Starting problem with '91 Integra

"Art M" wrote in


> A couple of times in the past couple of months when I try to start my
> '91 Integra it turns over without seeming to fire at all. This can go
> on for many tries and then it starts right up without bogging...
> Normally it starts right up without any trouble.
>
> The other day I was on the highway with the cruise control set and the
> tach would suddenly die and then come back it even knocked off the
> cruise control. I then tried driving without the cruise control and it
> did the same thing a couple of times and then drove fine for the next
> 2 hours home.
>
> Any ideas on what (electrical?) part to test.
>
> Thanks
>
> --Art
>
>
>
>

see www.tegger.com; "main relay" and "igniter".
It may be two unrelated problems.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net
 >> Stay informed about: Starting problem with '91 Integra 

Tegger wrote in
207.14.116.130:

> "Art M" wrote in
>
>
>> A couple of times in the past couple of months when I try to start my
>> '91 Integra it turns over without seeming to fire at all. This can go
>> on for many tries and then it starts right up without bogging...
>> Normally it starts right up without any trouble.
>>
>> The other day I was on the highway with the cruise control set and the
>> tach would suddenly die and then come back it even knocked off the
>> cruise control. I then tried driving without the cruise control and it
>> did the same thing a couple of times and then drove fine for the next
>> 2 hours home.
>>
>> Any ideas on what (electrical?) part to test.
>>
>
>
>
> Igniter is dying.
>


Here's an easy test: next time the car cranks and won't fire, watch the
tach needle while cranking. If the needle jiggles a tiny bit, the igniter
is OK. If the needle remains perfectly still, the igniter has died.

--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
 >> Stay informed about: Starting problem with '91 Integra 

"Tegger" wrote in message

> Tegger wrote in
> 207.14.116.130:
>
>> "Art M" wrote in
>>
>>
>>> A couple of times in the past couple of months when I try to start my
>>> '91 Integra it turns over without seeming to fire at all. This can go
>>> on for many tries and then it starts right up without bogging...
>>> Normally it starts right up without any trouble.
>>>
>>> The other day I was on the highway with the cruise control set and the
>>> tach would suddenly die and then come back it even knocked off the
>>> cruise control. I then tried driving without the cruise control and it
>>> did the same thing a couple of times and then drove fine for the next
>>> 2 hours home.
>>>
>>> Any ideas on what (electrical?) part to test.
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Igniter is dying.
>>
>
>
> Here's an easy test: next time the car cranks and won't fire, watch the
> tach needle while cranking. If the needle jiggles a tiny bit, the igniter
> is OK. If the needle remains perfectly still, the igniter has died.
>
> --
> Tegger
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/




Thanks Jim and Tegger. I was already reading about the Main Relay. Maybe I
should just go ahead with that one, even though I'm kind of a shoddy
solderer. Info even on that at the link from Tegger's site
http://techauto.awardspace.com/mainrelay.html

I have a cheap soldering iron with a point. Is a chisel preferred for this
kind of circuit board work?

The igniter isn't cheap. Tegger, the diagnostics on this on your site seem
complicated. Should I just buy a new one or is it likely I'll continue to
have minor problems where I can pay more attention to the tach needle as you
suggested? I'd like not to get stranded on the highway as I don't own a cell
phone.

--Art
 >> Stay informed about: Starting problem with '91 Integra 

"Art M" wrote in



>
> The igniter isn't cheap. Tegger,


It is when you get one from the wreckers. If it costs you more than ten
bucks I'd be surprised.


> the diagnostics on this on your site
> seem complicated. Should I just buy a new one or is it likely I'll
> continue to have minor problems where I can pay more attention to the
> tach needle as you suggested? I'd like not to get stranded on the
> highway as I don't own a cell phone.
>


Unless you want to conduct the tests the page shows, the only easy way of
making sure it's the igniter is to watch the tach as you crank.

Resoldering your Main Relay will do you no good at all. That's not your
problem. Having said that though, if I were you I'd go to the wreckers and
get a Main Relay there for $5.

--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
 >> Stay informed about: Starting problem with '91 Integra 

"Art M" wrote in


>
> "Tegger" wrote in message
>
>> Tegger wrote in
>> 207.14.116.130:
>>
>>> "Art M" wrote in
>>>
>>>
>>>> A couple of times in the past couple of months when I try to start
>>>> my '91 Integra it turns over without seeming to fire at all. This
>>>> can go on for many tries and then it starts right up without
>>>> bogging... Normally it starts right up without any trouble.
>>>>
>>>> The other day I was on the highway with the cruise control set and
>>>> the tach would suddenly die and then come back it even knocked off
>>>> the cruise control. I then tried driving without the cruise control
>>>> and it did the same thing a couple of times and then drove fine for
>>>> the next 2 hours home.
>>>>
>>>> Any ideas on what (electrical?) part to test.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Igniter is dying.
>>>
>>
>>
>> Here's an easy test: next time the car cranks and won't fire, watch
>> the tach needle while cranking. If the needle jiggles a tiny bit, the
>> igniter is OK. If the needle remains perfectly still, the igniter has
>> died.
>>
>> --
>> Tegger
>>
>> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
>> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
>
>
>
>
> Thanks Jim and Tegger. I was already reading about the Main Relay.
> Maybe I should just go ahead with that one, even though I'm kind of a
> shoddy solderer. Info even on that at the link from Tegger's site
> http://techauto.awardspace.com/mainrelay.html
>
> I have a cheap soldering iron with a point. Is a chisel preferred for
> this kind of circuit board work?

a chisel would be -better-,but if your iron is 25 watts or more,then a
conical tip should work,too. you want to use rosin core solder,not plumbing
solder(acid core).
>
> The igniter isn't cheap. Tegger, the diagnostics on this on your site
> seem complicated. Should I just buy a new one or is it likely I'll
> continue to have minor problems where I can pay more attention to the
> tach needle as you suggested? I'd like not to get stranded on the
> highway as I don't own a cell phone.
>
> --Art

IMO,a flaky igniter is a major failure problem,not something to be
considered "minor".



--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net
 >> Stay informed about: Starting problem with '91 Integra