Engine Cranks but Won't Start - AcuraLegend.Org - The Acura Legend Forum for All Generations of the Honda / Acura Legend; 1986 to Present

dan · 12-24-2009, 03:57 PM

So, recently, I attempted to resolder my main relay but my car wouldn't start after I placed it in so I bought a Beck/Arnley replacement hoping that would fix it. However, same problem, engine will crank but won't start.

My ECU is of no help, giving me the same Code 3 I've had for awhile now.

Any advice, guys?

Also, heading to the junkyard to pick up some woodgrain pieces for my car. There's a 89 Couple L and a 90 Sedan LS so if you guys need anything hit me up. I tried picking up some radios for awelliot a while ago but the casette players wouldn't work on either.

Update: Okay, so, all the fuses checked out, the main relay checked out, the fuel pump checked out by giving it power, but the problem is there's no power going to the fuel pump. Everything else is good.

Update: So, I ended up splicing a ground wire from the main relay harness to the chassis. It starts up now.

hgeez:

Click on the images if you'd like to see a bigger picture.

18 characters long · 12-24-2009, 04:14 PM

Did you check to see if you have fuel and spark?

Start here. http://forums.acuralegend.org/g1-faq...661#post125661

If that's good, check that your fuel pump is running by opening the trunk, flipping back the carpet, and have somebody turn the car on and listen if it's running. If you can't hear it, check all your fuses, if they're good, remove the cover on the fuel pump and see if you can hear it then. If that doesn't work, try getting a known good main relay.

If you have a working fuel pump, and your igniter is replaced, remove one of the spark plug wires, put a screw driver in it, set it against the frame and look for a spark. If you have spark, it's a fuel problem.

If you have spark, AND your fuel pump is running you could still have a bad fuel pump, or a clogged filter. My '87 sedan had a bad fuel pump, it would pump fuel, but not enough to start the car.

stephen · 12-24-2009, 09:32 PM

An easy way to check for spark is to hook up an inductive pickup timing light to the coil wire or a plug wire. If the light flashes while cranking the car you have spark.

The other thing to test for is fuel pressure. It's easiest to hook up a fuel pressure gauge but that requires an adaptor to hook up at the bleed bolt to the fuel filter. If you don't have the right tools, just disconnect the line from the fuel filter at the fuel rail and hold it over a container while someone cranks the engine.

These tests will at least tell you if it is ignition or fuel related.

pnoye2 · 12-26-2009, 10:44 AM

Start with full tune-up; if you had not done so OP

...I'd also agree with prior replies! Goodluck, and please keep us posted.

dan · 12-31-2009, 02:33 PM

Okay, so, all the fuses checked out, the main relay checked out, the fuel pump checked out by giving it power, but the problem is there's no power going to the fuel pump. Everything else is good.

awelliott · 12-31-2009, 03:37 PM

Hey Dan,

Just of our curiosity, when you got the fuel pump running by jumping 12v to it, did you try starting the car? Also, did you jump 12v to the fuel pump at the pump or at the main relay harness? Sounds like you might have a problem in the harness between the main relay and fuel pump, but you need to try the following first (if you haven't already done so).

First verify that you have power to the main relay. You can check by disconnecting the main relay harness and you should see 12v between the blk and the blk/wht wires (pins 2 and 4) when you turn the switch to the "start" position. If you don't, then there's a problem between the ignition switch and the harness. (I assume the ignition switch is okay since the car cranks from the "start" position.)

If you have power to the main relay, then you need to see if you're getting power to the fuel pump. Again, on the main relay harness, jump between the two black/yel wires on pins 5 and 7. Once the jumper is in, turn the ignition switch to the "on" position, and you should hear the fuel pump kick in. If not, then you have a problem in the harness.

There are also a couple of fuses that come into play; fuse 13 (7.5a) and fuse 9 (10a), but you say that you verified them. Good luck....

l4zy415 · 12-31-2009, 05:38 PM

+1 on what awelliot suggested. Sounds like you might have a short.

dan · 01-02-2010, 01:57 PM

So, I ended up splicing a ground wire from the main relay harness to the chassis. It starts up now.

hgeez:

Click on the images if you'd like to see a bigger picture.

l4zy415 · 01-02-2010, 02:22 PM

Damn, so you only had a bad ground wire? Well, glad it was a simple fix

.

12-24-2009, 03:57 PM	#1
dan Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 114 '90 ACURA Legend Sedan L	Engine Cranks but Won't Start So, recently, I attempted to resolder my main relay but my car wouldn't start after I placed it in so I bought a Beck/Arnley replacement hoping that would fix it. However, same problem, engine will crank but won't start. My ECU is of no help, giving me the same Code 3 I've had for awhile now. Any advice, guys? Also, heading to the junkyard to pick up some woodgrain pieces for my car. There's a 89 Couple L and a 90 Sedan LS so if you guys need anything hit me up. I tried picking up some radios for awelliot a while ago but the casette players wouldn't work on either. Update: Okay, so, all the fuses checked out, the main relay checked out, the fuel pump checked out by giving it power, but the problem is there's no power going to the fuel pump. Everything else is good. Update: So, I ended up splicing a ground wire from the main relay harness to the chassis. It starts up now. hgeez: Click on the images if you'd like to see a bigger picture. Last edited by dan; 01-02-2010 at 02:02 PM.

12-26-2009, 10:44 AM	#4
pnoye2 Pinoy Pride... Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Laguna Hills, CA. Posts: 4,350	Start with full tune-up; if you had not done so OP ...I'd also agree with prior replies! Goodluck, and please keep us posted. __________________ ...my gold

12-31-2009, 05:38 PM	#7
l4zy415 FRISCO LEGEND BABY!! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 10,178 '88 ACURA Legend Sedan Base Model Real Name: James	+1 on what awelliot suggested. Sounds like you might have a short. __________________ My Build Thread Oh my gawd That jar better blow me twice and cook breakfast for $1000.

01-02-2010, 02:22 PM	#9
l4zy415 FRISCO LEGEND BABY!! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 10,178 '88 ACURA Legend Sedan Base Model Real Name: James	Damn, so you only had a bad ground wire? Well, glad it was a simple fix . __________________ My Build Thread Oh my gawd That jar better blow me twice and cook breakfast for $1000.

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12-24-2009, 09:32 PM	#3
stephen Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,038	An easy way to check for spark is to hook up an inductive pickup timing light to the coil wire or a plug wire. If the light flashes while cranking the car you have spark. The other thing to test for is fuel pressure. It's easiest to hook up a fuel pressure gauge but that requires an adaptor to hook up at the bleed bolt to the fuel filter. If you don't have the right tools, just disconnect the line from the fuel filter at the fuel rail and hold it over a container while someone cranks the engine. These tests will at least tell you if it is ignition or fuel related.

12-31-2009, 02:33 PM	#5
dan Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 114 '90 ACURA Legend Sedan L	Okay, so, all the fuses checked out, the main relay checked out, the fuel pump checked out by giving it power, but the problem is there's no power going to the fuel pump. Everything else is good.

12-31-2009, 03:37 PM	#6
awelliott Senior Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Athens, AL Posts: 982 '04 DODGE DAKOTA '95 FORD MUSTANG - GT '02 DODGE DAKOTA '88 ACURA Legend Coupe LS '87 ACURA Legend Coupe L Real Name: Tony	Hey Dan, Just of our curiosity, when you got the fuel pump running by jumping 12v to it, did you try starting the car? Also, did you jump 12v to the fuel pump at the pump or at the main relay harness? Sounds like you might have a problem in the harness between the main relay and fuel pump, but you need to try the following first (if you haven't already done so). First verify that you have power to the main relay. You can check by disconnecting the main relay harness and you should see 12v between the blk and the blk/wht wires (pins 2 and 4) when you turn the switch to the "start" position. If you don't, then there's a problem between the ignition switch and the harness. (I assume the ignition switch is okay since the car cranks from the "start" position.) If you have power to the main relay, then you need to see if you're getting power to the fuel pump. Again, on the main relay harness, jump between the two black/yel wires on pins 5 and 7. Once the jumper is in, turn the ignition switch to the "on" position, and you should hear the fuel pump kick in. If not, then you have a problem in the harness. There are also a couple of fuses that come into play; fuse 13 (7.5a) and fuse 9 (10a), but you say that you verified them. Good luck....

01-02-2010, 01:57 PM	#8
dan Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 114 '90 ACURA Legend Sedan L	So, I ended up splicing a ground wire from the main relay harness to the chassis. It starts up now. hgeez: Click on the images if you'd like to see a bigger picture.

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