptom of stopping dead in the [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Also, try pushing inwards on the switch, which is held together by > little bent-over tangs which can pull apart sometimes. I'd first resolder the relay to eliminate it as a problem(now or in the future),then worry about the ignition switch. Resoldering is also easier (and cheaper)than replacing an ignition switch. SignatureJim Yanik jyanik-at-kua.net On 11/23/04 12:22 PM, in article Xns95AA883B15EF1teggeratistop@207.14.113.17, "TeGGer®" <teggeratistopdotcom@changetheobvious.invalid> wrote: >> In a '97 its much more likely to be the ignition switch rather than >> the main relay, especially with the symptom of stopping dead in the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > How do you check the ignition switch? This would make a good addition to > the FAQ. The surest way is to take it off and pop it open. The burned contacts are a dead give away. It is screwed to the back of the ignition key cylinder with two small Phillips screws. The other end of the cable plugs into the fuse block. When it is starting to fail, the "run" contact will overheat and open, causing the car to stall. A usual symptom is the dash will also go dark when it dies (no warning lights, no shift indicator, nothing). Attempts to restart usually result in the engine starting and running while you hold the key in "start" and it immediately shuts down as soon as you release the key. Wait five or ten minutes for the switch to cool down and it will start and run normally until the "run" contacts overheat again. The cycle gets more frequent as time passes, until it just won't run at all. Some people have reported they can get it to run for a while by holding the key between "Start" and "run" - try to find the sweet spot where it keeps running, but the starter doesn't. There was a recall for the ignition switch on some Hondas around this vintage. The OP should check and see if he has one of them. > On 11/23/04 12:22 PM, in article > Xns95AA883B15EF1teggeratistop@207.14.113.17, "TeGGer?" [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > The surest way is to take it off and pop it open. The burned contacts <snip FAQ material!> Mind if I put this in the FAQ? SignatureTeGGeR? The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ > On 11/23/04 12:22 PM, in article > Xns95AA883B15EF1teggeratistop@207.14.113.17, "TeGGer?" > <teggeratistopdotcom@changetheobvious.invalid> wrote: >> How do you check the ignition switch? This would make a good addition >> to the FAQ. > > The surest way is to take it off and pop it open. The burned contacts It would be so cool if somebody could supply a photo sequence of this problem and repair. SignatureTeGGeR? The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ On 11/23/04 5:53 PM, in article Xns95AAC041118Bteggeratistop@207.14.113.17, "TeGGer®" <teggeratistopdotcom@changetheobvious.invalid> wrote: >> On 11/23/04 12:22 PM, in article >> Xns95AA883B15EF1teggeratistop@207.14.113.17, "TeGGer®" [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > It would be so cool if somebody could supply a photo sequence of this > problem and repair. There used to be a website put up by a guy who was pushing for the recall. Here is one that references the recall: http://www.accidentreconstruction.com/news/may02/052302b.asp On 11/23/04 5:53 PM, in article Xns95AAC041118Bteggeratistop@207.14.113.17, "TeGGer®" <teggeratistopdotcom@changetheobvious.invalid> wrote: >> On 11/23/04 12:22 PM, in article >> Xns95AA883B15EF1teggeratistop@207.14.113.17, "TeGGer®" [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > It would be so cool if somebody could supply a photo sequence of this > problem and repair. This webpage about the ignition switches was put up about 4 years ago by a guy who was crusading to have the switches recalled: http://www.visualimpressions.ca/switch/ > On 11/23/04 5:53 PM, in article > Xns95AAC041118Bteggeratistop@207.14.113.17, "TeGGer?" > <teggeratistopdotcom@changetheobvious.invalid> wrote: >> It would be so cool if somebody could supply a photo sequence of this >> problem and repair. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > http://www.visualimpressions.ca/switch/ Thanks! I've already uploaded the adjusted files. You may have to hit Refresh/Reload in your browser to see the changes if you've visited before. http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/faq.html#MainRelay SignatureTeGGeR? The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ > On 11/23/04 12:22 PM, in article > Xns95AA883B15EF1teggeratistop@207.14.113.17, "TeGGer?" [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > When it is starting to fail, the "run" contact will overheat and open, > causing the car to stall. > A usual symptom is the dash will also go > dark when it dies (no warning lights, no shift indicator, nothing). Now this is good info to know. > There was a recall for the ignition switch on some Hondas around this > vintage. The OP should check and see if he has one of them. This is good also. Thanks. SignatureJim Yanik jyanik-at-kua.net > On 11/23/04 12:22 PM, in article > Xns95AA883B15EF1teggeratistop@207.14.113.17, "TeGGer?" [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > two small Phillips screws. The other end of the cable plugs into the fuse > block. We should mention to just snug down the screws - don't overtorque them or the switch assembly will snap in two. The break can be repaired with quick setting steel filled epoxy, but the epoxy can invade the interior of the switch and make more trouble. Better not to break it at all. Don't ask me how I know all that :-( Mike > We should mention to just snug down the screws - don't overtorque them > or the switch assembly will snap in two. The break can be repaired > with quick setting steel filled epoxy, but the epoxy can invade the > interior of the switch and make more trouble. Better not to break it > at all. Don't ask me how I know all that :-( Thanks to one and all for the excellent info. With everyone's permission, it will all appear in the next update to the FAQ. With attributes to the authors, of course. SignatureTeGGeR? The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ www.tegger.com/hondafaq/ |
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