My daughter's 1990 Honda Accord has a major problem. Last week, she wanted to go to the mall with her freinds. She grabbed the key off the hook and came in a minute later saying her car wouldn't start up. I went to check. I put the key in the Ignition, turned the key, and it wasn't usual hm-hm-hm-hm sound a stalled car would make. It was more like a s-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h sound. What should I do? It's been doing this for a week!
2006-06-27 07:11:16 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Honda
The oil was changed about 2 days before it happened. The car has about 290,000 miles on it. Could it just be on it's last little limbs?
2006-06-27 07:58:48 · update #1
Brand new battery, and I'll just come straightforward. Brand New Timing Belt as of June 2nd, 2006!
2006-06-27 08:01:57 · update #2
Hmmm, a s-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h sound instead of a hm-hm-hm-hm sound eh?
We'll have to get some more details to accurately assess this problem but let's see what we can do...
Since it's been doing this for a week, has it been dead the whole week or has it been making this noise only when trying to start the car but then it does actually start? I can't imagine someone trying to start a dead car every day of the week and then hoping for a better day the next day but hey... why not?
From the sounds you gave me, the hm-hm-hm sounds like an engine turning over just prior to starting. The sh-sh-sh certainly doesn't sound like an engine turning over even in writing! I rule out a broken timing belt because Honda's are interferance engines and within just a couple of smaller hm-hm-hm sounds, the pistons would collide into open valves and pretty much stop in it's tracks never to turn again. Of course, starters are pretty tough little beasts and with it's associated reduction gears, it could have developed enough torque to bend the valves that were in the way of the pistons and continued with turning the engine... that would be the worst news you would want to hear and the sh-sh-sh sound could very well be pistons that are supposed to be on compression strokes forcing engine air/fuel back into the carburetor or throttle body! That could make a pulsing air flow kind of sound if you could hear it at all.
The car would be considered trash if that is the problem as it would cost more to fix than the car is worth. Let's hope that's not the problem!
A much simpler and much, much cheaper to fix problem could be that the starter itself has gone bad and the solenoid that throws the starter gear into the flywheel gear might not have enough oompf to get the job done. In that case, the starter gear simply spins making a sort of whrrrrring sound which might be interpreted as a sh-sh-sh kind of sound.
If the car has a manual transmission, put the car in 2nd and try to push start the car, i.e. ignition switch on, clutch pushed in, push the car as fast as you can and then quickly let the clutch out and let the car's momentum and direct connection through 2nd gear of the transmission to turn the engine over instead of the starter. Be careful, if it starts it is going to want to go! Be quick on the clutch to disengage the engine once it is started!
The sh-sh-sh sound could also be a large vacuum leak so check on broken hoses etc. A simple one on top of the valve cover, the pcv valve hose, makes starting difficult (though not impossible) and it runs like a dog when idling. If it sounds like air, have someone crank the engine over while you listen intently for the source of the sh-sh-sh sound.
Thant's about the best I could do you with the information given... good luck!
2006-06-27 07:55:27 · answer #1 · answered by Les 4 · 6⤊ 1⤋
* is this happpen recently? is it somtime started normaly and somtime not?
* when it is not start then you turn the key on try to start is any of the following happened: + is there any sound at all? + is the engine crank?
here is a few things i want to share it with you:
* test your battery most of auto parts store do its free.
* test your starter too and most auto parts store do it free.
its a 3 on 1 to 10 scale rate to take off your starter. if its not those two you want to check if there is sparks( simply pull off your plug wire then start the engine to see if there is sparks) if not change your plugs and wires if there is sparks next step is to check is there fuel goes in to your intake( also simple pull off the fuel line, the one that goes from fuel filter to the intake then turn the key all the way on but not start the engine) when you turn your key on with the fuel line pulled off, fuel should be pump out very much strong almost like water faucet in the house. if not its should be your fuel pump. if there is fuel and sparks all good the last thing to me should be your main relay sometime its have contact sometime not. good luck and have fun
2006-06-28 04:16:00 · answer #2 · answered by puddytat 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my dad is an mechanic and i help him out sometimes. it is probably the timing belt. either that it might need an oil change.
2006-06-27 14:31:55 · answer #3 · answered by xcrunner3393 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
timing belt
2006-06-27 14:16:02 · answer #4 · answered by stowe vt 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would take it to a mechanic
2006-06-27 14:15:57 · answer #5 · answered by gods_chief_pilot 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋