Main Relay Check
 

Hey, so I am brand new to this forum, but rest assured I have read the solved problems section about the main relay, but I am wondering if there is a way I can test to make sure that is what is wrong with my car. It is a 93 civic dx hatchback. The engine died a couple times while I was driving the other day-this seems to be the most likely culprit, but I don't want to buy a new part without knowing for sure. I pulled the main relay and it does seem to have cracks, so that's a good sign I suppose. Its frustrating because I can't seem to recreate the stalling or pinpoint when it does it. It wasn't overly hot when it died the other day, so I dont know if it is related to the hot starting issue, and I have always been able to start it up right after. Am I on the right track with the main relay here?

Any CEL codes? Click CEL link in my signature.

When the engine stalls, does it fail to start up immediately? If so, when this occurs, check whether the fuel pump primes and whether there is spark at the plugs.

The main relay is a common problem of 5th gen Civics. The site below details how to fix it by resoldering:

http://techauto.awardspace.com/mainrelay.html

Everyone with an 88 to 95 model should resolder their main relay anyway, because it's likely to go bad at some time.

Bad main relay typically doesn't cause stalling once started. It will cause failure to start due to lack of fuel, there will still be spark at the plugs. If the engine won't start and there is no spark, something else is wrong.

hmm..okay. Everywhere I look for stalling once started it ends up on the main relay problem. I have yet to have problems starting the car, it has only ever died while driving. I pulled the main relay and it has cracks on it in the same way as described and pictured, so I'm gonna fix that anyway.

It's wise to resolder the main relay, but if the problem persists, the solution is not to guess the solution (expensive) but to troubleshoot (smart):

Okay, thanks, I am gonna resolder the relay and see if it is fixed, if not, I'll check to see if it will start up right away,get the CEL code and go from there. Thanks.

I resoldered it and it didn't fix the problem. The fuel pump goes every time I turn the ignition to the II position, but it seems like once the car gets warmed up the engine quits. This last time I have had to leave the car sitting for a while before it would start up again. Its possible I didn't do the best soldering job, as I dont have much experience with it, but upon further research it seems like the main relay really only keeps the car from starting, and wouldn't really make it stall once going.

RonJ, I checked out the link in your signiture, but I'm still not sure what is being pictured in the location for the jumper plug. am I supposed to remove the metal casing in front of the passenger door that is underneath the carpet?

You don't have to remove anything. Look around the top edge of the carpet and find a large wire harness. The plug is on small wires that come out of the harness.

You should check for spark while the engine is not able to start.

turned out to be the ignition coil. thanks for the help guys.