Have a 1990 Honda Civic DX. Last time I drove it stopped and filled with gas. When I went to start it, it turned over and just kept going a little faster till it started. First time it's ever done that. I drove home. A few days later went to go some where and it wouldn't start, turned over good just no nothing. When I listen as I turn on key just to lights come on I hear nothing but a bell for seat belts? The engine light does come on and then goes out after a couple of seconds. No clicks or fuel pump noise. I have been reading the questions on forum. Went out and read error code I believe it was 16. I have been having some trouble from time to time with it starting. Some one looked at it and said it was the fuel relay? If it didn't start right away, or if it died I might have to wait a while to try to start it again and it would usually start. Any help is much appricated. Thank You

If you truly have a Code 16, it indicates a problem with the fuel injector circuit. Since you don't hear the main relay click, when the CEL comes on and goes out, replace it. It's located just above the fuse box. If the problem persists, perform the tests in the link below:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-7.html#post1245523

Be sure that the CEL always comes on and then goes off after 2 seconds, when the ignition switch is turned to ON (Position II). If it doesn't, the ECM may be failing.

When I talked to Napa they wanted to know how many pins? 4 or 7. Also I know I think where it is but exactly what does it look like. I am a pic person have to have visual. Working with a grandma who does a lot of things herself. LOLOLOL

Thank You for your help I'ed rate you at a 10

The best thing to do is to remove the old main relay first and take it with you--then you ensure you get an exact replacement. My bet is that it's a 4-P.

It may look like this:

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/catalog/parts/partsShelf.jsp?categoryDisplayName=Electrical+%26+ Lighting&fromType=parts&fromString=search&parentId=57-0&currentPage=1&filterByKeyWord=main+relay&isSearchByPartNumber=false&navValue=15701618&categoryNValue=15799999&fromWhere=&itemId=1618-0&displayName=Relay+-+Main&searchText=main+relay

My daughter and I found the main relay and was able to remove. We ordered one from our local AutoZone. It is not quite the same though. It is a four pin Just not quite the same. The salesman looked at the 2 together and is not sure either. We both think it might still work. We will let you know. Some how they must have changed the design along the line. Thank You for the help. Your still a 10

Well we put new main relay it did fit. We have no clicks when you turn it to on and no fuel pump sound. We get a click just before it turns over to start it. Still flashing 16 code.

2. Turn the ignition switch ON. Measure voltage between main relay connector Terminal 5 and ground. If there’s not battery voltage, test/replace the ACG (ALT) (S) (15 A) fuse in the under dash fuse/relay box. If necessary, repair an open in the wiring between the main relay and the ACG (ALT) (S) fuse. Verify that you now have battery voltage to Terminal 5. If the fuel pump still doesn’t run, however, go to Step 3.

We tried to locate the fuse in the above step and are unable to locate.

. Test all under dash and under hood fuses with a test light or multimeter:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-3.html#post252145

. Perform tests in the link below:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-7.html#post1245523

All of the fuses underneath the dash seem to be just lights tail lights. What I deem generic nothing like what I think you are saying. There is the other fuse box in engine compartment. But nothing is labeled. We did pull and look at all fuses, looked special at the 15 A. Everything looked good.

Visual inspection is not nearly good enough. Just test every fuse with a test light or multimeter. Be very thorough, since it will save a lot of time and money.

A mechanic 2 yrs ago said something about a fuel relay being on the fritz. Not sure what part that might be? Thank you Thank You for all your help as you might be able to tell My truck is on the fritz to then to top my grown daughter totaled her car last week Trying to get something running right. LOLOL

OK I tested with a test light all fuses in fuse box in engine area and under dash. All fuses in engine area are good. However under dash is different. I have a 15A for radio, it is good and I have a 30 A that says it is for the sunroof and it lights up. Only thing is I have no sunroof. If I remove the radio fuse radio does not work. If I remove sunroof fuse and turn car on to start lights come on but nothing happens, it does not turn over. I don't think it's all of the fuses bad from what you say possible another relay somewhere ?

Don't see my previous post. I tested all fuses under dash and in engine compartment. Those in engine compartment all good with light. Under dash have a 15A says radio it is good pulled it also and radio quit. 30A Says for sunroof pulled it tried to start car lights on panel came on but would not turn over. All other fuses would not light up there are fourteen actual fuses so 12 did not light, these are for tail lights etc. I am thinking fuses are not bad but another relay is?

Sorry I have no sunroof??

Remove, one at a time, each fuse and clean the contacts with abrasive cloth. Corrosion may be the problem. There is no other relay, in my opinion. Don't worry what they say the fuse goes to (e.g. sunroof, etc.).

If cleaning the fuses doesn't allow the test light to come on, the ignition switch is likely bad and at the heart of your problem. Check the ignition switch for wear, pitting, or melting:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-2.html#post224652

The flow is from the positive battery terminal, to the under hood fuse box, to the ignition switch, to the under dash fuse box, to wherever. If the ignition switch is bad, many circuits in the under dash fuse box won't get power.

Put new fuses in did not make any difference. I would like to do the test on fuel pump where you jump #5 and #7 in main relay to see if fuel pump runs. But I only have a 4 pin main relay? What pins do I jump? My head hurts thinking about this. Thank You for your patience

Since there's no power to so many fuses in the under dash fuse box, you need to focus on checking/replacing the ignition switch.

What is a supplemental restraint system? Mine has auto shoulder straps that close when you start car. Trying to figure where the ACG (ALT) (S) 15amp fuse is I have nothing labeled as such. I have one labeled Alternator

SRS = Airbag

Again, you need to focus on the ignition switch.

Just wanted to say thank you for all of your knowledge and help. The car is running. It was the main relay. I had to charge the battery, just wasn't quite enough battery to really turn it over fast enough. Charged battery and it fired right off. I still have the engine light come on after about 2 miles of driving, assume still code 16. You are a 10

Thank you for the update and the compliment. I know how relieved you are to get it fixed. Nice job!

Well I guess I spoke to soon!! Drove over to a friends house and then went to a movie in their truck. When I went to startcar it did the same thing as before. Farmer friend got out the light pick and started testing. I explained about the main relay, he tested fuse box. He then tested main relay and said their was no power to it. I got in and he wanted me to press on clutch and try to start so he could check relay again. He put pick in to where blue wire was and it fired right up?? I shut it off and started it again. Any thoughts. He checked all fuses and most of the 10A don't light he did get a couple more to light then I did. The wiring harness that has the blue wire is that the one that goes to the ignitation? Again Thank You

Are you referring to the BLU wire that goes to the tachometer? If so, there may be a problem with the tachometer and it's shorting everything out. Simply remove the BLU wire, inside the distributor, that goes to the Ignition Control Module.

Remove any fuse that does not test OK and clean the contacts with abrasive cloth. Do this one fuse at a time and ensure you replace it in the same slot. Slightly bend the contacts on any fuses that are loose with a pair of pliers. The contacts would look like this, in those instances:

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Here's how to properly test all under hood and under dash fuses with a test light or multimeter:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-3.html#post252145

You may need to replace the Starter Signal fuse in the under dash fuse box and repair an open in the BLU/WHT wire between the main relay and the Starter Signal fuse. It sounds like the problem may be with the main relay connector. Clean the female sockets, check for wire integrity, and coat with dielectric grease.

This link may help:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-4.html#post358044