1990 Integra Gs starter relay problems

[straightupgangs]

Hi guys, so I've been troubleshooting my cars starter problems for a couple of days now. Ok, basically this is what happened, I parked my car at a friends house and when I came back later that day the car would not engage the starter. When I try and start it it cuts the radio off but I'm not getting the starter to turn over, no clicking, nothing. I've been going through the shop manual to find the issue and I've determined that it must be the starter relay. I actually jumped the starter relay and the car started fine. SO I replaced the relay today and I'm getting nothing. Can anyone think of what the problem is? I mean I took the relay out and jumped it and the car started. Also I dont know how much this matters but I bought a slightly different relay. THe original is a Denso 056700-9250 I replaced it with the -8750 is that the issue?

 

[96LSteg]

taken from Team-Integra:

In a perfect world.
If battery is dead then the alternator must be checked too.
• Rapid clicking is usually a dead battery or a bad battery connection that's what I thought you meant at first.
Seat of the pants stuff.
• One loud click = solenoid.
• One soft click = starter.
• Solenoid continuity test from the S terminal to body ground (small solenoid wire) then from S terminal to the bottom post of solenoid; the one that’s a PIA to get to and may be covered with a boot.
If you have thoroughly checked all connections and your battery take the starter out and bring it to an electrical shop for a test. Unless you want to bench test it I won’t get into that. If during any single clicks your lights flicker or go off it’s a connection. Also this is not a performance issue and should have been posted in electric or Gen 3.


Add: Actually you need to have the solenoid disconnected from all it's electrical connections for a proper continuity test

 

[straightupgangs]

None of this applies, the problem has to be in the relay.

1. Power is getting to the relay when the ignition switch is turned to start
2. By jumping the relay plug and moving the ignition switch to start, the starter engages and the car starts

Can this be anything other than a bad relay?

 

[Muckman]

ignition switch?

 

[xxBLOOD88SHOTxx]

Check if there is a short from the ignition to the starter. Should be a big black and white wire. Or if it is just loose at the starter

 

[Muckman]

You should get battery voltage on the starter solenoid wire when the ignition key is on start.

 

[straightupgangs]

Guys...one more time with what does and doesn't work.

When key is twisted to the start position, no power is making it to the starter. It is not an intermittent thing, no clicking, no nothing. Battery is normal and all accessories work as they should.

The following tests HAVE been performed and PASSED:
-2 big fuses under the hood in the starter circuit are intact.
-Jumped the pos batt terminal to the terminal on top of the starter housing....starter engages.
-Checked the clutch interlock switch...Makes and breaks normally and is adjusted correctly; jumped it anyway just to make absolutely sure it isn't the problem. Even with a jumper, still no starter engagement.
-Checked the ignition switch start position for both continuity (as per the Acura shop manual) AND power (reconnected the plugs under the dash and checked for power coming out of the correct lead that heads for the under dash relay). Both tests indicate that the switch is good. When key is twisted to start, radio shuts off as it should.
-The relay under the dash...old one removed and tested for operation and continuity. When energized, it clicks and while energized, and the opposite contacts HAVE continuity. When I check for current at the relay PLUG, there IS current when the start switch is twisted to the start position. We then jumped the contacts in the relay plug and VOILA! it starts. Decided to replace the relay since there doesn't seem to be anything else that could could prevent this current from getting to the starter. Replaced relay....no dice. With a jumper across the relay PLUG it starts instantly. Is it possible that we have 2 bad relays or am I missing something else?

 

[Muckman]

You have narrowed down the problem to be somewhere between the starter solenoid wire and the ignition switch. Without tracing the wire up stream from the starter I wouldn't know where to tell you to look.

Do you have a factory service manual? There are several troubleshooting flow charts that you will want to follow.
You can download it from here when you register - http://www.hondahookup.com/manuals/