Problem starting 1990 honda accord?

Question

The car turns over but does not start. Doesn't seem to be the battery or starter since it turns over. After waitiing a while (about an hour) we try again and it starts. Any hints on what the problem could be -- fuel pump or other fuel related parts. Thanks for any advice.

Answer 1

this is VERY common in hondas of this vintage. usually it is a weak fuel pump. If you have not changed the fuel filter lately....you should do that. usually this problem is more prevalent in hot weather than cold...is that the case with yours?

Answer 2

Igniter is the most likely candidate with the main relay coming in a close second.

One interesting notion I read was the thought that pumping the gas on a fuel injected car does something to the fuel...

The gas pedal does nothing to the fuel! In a fuel injected car the gas pedal opens and closes a butterfly valve to the throttle body, that's all it does. This butterfly valve has a sensor called the TPS or Throttle Position Sensor and it feeds a signal to the computer. The computer does the rest by taking all the inputs from the engine and calculating the proper amount of duration to keep the fuel injectors open. That's it.

The fuel supply to the injectors is kept at a constant pressure by a pressure regulator with the fuel pump recycling the fuel to the gas tank. With constant pressure, the injector duration will determine the amount of fuel that enters the engine.

So, with the iginition off, you can pump that gas pedal all day long and the engine won't even know it.

In Hondas, you can tell if the main relay is working by merely listening... While listening intently, turn the key to the on position (not start) and you should hear your fuel pump turn on. It quickly turns off though when the fuel system is up to pressure. The main relay cuts off power to the fuel pump when power is removed by turning the keyu off. A failed relay could keep it from turning on the fuel pump so you would never hear it come on.

With adequate fuel pressure, the igniter gets power to the distributor which makes the spark for the spark plugs. Without that nothing works. Igniters are electronic so intermittant failure can be a curse. I don't think they are that expensive and I think they mount in or on the distributor.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Honda Accord Problems

Answer 4

I have a 1990 honda accord automatic 4 cylinder fuel injection and a prob just like that, it will turn over, sound like its gonna start, and just not quite get there, we've checked fuses inside and out, and the spark plugs look good and all have spark, the cables, wires, fuel gets past the filter and lots of it when the electric is on, so i don't think that is the prob but sure seems like it would be fuel related. all the electric works, lights and so on, no blown fuses, battery is fine. and just never quite starts, does anyone have any sugestions. i live in south east WA but have been in north west CA for several months, and it is not hot but not cold eather, in the 40's - 60's and have had no problems with it till now. oh ya and when i first started having prob with it, it would die when i slowed down to stop, and it would start but then die before i could hit the gas, then not even start at all, i let it sit over night and it started and acted like it had no problems till i drove it less then a mile and it died again but would not start after that. it turns over but does not start. Any help is very much appriciated..

Answer 5

Ive noticed you havent said anything about the alternator it could b goin out but yes check connectors, grounds, and also fuses and also check each spark plug make sure they arent swimming in oil that can cause ur car to shut off if thats the case replace valve gasket o ther than check fuel lines for any signs of damaged or pinched spots also check where the fuel pump is located and do a test by having another body in drivers seat to CYCLE THE KEY DO NOT TURN ON VEHICLE OR CRANK JUST CYCLE IT and before the other body does so loosen the line closest to the gas tank and see if gas is going through when u cycle then reconnect the line if gas is goin through freely (WEAR SAFETY GLASSES WHEN DOING SO NO GAS GETS IN EYES AND SOMETHING TO COVER NOSE AND MOUTH) go to the hood lift up find gas line do the same process over again now this is a at home test be sure to examine if the gas is moving freely or if not you have pinch somewhere and always have a back up wrench to disconnect the lines (if needed)

Answer 6

I agree with Bobsled. Additionally, are you pumping the accelerator before/as you turn the ignition? This is the way to start engines with carburetors but not with fuel injectors. This was my mistake in cold weather situations. I'd gone from a carburetor to a '92 Accord with a fuel injector. Once the fuel settled for a while it would start.

Answer 7

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First the straight-ahead answer to your situation, the a comment. Take yourself to your local library, look in the reference section for the appropriate repair manual. Read the troubleshooting chapter for your symptoms. Trying to do it yourself is good, but sometimes you have to know when to punt; two months of not driving is enough for me to try a professional. You know you need four things to start a car- air, fuel, spark (at the right time) and compression. If your car was running without issues, compression is probably OK. Spark at the right time is tough to identify, but you can try a static ignition setting, then tweak the distributor until the timing light tells you it's where it should be. Fuel is easy enough to test- squirt a bit of starting fuel ($3.99 at any car parts store) into the air intake and crank. Air is even easier- take the air filter out and start the motor. If it runs, you've found your culprit. Now for my comment and suggestion: A question mark at the end of a declarative sentence does not render the declaration a question; if you have a keyboard, don't use "u" for "you." Secondly, you might want to be sure you need a part before you start swapping out components. ... Good luck!!

Answer 8

this gotta be the easiest answer...is the igniter . all the early accords such as 90 , 91,92 , they all have related problems with the igniter and distributors . one thing that is not is the fuel pump . i know , i work in a honda dealer.

Answer 9

We have this problem, too. I was told to check the fuel pump relay...but f*** if I know how to do that ? It always starts (finally) LOL

Answer 10

i've seen this time after time.. i would go with the fuel pump relay .. it's about a 30 dollar fix it's a little gray box with a brown connector.. it's under driverside dash up above another silver box.. remove that one first then you'll see the smaller one above it..