HondaTom87

Ok I have a 98 accord ex sedan.

the car was running great and it has 233000 miles on the original everything lol
I keep up with the maintenance and everything all the time.

so the other day the car died while I was driving and it turned out to be the fuel pump. I replaced the fuel pump and the car ran great for a day. I checked everything and thought it might be the main relay. I replaced the relay and nothing. then I called a tow truck to bring it back to my house from my friend's house and as soon as the truck showed up it stared right up. but I opted to tow it anyway just in case. I got it back home and pulled it off the truck and it started up again fine. (this was last night) This morning I went out to start the car and nothing it just wouldn't start. So I checked for spark and I checked for compression and both were good. I noticed though that when the key was in the on position the gas gauge was under the empty point. So I grabbed a can of gas and put maybe a pint of gas in and it started up fine and the gas gauge went up to half a tank. so I let it warm up and I brought it to the gas station and filed the tank and it only took $19 so I know it wasn't empty. I didnt shut the car off at all during this little trip because I didnt want to get stuck. after filling the tank I noticed that the gas gauge wouldnt go all the way to the full point and it kept fluctuating between 3/4 and half a tank. I brought the car back home and shut it off and started it about three times and it was fine.

But I am worried that it will die again and I need to drive the car about 100 miles today to get to work.

can anyone tell me if the gas gauge malfunctioning would cause the car not to start?
or do you think that there may be something stuck in the tank that randomly clogs the pump and causes it to die?

I need help as soon as possible.
Thank you

HondaTom87

I need HELP!!!!

redbull-1

The car stalling problem could have been the ignition switch and the replacement of the fuel pump may or may not have been necessary.

http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/tsb/accord/x02-031e.pdf

The gas gauge may be a problem with the fuel gauge sending unit, which may be coincidental; but, something may have happened during the fuel pump replacement.

redbull-1

This Honda TSB shows the fuel gauge sending unit, which is a separate part attached to the fuel pump assembly on your car. Although this TSB is listed for the V6, the 4 cylinder also uses the same fuel pump and fuel gauge sending unit part numbers.

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/at...0&d=1079385921

HondaTom87

Okay so I went to the honda dealer and got a new ignition switch and the car started right up after the change. I let it idle for about 15 mins to warm up and I drove it then I got about a mile from my house and the gas gauge went from full to E and the car shut off and rolled to a stop. I am currently stuck in the car on the side of the road and it will not restart. I need help asap

nus_dogg

Something electrical in the fuel pump assembly? Thats odd.

redbull-1

This current problem may be something with the fuel pump. Can the fuel pump be exchanged under warranty?

sublime423

Before you just say the car has a bad fuel pump there are things that need to be checked like spark and fuel pressure.

It looks like the fuel pump was not the problem.

redbull-1

His initial problem may not have been the fuel pump; but, it may be now. He changed the fuel pump and started having problems with the fuel gauge reading, etc. The fuel gauge sending unit is attached to the fuel pump assembly on his car, refer to the TSB I posted.

HondaTom87

I saw everything you posted and I don't see how the fuel pump could be the issue if it is brand new. I hear it turn on I have fuel pressure. I wanted to find out if the fuel gauge sending unit was in any way connected to the ecu and would cause the car not to start. but I guess it wouldn't. I am taking the distributor off and I am going to bring it to pep boys (they are the only place open n sunday) and I am going to have them test it.

but any ideas will help...

I changed the ignition switch with a genuine honda ignition switch. when I plugged it in it started right up. I let it run until NOT then I drove it... I started going down a steep hill right by my house and the gas gauge dropped to empty and the car shut off. I put it in neutral and I coasted to a stop. When trying to restart it, it would crank but I would get nothing.

HondaTom87

I want to say thank you to everyone who helped out on this thread.
I feel like an idiot for two reasons: I didn't do what I knew I should have because I trusted another mechanic and second I trusted a mechanic's work.

So after spending money on stuff I didn't need I still couldn't figure it out so I went to pull the fuel pump to see if there was a bad connection or something and before I ever got to that I saw the ground wire and it was on but loose. I tightened the bolt and the gas gauge instantly went to full and the car started right up.

I will never tell myself that a mechanic did the job so it shouldn't be the problem again.

But again thank you guys for your input and trying to help me with this