JohnnyWadd

Okay... I have my opinion as to what just happened, but I'm gonna keep it to myself for now. I don't want people just blindly agreeing with me. I'd like to get some opinions as to what just happened, free from my influence. The car in question is a 1990 Accord with a 2.2L engine.

So, anyway... here I was, Christmas morning, driving along without a care in the world. Then, all of a sudden, my car quits running. It was like someone just turned the key off while I was cruising down the road. I coasted into a parking spot and tried to figure out what was what. The first thing I did was try to restart it. It tries to run... it just can't. It'll fire, but it immediately dies. Stays running for literally one second. No matter how many times I try, it'll start immediately - just like it always has - then die the second I disengage the starter.

Funny thing, though... if I don't release the key (i.e. keep the starter engaged), it'll stay running until I do. But, the second I release the key, she dies.

What do you think, guys?! If you can help me out here, I'll be forever in your debt.

Merry Christmas to me, huh?!

GhostAccord

Definitely not a good way to start Christmas.

Do you have fuel or fire? Is the check engine light on?

I'm going to guess that you don't have spark and that it is probably your ignitor. But without more information it's really hard to tell. It could be a fuel issue or an ignition issue. You need to check to see if you have fuel or fire. Then we can go from there!

Check for fuel
Remove a spark plug and see if the tip is wet or has a strong smell of fuel.
Look down into the cylinder and see if the piston top is wet with fuel.

Check for spark
Remove spark plug
Put the spark plug back into the plug wire
With the spark plug grounded to the engine turn the car over
You should see a bright blue spark, if it is faint or orange colour it is week. That could be your coil or something in between the coil and spark plug tip. (Coil, cap, rotor, wire or spark plug)

parsapour

Re Johnney Wadd,
You better first check Ignition Switch on the left side of your Steering Wheel opposit to the switch Key, as its contacts may have been failed,
Happy X-Mas to you.

redbull-1

Sounds like ignition switch.

JohnnyWadd

Before anybody says anything, it's not the battery and it's not the alternator. Something is cutting either the fuel supply or the fire when I disengage the starter (i.e. turn the key from Start to Run). I'm leaning towards the former. I don't think this is a fire problem. I think it's a fuel issue. So, here are some ideas:

Fuel Pump? Maybe. But, it starts up just fine. It just won't stay running for more than a second unless I keep the starter engaged.

Throttle Position Sensor? Maybe. I think this is more likely than the fuel pump. I also get terrible fuel economy (less than 20 mpg in an Accord) and a very subtle idle surge at highway speeds. The tach will creep up about 150 rpm, then the car will hiccup when it drops back down. It's annoying.

Ignition Switch? Maybe. If it's bad, then the car might think I shut it off, which would definitely cut the fuel supply.

What do you guys think? There are three ideas... I'm open to any others you might have.

JohnnyWadd

A guy told me to try something... he said, "Start the car, but don't let go of the key once it starts. Turn it back slowly until the starter disengages. If the car runs, the switch is bad."

So, I did it... it happened just like he said. The car stays running as long as I hold the key just ahead of the Run position. Once I return the key to the Run position, it dies.

Looks like my ignition switch is bad...

...does anybody argue this idea?