How to determine Main Rely is the culprit?

[Jonathan_ed3]

Hi,

Got my first CB7..it's a '93 LX Coupe 5 speed. I love it! It's so roomy and quiet and comfortable compared to the 88-91 modified Civics I've been driving the past 5 years.

I know these cars have the same problem the Civics do, and that's the main relay.

My question is this....how do you determine the Main Relay is the culprit and not something else in the electrical system? I could have sworn I read that Honda had a TSB or something on the ignitor, or something with the distributor that prevented these cars from starting. I can't find anything when searching here...I think I read it on Mitchell, or maybe on Edmunds.

Is anybody familiar with an ignitor or a distributor problem? Or is the main relay almost always the problem on the no-start situations?

Thanks!

[f20a_cb7]

when u turn the key to the ON position if u have a friend with their ear near the fuel pump they should be able to hear it, if not its most likely the main relay...
u should prolly just get it over with and fix it if ur having that problem, its an easy fix, alot easier than trying to diagnose and see if its something else

[TypeG]

My question is this....how do you determine the Main Relay is the culprit and not something else in the electrical system?

re-sodier it and if it fixes it, then you'll know if it was your problem or not. later.
http://www.cb7tuner.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=53888

[Jonathan_ed3]

Thanks guys. I was hoping for something a little more solid. I'm putting in a new relay, but would hope to believe the problem is solved only to find myself stranded at a really bad time (late to class, or to work, or something along those lines), but I'm not complaining. I've been through all this with my Civics. lol

[kslice88]

or u could look and see if theres any other relays that r the same and try that one or go to the junkyard adn getone or ask a close cb7 owner to borrow one for a min.

[NAiL05]

As mentioned you dont need a buddy you can do it yourself turn the key to the on position and listen to the fuel pump prime if you cant hear it prime or it takes a while then yea you need to fix up your main relay. And resoldering is a cheap alternative to buying a 50-60 somethin dollar relay.