I have an 89 S13 coupe with the KA24E under the hood, 116k miles.

I'm not exactly new to the modification game, but im having problems... I used to own a 92 honda civic that i did all my mods to, using a helms manual and alot of time.

i went to start my car this morning, and i heard some rattle under the hood. i wasnt too sure, so i shut the car off then proceeded to start it again. i heard nothing, not even the solenoid click.... but i did smell what seemed like burned wires or something. i did have to rebuild the solenoid a few weeks back since the bolts fell out, but it was working fine ever since.

i've never touched anything under the hood as of yet, except for changing the air filter and installing an amp power line. the line doesnt get pinched or run around anything that may cause a problem. i did install an aftermarket stereo with the correct wiring harness. also. i had the radiator replaced by a shop that does the work on my parents cars.

i checked all my fuses under the dash, and the fusible links next to the battery (the ones with the windows). could this be a relay problem? im really not sure.

I bought a chiltons manual, but its useless for this.

 

hmm...i'm stumped. did you check the rely fuses under the hood behind the battery?

 

im not exactly sure how to check the relays to see if they work or not. i know the fusible links have the clear plastic you can see through, i also ran a test light to eat one of the F/Ls... and they all are fine.

 

hmm...mabey you chewed up some teeth on the starter.......

i wish i could come and help ya figure it out

 

i will pull it and have it tested in the morning. but it still wouldnt explain why some of the accessories didnt work. i looked over the ignition, and i didnt smell anything.

however, i found a semi-melted connector under the hood... and took pictures of it. can you tell me what this is?







i also have a conversation between me and a honda friend.

12:11:41) funkmaster: perhaps the battery? do the lights and stuff come on? Maybe a bad ignition switch?
(12:11:58) S13Iketani: battery is good and fully charged
(12:12:26) funkmaster: i dont have a clue what could be rattling under the hood
(12:12:26) S13Iketani: would the ignition switch be the reason as to why the cc's, radio, wipers etc dont work
(12:12:38) S13Iketani: it has to be the solenoid rattling
(12:12:59) funkmaster: ccs?
(12:13:08) S13Iketani: climate controls
(12:13:11) funkmaster: oh
(12:13:40) funkmaster: does any electrical stuff work?
(12:13:51) funkmaster: headlights, locks, etc
(12:14:01) S13Iketani: just the pop up lights, door ajar ding, and the dome light
(12:14:12) S13Iketani: im not sure if the lamps actually turn on
(12:14:59) funkmaster: has any of the wiring in the steering column been tampered with? such as having an alarm installed?
(12:15:07) S13Iketani: nope, all original
(12:15:23) S13Iketani: and i used the correct harness for the stereo
(12:15:28) funkmaster: maybe the rad. guys forgot to reconnect a ground or something?
(12:15:36) S13Iketani: i looked it over
(12:15:48) S13Iketani: no wires to disconnect, except for the thermostat
(12:15:51) S13Iketani: and fan
(12:16:16) S13Iketani: but i did notice two vac hoses not put in their holders, and they got destroyed by the alt belt
(12:16:25) S13Iketani: but i fixed that
(12:16:35) funkmaster: maybe they had to disconnect something to get the actual radiator out
(12:16:53) S13Iketani: it was like a month ago
(12:17:04) funkmaster: and this problem just arose?
(12:17:07) S13Iketani: but theres plenty of room to pull the radiator out, after taking the intake out
(12:17:09) S13Iketani: yea
(12:17:27) funkmaster: how long ago did you install your aftermarket radio?
(12:17:38) S13Iketani: 2 - 3 weeks
(12:17:51) funkmaster: and it worked/ran fine also?
(12:17:57) funkmaster: up until this problem
(12:18:35) funkmaster: sounds like you could have a bad ECU
(12:18:57) S13Iketani: except for the little solenoid rattle, yea
(12:19:05) funkmaster: all those electrical things do not share much in common
(12:19:12) funkmaster: all different wiring
(12:19:16) S13Iketani: nope, not even fuses
(12:19:23) S13Iketani: but i should check the ignition just incase...
(12:19:39) funkmaster: yeah, if its not too much work to check
(12:19:58) funkmaster: the bad thing is if its an ECU, what caused it?
(12:20:02) S13Iketani: just unscrew the columb cover, and pop it off
(12:20:18) S13Iketani: not sure, maybe being 116k miles...
(12:20:20) funkmaster: do you know where the ECU is located? could it have possibly gotten wet?
(12:20:27) S13Iketani: 14 yes old
(12:20:32) S13Iketani: er years
(12:20:39) S13Iketani: same spot as on hondas
(12:20:55) funkmaster: ECUs dont usually just up and go bad like that, especially if you smelled burnt electronics
(12:21:04) S13Iketani: couldnt have gotten wet
(12:21:11) funkmaster: could you source where the smell was originating?
(12:21:24) S13Iketani: i smelled it from the drivers seat
(12:21:46) S13Iketani: so it had to be close
(12:22:25) funkmaster: if I were you id try to elimate things to help narrow down the possibilities, Id fix your solenoid problem, check the ignition switch, perhaps disconnect your radio
(12:22:37) funkmaster: id try to get at the ECU too, and sniff it
(12:22:49) funkmaster: burnt electronics will hold that smell for a while

 

i got a new acc relay, and that wasnt the problem. i also used a test light on the ignition itself in various key positions, and there was no light. im getting the starter checked in the morning...

could it be the ignition itself causing problems?

 

did you cheak all the contact wiring to the starter and the batt.

 

i swapped the starter and still nothing.

i swapped in one of my same type fuse links for the ignition just for the hell of it.. and it started. good and fine now... on an ohmeter the fuse is fine... dont know but the car has been running great.
Pics from this past sunday autocross...

of course, i have the cream colored coupe.

 

glad to hear u got it up and running

 

This probobly won't solve your problems with the accsessories but it may help with the burning smell. I was Driving down the road and started smelling a burning electronics smell. I pulled over and checked under the hood, all fine, checked int eh trunk and my amp and sub were fine I got back in the car and the smell was kinda lingering but was goin away. I started teh car up and started smelling it again. It took me 30 minuted in the publix parkinglot to figure out that it was a short in my cigerette lighter and it was very hot. you might want to check that.