BudBud

My '91 Accord with auto transmission has 260,000 miles. Over the last month it has died 3 times when slowing to stop or make a turn. First time it died, the shift lever wouldn't come out of DRIVE, so I had to use the key in the shiftlock slot. Put it in neutral and pushed the car out of the turn slot. Tried to start it but the starter would turn over, but the engine not start. Had it towed to mechanic. He found the 15 amp #2 fuse in the dash fusebox had burned. He looked for possible devices that may have caused it. Found no problems, so he put in a new fuse and was able to start it (car had sat for a couple hours). Got the car back and next day drove the same route as the previous event, and the car died while slowing to make turn. This time the shift locked in drive and the fuse DIDN'T BURN. Same problem with starting as previous. Towed to mechanic and he replaced the MAIN RELAY. Drove it 5 days and it died again when slowing to make a turn. Transmission locked in DRIVE (used key again in shiftlock slot to put it in neutral). Same symptoms trying to start. I checked the fuse (burned) and replaced it with a spare. Started right up, so I took it to the dealer this time. They drove it and couldn't reproduce the event, so they had me pick it up and told me to drive it 'til it died again, but not try to start it, just tow it in so they could attempt to diagnose. Any ideas?

holmesnmanny

check the iacv outer mesh filter for cloggedness and clean...if it still does it i wud check for fuel pressure using fuel pressure tester from harbor freight .. lay the hood on the gauge so its facing you on the windshield ..see if pressure drops wen the car dies

BudBud

Thanks. I will check the filter for the IACV. It will be difficult to check the fuel pressure since it dies unexpectedly. The dealer drove it 53 miles and it wouldn't die, so they gave the car back to me and said to have it towed to them when it dies, and don't try starting it so they can check the fuel pressure and other possible causes.

Last time it died, I found the 15 amp #2 dash fuse box fuse had burned (black burn marks). I replaced the fuse with a new one and it started right up.

Would a clogged IACV filter, or low fuel pressure cause the fuse to burn?

Thanks for your help!

holmesnmanny

If you lay the hood on the gauge so the gauge is facing you you will be able to see it while driving. Obviously the hood wont be completely closed but if you can drive around until you can replicate the dying you can determine if its atleast fuel pressure related.

BudBud

I drove it around for 4 hours today and it didn't die. Who knows when, if ever, it will die again. Not really feasible to drive around with gages installed.

I think an important fact is that all three times the car died was when slowing to about 5 mph,and the transmission downshifting from third to second. The weather was really hot (100+) and the air conditioning running. Seems like it died when the downshift occurred. The burnt #2 15 amp fuse does service the A/T Control Unit per the circuit schematic in the Honda service manual for the 1991 accord. Maybe a possibility there?

Would the burnt #2 15 amp fuse indicate that a hot wire grounded out?

mike_1212

It is a possibility...... personally i would replace that fuse , clean and tighten all grounds and check vacuume lines for leaks and see if it happens again.. then go from there....

BudBud

Thanks for the suggestions. If I replace the fuse, it starts right up. I will take a look at the grounds and let you know the results.

holmesnmanny

Check for stored codes.

mike_1212

I second this...

BudBud

No codes present. I still need to check the grounds. I have read another post for a '98 del Sol that had similar symptoms. They found that one of the wires leading to the O2 sensor had grounded out. I'll get under the car and check for that too. I don't know if this might be a problem, but I have an oil leak from the distributor housing - maybe a drop every week. In the past I have noticed that the leak follows the harness that services the O2 sensor. The connector to the O2 sensor gets saturated with oil. Any problem with that?

I sure appreciate all of your suggestions. I really want to solve this problem. The car is in exceptional condition. We have had several people walk up to us in parking lots offering $5,000 cash. One was an old couple who owned the same car years past. They sold it and have always regretted getting rid of it.

Unless, I solve the problem, I will always be worried about driving the car. That makes me not want to drive it, and if that is the case, I might as well try to sell it. I can't afford all the tows.

holmesnmanny

Its completely feasible to drive around with the gauge installed but if you don't want to, that your choice.