LSteggyguy

98 accord with the 2.3 vtec. It just shut off while driving.

It cranked and cranked and cranked but wouldn't start. About 10 minutes later it started though.

It seemed just like the times when it wouldn't start when it was parked. Wouldn't come out of gear either.

Any ideas? This is just straight up unsafe now.

holmesnmanny

You need to diagnose when it's not starting because when it starts you won't be able to diagnose it until it does it again.

Next time check for fuel and spark.

LSteggyguy

ya, it's just a little difficult since it's intermittent. A lot of the time I don't have the tool ready to do that.

jasonk18

Do you hear the fuel pump when you turn the key? I just replaced the main relay in my 01 Accord, it died on me several times while I was driving down the highway.
If its the original relay the contacts flake out in hot weather.

tim73

Normally when it shuts off in hot weather, its electrical. Either main relay...or ignition control module. Some circuit that looses continuity when it gets hot...and cuts out the engine. But when it cools off..the circuit makes back up...and it runs. of course the tricky part is figuring out which. If it isnt main relay...I know that autozone will test the ICM, have them test it 7-12 times...make sure it is nice and hot, one failure...buy a new one.

LSteggyguy

yes, that was one of my first thoughts, but it does prime when the problem occurs.

holmesnmanny

Get a fuel pressure tester from harbor freight and hook it up but lay the hood on it so the gauge faces you under the hood and when it dies see if fuel pressure is dropping off.

LSteggyguy

is the icm in the distributor interchangeable from accords to civic of that generation? The accords at the junkyards all are missing their dizzy's but the civics have a few here and there.

holmesnmanny

cross reference the part numbers

LSteggyguy

ok so today I did some work on the car. I have another accord to borrow parts off of so that was handy.

Swapped the ICM's, didn't work. Swapped the immobilizer module since the green key light on the dash wasn't illuminating, problem was still there.

So I thought about the problem, no fuel, no spark, shifter stays locked, immobilizer icon doesn't illuminate. And the fact that it could die on the road made me believe it was the main relay. So I swapped that over and it looks like it's running consistantly now. The old relay I put in the spare parts car and that car still started, but I'm guessing the relay worked after being banged around a bit. At least I'm hoping so

brages

In my 1998, it was a bad ignition switch at 175k miles. First one had already been replaced under recall, so I replaced it on my own dime and it's been good for 75k since.