question about the Main Relay

[SilverShadow]

Been reading everywhere but not sure on a couple of things about the Main Relay.
I have total access to it but not sure how to check it. I don't want to cut it to have to splice it later ( makes it look ugly) unless I have to. Haynes says to attach batter leads to it. Does this mean the car's battery! Hope not. That seems to me it will fry it. Also on E-bay I see them cheap, but some show the item and years. Others show year, and if it is for a LX, DX, or EX. Does that really matter with years 90 -92? Does it matter if it is a coupe or sedan? I thought it goes by the numbers on the relay itself. Someones wisdom is needed here.

[Leung]

the main relay? it's basically a fuse, just plug and play.

the OEM ones had bad solder points all over the board, instead of paying the 50 bucks for a new one some of the people on here just pulled it out of the dash board and then resoldered all the contacts. if you have access to an solder iron and have a steady hand , this would be the cheapest way to go about it.

i'd be weary of pulling one from a salvage yard also because you never know if that one went bad also.

[SilverShadow]

Salvage yard, a.k.a Junk yards around here have only the shells left on them. Lucky if I can even tell they are Honda. Besides cutting the wires, how do I peek inside to see if the soldering job needs to be done or to see if the problem is NOT the relay? I haven't yet looked closely at it to see how it comes apart.

[mozzandherb]

How much do they go for if you were to buy one new?

[SilverShadow]

New, most likely $80 or more. On E-Bay? If you check it out you'll see that the lowest is $9 and then they graduate upwards for no apparent reason to above $40. Some descriptions say just relay and others trying to get the bucks and say they are for a specific model. That is what I was questioning: Are they just the same no matter model? Can't one relay fit all models of the same year? For instance a 91ex will be fine in a 91lx?and so on.
But I'm going to maybe remove the distributor from my wagon and put it in the coupe to see if that is the problem.

[4CYLPOWER92]

No need to cut any wires to remove it. Take a look at the DIY I made.
http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=53888

[SilverShadow]

Wow! Excellent Diy!! Lucky me that the previous owner of our coupe had the relay hanging down, ( I guess he got lazy and didn't want to struggle to put it back) That means I don't have the !0mm screw that puts it back after I'm done.
But I think you have answered my question in the DIY of how to pry it open. Thanks again and do I have your permission to copy and past it into AWC site? I will include your name.

[4CYLPOWER92]

Thanks again and do I have your permission to copy and past it into AWC site? I will include your name.

Yeah no problem

[SilverShadow]

Unplugged the Main Relay and found that it was a RZ-0132and the 91 coupe should be a RZ-0088. Does this matter? Car won't start but rotates. Tried two distributors and still the same. So I am guessing that the relay is not sending the correct info since it thinks it's a Civic. Am I right?

[SilverShadow]

Doesn't anybody here know the answer to my question? Before I go and replace the distributor again, I'd like to know if the no start is due to the main relay being wrong or is it compatible?

[LinX]

If you know for a fact the main relay isn't for your vehicle then I'd say the safest bet would be to get one that is. Again, I'm not sure about the civic/accord relay compatabilities but it can't hurt to try.

[cp[mike]]

its possible... turn the key On to ignition, then back off. then try loosening the 17mm bolt that connects the fuel line to the top of the fuel rail, to see if fuel squirts out. if it does, it means youre getting fuel pressure, which means your fuel pump is working, which would mean the main relay is successfully turning it on.

easy main relay repair: in most cases, the solder joints are what goes bad, not any other internal components... pull it out of its grey plastic case, and use a 25 watt or hotter soldering iron. touch it to each metal connection point on the circuit board until the solder melts. add a bit more solder, then let it cool down and harden.

a main relay from a pick-and-pull junkyard (free, if you can fit it in your pocket... lol) plus a soldering kit from Radio Shack will cost you less than any other main relay that youd buy somewhere.

[SilverShadow]

Fine advice except I did take it apart and absolutely no contacts points are broken, It is in perfect condition. Now the next step is to get another relay and plug it in and see if it makes the car start. If it does we all then know that a relay for the Civic(RZ-0132) wont work in the Accord (RZ-0088) Also I will check to see if gas is going to rail (Yet it cranks like it's out of gas) then if it has gas at the rail...then we all point to the distributor and say "It's your fault" (maybe) Update later ....

[SilverShadow]

Updated- I'm getting confused as hell cause I just pulled the spark plug cranked the car and saw the small spark ...guess the distributor is ok. So could it be the main relay? Wont know till I get the right one and see.

[jhondayaaj]

bringin this thread back to life.