Lasa

Hi,
I have a automatic 2000 Honda Accord SE with 80,000 miles on it.
I really like it but as of a month ago it randomly started stalling.. It might go for a full day or two then randomly die.
I can normally coast to the side of the road, or if at a light put it in neutral and start it up.
I've taken it to a Honda dealer, and two different local mechanic shops ... they can not duplicate the stall ..and sense it's not giving a ENGINE error, they just give me the car back.
So.. this is what I have done or changed so far...
- Lucas fuel injector cleaner (which worked wonders on 2 of my Civics)
- had alternator tested (perfect)
- had battery tested (perfect)
- replaced distributer cap and rotor
- had the transmission checked (since it was rebuilt in 2019)
- replaced MAP sensor
- replaced fuel pump
- replaced ignition switch
After each change the car drives fine, then stalls at some point.
When it stalls its normally at a stop light or will driving under 20-30.
Idle RPM's are around 600-700
It feels like gas has stopped reaching the engine period, I can sometimes fan the gas peddle to keep it alive, but it will stall. Then starts right up most of the time.
Any ideas?
Lasa

hondamark35

some easy stuff to check that wasn't listed yet:

-Wire harness for damage, corrosion or loose connections (not clipped in securely to connector or connector not fully seated) especially grounds in the engine bay.
-IACV test: IIRC covering the hole inside the throttle body while at idle should NOT stall the engine. also unplugging the IACV while running may change the idle but not stall.
-spark plug condition (reading). check that all four plugs have similar color, are not wet or oddly colored (google for "reading spark plugs" for more info)
-main relay solder joint crack inspection. this was more common on the older models, but still a possibility.

Lasa

Let the tests begin ...
Thank you,
Lasa

Lasa

I'm assuming the PGM-F1 main relay and Fuel pump main relay are the same thing?
Could that cause random stalling? The car normally starts right up after stopping/stalling.
Lasa

Johndspiel

“Only 80,000 miles” could be your problem. The vehicle sat so long someone has become corroded, etc.

years ago I was test driving a 98-2000 accord 2.3 at a Honda dealer and it stalled out on me. It was the distributor. I also noticed on my two personal Accords 98-99 models I had was ignition switch caused ours to stall. Another one had a bad fuel pressure regulator. This was ~2006/07 but were common issues back then.

Lasa

It was my parents car and was driven every day but for short errands etc. Not sitting at all, ha-ha but I know what you mean.
Going to check the Fuel pump main relay tomorrow morning.

02AccordV6

Any luck with this?
I had a bad fuel relay once and it seemed to give similar issues as what you said above^.

Lasa

I tried the solder test since some seemed cracked but it didn't help ... so I've ordered a new one should get it this weekend.
Hope that's it.
Cheers

Andy55

It's possible the gas cap vent is not working correctly creating a vacuum in the gas tank, which will starve the engine of gas, causing it to stall. After a short period the engine will start and run as if nothing is wrong, until the next time it stalls.

Lasa

How would you test it?

Andy55

Next time it shuts off, get out and open the gas cap, if you hear air going in releiving the vacuum then the cap isn't venting the tank. You could just spring for a new one, about $20 at a parts store, after all the one you have is 23 years old.

Lasa

Definitely worth a try ... thanks!

Lasa

What I've done so far:
- Lucas fuel injector cleaner (which worked wonders on 2 of my Civics)
- had alternator tested (perfect)
- had battery tested (perfect)
- replaced distributer cap and rotor
- had the transmission checked (since it was rebuilt in 2019)
- replaced MAP sensor
- replaced fuel pump
- replaced ignition switch
- replaced Fuel pump main relay module
- tested the gas cap vent (removed after it stalled heard no hiss)
Dealer ships won't touch it if it shows no engine light error and the stalling can't be duplicated.
Any other ideas?

Andy55

You may not have heard a hissing sound, but when you immediately got back in the car did it start up or not?

Lasa

Thanks Andy55, I bought a new vented gas cap. It worked fine for a day like everything else, then started stalling again.
Something seems to simply stop the follow of gas to the engine. Once stalled it will start up immediately or at least after a couple tries. All dashboard light remain on.

Andy55

Lasa, I re-read your list of repairs. I noticed it doesn't include the air filter. Maybe it stalls from lack of air, instead of fuel.

Andy55

Did you get this car to run, it would be interesting to know what fixed it.

Lis7

I realize this is an old thread, and OP didn't state whether the Accord was a V6, but here goes. Am posting this in case others visit this thread with similar starting and stalling issues.

Early production models of the 2000 V6 Accord had a design flaw in which the fuel heats up and evaporates out of the fuel rails. My 2000 V6 Accord could be very hard to start, or it would start and then immediately stall. This only happened after running multiple errands during hot weather, in other words, a lot of stopping and starting. None of the dealer's attempts to fix it made a difference, so there was a lot of money wasted there. Of course, Honda had released two service bulletins (A01-002 "PCM and Fuel Pressure Regulator Matching", and A01-024 "Hard Start After “Hot Soak”) by the time my car started having this issue to the point where I was concerned about getting stranded somewhere, but the dealer never mentioned them and the recommended replacement powertrain control module (PCM) was no longer available. One of the old-timer mechanics said they had run out of options, but he did recommend trying premium gas, specifically Shell. The problem went from a several times a week issue to maybe once or twice during the summer, if even that often. My 2000 Accord has 128,000 miles now.

Lasa

Andy55 - Still having the issue.
Lis7 - Mine is 4 cylinder but I'll give it a try... I'll try anything at this point.
Thanks,
Lasa

Lasa

What I've done so far:
- Lucas fuel injector cleaner (which worked wonders on 2 of my Civics)
- had alternator tested (perfect)
- had battery tested (perfect)
- replaced distributer cap and rotor
- had the transmission checked (since it was rebuilt in 2019)
- replaced MAP sensor
- replaced fuel pump
- replaced ignition switch
- replaced Fuel pump main relay module
- tested the gas cap vent (removed after it stalled heard no hiss)
- NEW: Changed the Fuel Pressure Regulator. (Started stalling after a couple of days)
Going to run out of parts to change soon.
Lasa

Lis7

Lasa, hi again. Hope this latest repair works for your Accord. If you're still having issues, have you considered calling or writing to Car Talk? Sounds like the perfect "mystery" for them to solve, either in the podcast or the weekly newspaper column. Best of luck!

Lasa

I think it's fixed!!!
I had originally replaced the cap and rotor, but not the actual distributor.
I replaced the distributor about two weeks ago and it hasn't stalled since.

Lasa

Lis7

Great news!