ACURA NSX 1997 Service Repair Manual

Troubleshooting

Tips and Precautions

Before Troubleshooting

Check applicable fuses in the appropriate fuse box.

Check the battery for damage, state of charge, and

clean and tight connections.

Check the alternator belt tension.

CAUTION:

Do not quick-charge a battery unless the battery

ground cable has been disconnected.

Otherwise you will damage the alternator

diodes.

Do not attempt to crank the engine with the bat-

tery ground cable loosely connected or you will

severely damage the wiring.

Handling Connectors

Make sure the connectors are clean and have no loose

wire terminals.

Make sure multiple cavity connectors are packed with

grease (except watertight connectors).

All connectors have push-down release type locks.

LOCKING TAB

Some connectors have a clip on their side used to at-

tach them to a mount bracket on the body or on

another component. This clip has a pull type lock.

Some mounted connectors cannot be disconnected

unless you first release the lock and remove the con-

nector from its bracket.

(21

LOCKING'

PAWL ON

OTHER

HALF OF

CONNECTOR
Pull to

disengage

BRACKET
Never try to disconnect connectors by pulling on their

wires; pull on the connector halves instead.

Always reinstall plastic covers.

Before connecting connectors, make sure the ter-

minals are in place and not bent.

BENT TERMINAL

Check for loose retainer and rubber seals.

RETAINER
RUBBER SEAL RETAINER

The backs of some connectors are packed with

grease. Add grease if needed. If the grease is con-

taminated, replace it.

(cont'd)ProCarManuals.com

Troubleshooting

Tips and Precautions (cont'd)

Insert the connector all the way, and make sure it is

securely locked.

Position wires so that the open end of the cover

faces down.

Face

open end

down

Handling Wires and Harnesses

Secure wires and wire harnesses to the frame with

their respective wire ties at the designated locations.

Remove clips carefully; don't damage their locks.

Slip pliers under the clip base and through the hole at an

angle, then squeeze the expansion tabs to release the

clip.

After installing harness clips, make sure the harness

doesn't interfere with any moving parts.

Keep wire harnesses away from exhaust pipes and

other hot parts, from sharp edges of brackets and

holes, and from exposed screws and bolts.
Seat grommets in their grooves properly.

NOT GOOD

Testing and Repairs

Do not use wires or harnesses with broken insulation.

Replace them or repair them by wrapping the break

with electrical tape.

After installing parts, make sure that no wires are

pinched under them.

When using electrical test equipment, follow the

manufacturer's instructions and those described in

this manual.

If possible, insert the probe of the tester from the wire

side (except waterproof connector).

Use a probe with a tapered tip.

Refer to the instructions in the Honda Terminal Kit for

identification and replacement of connector terminals.
SNAP-RING PLIERProCarManuals.com

Five-step Troubleshootin g —————
1. Verif y Th e Complain t
Tur n o n al l th e component s i n th e proble m circui t t o
verif y th e custome r complaint . Not e th e symp -
toms . D o no t begi n disassembl y o r testin g unti l yo u
hav e narrowe d dow n th e proble m area .
2 . Analyz e Th e Schemati c
Loo k u p th e schemati c fo r th e proble m circuit .
Determin e ho w th e circui t i s suppose d t o wor k b y
tracin g th e curren t path s fro m th e powe r fee d
throug h th e circui t component s t o ground . I f
severa l circuit s fai l a t th e sam e time , th e fus e o r
groun d i s a likel y cause .
Base d o n th e symptom s an d you r understandin g o f
th e circui t operation , identif y on e o r mor e possibl e
cause s o f th e problem .
3 . Isolat e Th e Proble m B y Testin g Th e Circui t
Mak e circui t test s t o chec k th e diagnosi s yo u mad e
i n ste p 2 . Kee p i n min d tha t a logical , simpl e pro -
cedur e i s th e ke y t o efficien t troubleshooting . Tes t
fo r th e mos t likel y caus e o f failur e first . Tr y t o mak e
test s a t point s tha t ar e easil y accessible . 4
. Fi x Th e Proble m
Onc e th e specifi c proble m is identified , mak e th e
repair . B e sur e t o us e prope r tool s an d saf e
procedures .
5. Mak e Sur e Th e Circui t Work s
Tur n o n al l component s i n th e repaire d circui t i n al l
mode s t o mak e sur e you'v e fixe d th e entir e pro -
blem . I f th e proble m wa s a blow n fuse , b e sur e t o
tes t al l o f th e circuit s o n tha t fuse . Mak e sur e n o
ne w problem s tur n u p an d th e origina l proble m
doe s no t recur .
ProCarManuals.com

Relay and Control Unit Locations

Front Compartment

ABS REAR FAIL-SAFE

RELAY
RADIATOR FAN LOW RELAY

RADIATOR FAN HIGH RELAY

UNDER-HOOD

RELAY BOX

CONDENSER FAN

RELAY

REVERSE LOCKOUT RELAY (M/T)
WINDSHIELD WIPER

INTERMITTENT RELAY

WINDSHIELD WIPER

HIGH RELAY

UNDER-HOOD

RELAY BOX B

WINDSHIELD WIPER

LOW RELAY
A/C COMPRESSOR

ABS FRONT FAIL-SAFE CLUTCH RELAY

RELAY

POWER AMPLIFIER RELAY

BLOWER MOTOR HIGH RELAY

RIGHT HEADLIGHT RETRACTOR

CUT RELAY

WINDSHIELD WASHER

MOTOR RELAY

LEFT HEADLIGHT

RETRACTOR CUT RELAY

BLOWER MOTOR

RELAY

DIMMER RELAY

POWER WINDOW

RELAY

TAILLIGHT RELAY

ABS MOTOR RELAY

UNDER-HOOD FUSE/RELAY BOX

HEADLIGHT RELAY
HORN RELAY

RIGHT HEADLIGHT RETRACTOR RELAY

Wire colors: BLU/GRN,

BRN/WHT, BLU/RED,

GRN/YEL, and BLK

LEFT HEADLIGHT RETRACTOR RELAY

Wire colors: BLU/BLK,

WHT/BLK, GRN/RED,

BLU,
and BLKProCarManuals.com

Relay and Control Unit Locations

Dashboard

IMMOBILIZER CONTROL UNIT
CLIMATE CONTROL UNIT

TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD

RELAY

DASHBOARD

LOWER COVER

INTEGRATED

CONTROL UNIT

UNDER-DASH FUSE BOXProCarManuals.com

Dashboard, Doo r an d Floo r
DRIVER' S DOO R PANE LABS CONTRO L UNI T
DAYTIM E RUNNIN GLIGHTS CONTRO LUNIT (Canada )
POWER WINDO WCONTRO L UNI T
SECURIT Y CONTRO L UNI T
POWE
R DOO R LOC K
CONTRO L UNI T
CIGARETT E LIGHTE RRELAYWire colors : YEL/RED ,
BLU/GRN , BRN/YEL . an d BL K FOO
T WEL L BAS S SPEAKE R
EPS CONTRO L UNI T(Behin d foo t wel lbass speaker )
RIGH T FRON T FLOO R
PANEL
SRS UNI T
STARTE R CU T RELA Y
Wir e colors : BLK/WHT ,
BLK/WHT , BLK/GRN ,
an d BLK/BL U
ProCarManuals.com

Relay and Control Unit Locations

Rear Bulkhead

PGM-FI MAIN RELAY
THROTTLE VALVE CONTROL

MOTOR RELAY

Wire colors: BLK,

YEL/BLK, GRN/RED,

and WHT/BLU

DASH LIGHTS

BRIGHTNESS

CONTROL UNIT
TRANSMISSION CONTROL

MODULE (TCM) (A/T)

PULSE UNIT (M/T)

ABS INDICATOR LIGHT

RELAY

Wire colors: BLU/WHT,

BLK, YEL/BLK, BLU/WHT
TCS CONTROL UNIT

FAN CONTROL

UNIT

ECMProCarManuals.com

INTERLOCK CONTROL

UNIT (A/T)

RETRACTABLE HEADLIGHT

CONTROL UNIT
FUEL PUMP RELAY

Wire colors: YEL, RED,

BLK/YEL, and BLK/REDProCarManuals.com

Relay an d Contro l Uni t Location s
Engine Compartmen t
REAR WINDOW DEFOGGE RRELAY
ENGIN E COMPARTMEN TFAN RELA Y (A/T )Wire colors : YEL/BLK ,
BLU/RED , WHT/GRN ,
an d WHT/BL U
ENGINE COMPARTMEN TFUSE/RELAY BO X
IGNITIO N CONTRO L
MODUL E (ICM )
SPARK PLU G VOLTAG E
DETECTIO N MODUL E
ProCarManuals.com

Battery

Component Location Index

BATTERY

Type: 80D26L (A/T)

70D23L (M/T)

CHECK INDICATOR

HEAT SHIELD

Replacement

1. Remove the spare tire and the spare tire holder.

2. Disconnect both the negative cable and positive cable from the battery.

3. Remove the battery holder, then take out the battery.

SPARE TIRE
BATTERY HOLDER

SPARE TIRE HOLDERProCarManuals.com