Is this a fuel pump relay problem?

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Gordon McGrew - 26 Jun 2007 00:36 GMT

My 94 GS-R sat in the parking lot all day in the sun and it was about
90 in Chicago today. So the inside was pretty toasty when I got in.
The engine fired right up and I shifted immediately into reverse.
Before I could let out the clutch, it died suddenly. Cranked and
cranked but wouldn't restart. Opened all the windows, sunroof,
checked the fuses, took a call on my cell phone. Must have been
opened up for 5 - 10 minutes when I tried it again. It cranked for
about 5 seconds and suddenly started. Ran fine all the way home with
the AC on.

Does this sound like a fuel pump relay? (Also called "main" relay?) I
am thinking the car started with residual pressure and died as soon as
the pressure dropped. The relay started working after it cooled down
a little, but it took 5 seconds to pressurize the system before the
engine started. Has anyone else had this experience?

If it is the relay, is it totally unreliable at this point or is it
likely to keep working if it stays cool?

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Jim Yanik - 26 Jun 2007 03:51 GMT

> My 94 GS-R sat in the parking lot all day in the sun and it was about
> 90 in Chicago today. So the inside was pretty toasty when I got in.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Does this sound like a fuel pump relay?

yes.
I'm surprised you had time to even get it into reverse before it died.

> (Also called "main" relay?) I
> am thinking the car started with residual pressure and died as soon as
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> If it is the relay, is it totally unreliable at this point or is it
> likely to keep working if it stays cool?

www.tegger.com,see "main relay".
the relay on my 94 GSR failed like this 4-5 years ago,I resoldered it and
have had no problems since. BTW,it fails more frequently over time.
Also,resoldering it saves you $50 or more,and eliminates it as a trouble
source.

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Jim Yanik
jyanik
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jim beam - 26 Jun 2007 04:49 GMT

> My 94 GS-R sat in the parking lot all day in the sun and it was about
> 90 in Chicago today. So the inside was pretty toasty when I got in.
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> If it is the relay, is it totally unreliable at this point or is it
> likely to keep working if it stays cool?

sounds like relay. don't monkey about - replace, or if you're cheap,
resolder.

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motsco_ - 26 Jun 2007 16:30 GMT

-------------------------

I think you've nailed it. Since you've never had trouble with it, it
will last forever if you just resolder it. A new one will have the same
flimsy solder on it that was on the original. Since we're talking about
a '94, you got good life out of it already. :-)

'Curly'

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motsco_ - 27 Jun 2007 00:31 GMT

> If it is the (main) relay, is it totally unreliable at this point or is it
> likely to keep working if it stays cool?

------------------------------------

It's never totally unreliable, since you can always start a Honda that
has a bad solder joint in the Main Relay by turning the key to position
II, smack the dash on the left side of the steering wheel (North
America), and listen to the fuel pump run for three seconds. Honda will
start and vibration will usually keep the relay 'sparkin' to get you
wherever you need to go.

'Curly'

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Gordon McGrew - 27 Jun 2007 01:25 GMT

>> If it is the (main) relay, is it totally unreliable at this point or is it
>> likely to keep working if it stays cool?
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
>'Curly'

Thanks Curly and all who replied.

I am waiting for an opportune time to pull it out and solder it up. I
will probably go ahead and hit all the pins unless there is a reason
not to. Worked fine today but it was cooler.

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jim beam - 27 Jun 2007 03:44 GMT

>>> If it is the (main) relay, is it totally unreliable at this point or is it
>>> likely to keep working if it stays cool?
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> I am waiting for an opportune time to pull it out and solder it up.

best results come with de-soldering first. use a good quality higher
wattage soldering tool. some of the terminals you need to solder are
quite big pieces of copper and they'll suck the heat to the point of
uselessness on the usual small stuff. i have a 60W hakko and it's about
right.

> I
> will probably go ahead and hit all the pins unless there is a reason
> not to. Worked fine today but it was cooler.

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Jim Yanik - 27 Jun 2007 16:06 GMT

>>>> If it is the (main) relay, is it totally unreliable at this point
>>>> or is it likely to keep working if it stays cool?
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> uselessness on the usual small stuff. i have a 60W hakko and it's
> about right.

And use electrical solder,not plumbing solder.
(rosin fluxed,not acid fluxed.)

Don't "flux" it up! 8-)

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