1994 HONDA ACCORD EX CRANKS BUT WONT START
#1
1994 HONDA ACCORD EX CRANKS BUT WONT START
I just purchased a 1994 Honda Accord EX and have been working to get it in running order. The car had multiple issues when I first got it but it ran and I could drive it. I first noticed that there was an issue with the starter as it was scraping the flywheel and making the screeching noise at start, but no starting problem beyond that. The car began taking longer and longer to crank until one day it wouldn't start. I replaced the starter and noted the teeth were almost completely worn off on it, luckily the flywheel was left with very minor chips. After the starter was replaced it still took a bit to crank but would start. Less than a week later and the car has to crank for about 5-10 seconds before it catches and starts hobbling to start. I give it gas and it starts working normally. This was my solution for about another week until a few days ago it began raining and the car would just continuously crank and never started. I have replaced the distributor, the spark plugs, the spark plug wires, checked the compression on each valve (150-160 psi), opened the nut around the fuel rail to make sure fuel was being pumped into the line in switch position II-had plenty of pressure. I've tested the fuel injectors with a noid light and they checked out fine. Today, after the rain had dried and the temperature was hotter I was able to start the car using the crank and gas method. As randomly not being able to start the car is a little more than unappealing to me, I'm desperate to figure out whats going on. No check engine light so no codes to read. I have currently replaced:
Water Pump
Battery
Starter
Alternator
Radiator
Distributor
Main Relay
Ignition switch relay
Spark plug wires
Spark plugs
Valve cover gasket
Spark plug Gaskets
V-tech solenoid gaskets
V-tech pressure switch
Resonator and Muffler
I've had two master techs simultaneously and independently look at the vehicle. They are not too sure what the issue is as of this point. We are going to pressure test the fuel pump. The only other thing one of them thinks it could be, is that the fuel injectors are clogged. I have read a thousand forums with a thousand different solutions to this problem. Anyone have any idea why this could still be happening? I've read about a few sensors (IAC, TPS, CPS) as well that may be the culprit but I'm still not sure if that would cause this problem...any help is GREATLY appreciated
Also, not sure if this is related to this issue but when trying to maintain speed (accelerating slightly) the car has a noticeable stutter. This goes away when I give it more gas or let off of the acceleration completely. This occurred prior to anything being replaced on this car and continued to occur after all of the replacements.
Water Pump
Battery
Starter
Alternator
Radiator
Distributor
Main Relay
Ignition switch relay
Spark plug wires
Spark plugs
Valve cover gasket
Spark plug Gaskets
V-tech solenoid gaskets
V-tech pressure switch
Resonator and Muffler
I've had two master techs simultaneously and independently look at the vehicle. They are not too sure what the issue is as of this point. We are going to pressure test the fuel pump. The only other thing one of them thinks it could be, is that the fuel injectors are clogged. I have read a thousand forums with a thousand different solutions to this problem. Anyone have any idea why this could still be happening? I've read about a few sensors (IAC, TPS, CPS) as well that may be the culprit but I'm still not sure if that would cause this problem...any help is GREATLY appreciated
Also, not sure if this is related to this issue but when trying to maintain speed (accelerating slightly) the car has a noticeable stutter. This goes away when I give it more gas or let off of the acceleration completely. This occurred prior to anything being replaced on this car and continued to occur after all of the replacements.
#2
Honda-Tech Member
Re: 1994 HONDA ACCORD EX CRANKS BUT WONT START
Clean all of the ground locations on the engine and chassis. Ensure that contact surfaces are completely corrosion free and that the connections are tight. Replace any ground wires that are corroded or worn.
Now that you have replaced the spark plugs that is a good tool for diagnosing engine issues. Pull them out one by one and look at there condition. The condition of your spark plugs can tell you quite a bit about the health of your engine.
White and chalky would indicate a lean operating condition - Possibly clogged/stuck injector, Low fuel pressure
Black and wet could be a rich operating condition or oil soaked. Not hard to tell if it is oil or gas, if it smells like gas.....
Also the condition of the electrode, ceramic and ground strap can tell you a few things.
Now that you have replaced the spark plugs that is a good tool for diagnosing engine issues. Pull them out one by one and look at there condition. The condition of your spark plugs can tell you quite a bit about the health of your engine.
White and chalky would indicate a lean operating condition - Possibly clogged/stuck injector, Low fuel pressure
Black and wet could be a rich operating condition or oil soaked. Not hard to tell if it is oil or gas, if it smells like gas.....
Also the condition of the electrode, ceramic and ground strap can tell you a few things.
#3
Re: 1994 HONDA ACCORD EX CRANKS BUT WONT START
How about your ignition coil? Are you sure you're getting sufficient spark? Sounds like there's enough fuel to get it to turn and you have compression.
So either you have no/weak spark or your timing is off. Maybe the timing belt slipped a tooth. But based on your description it sounds like it's ignition related.
So either you have no/weak spark or your timing is off. Maybe the timing belt slipped a tooth. But based on your description it sounds like it's ignition related.
#4
Re: 1994 HONDA ACCORD EX CRANKS BUT WONT START
Ghost Accord: Thanks for the advice. I went ahead and took the fuel injectors up to a shop to have them cleaned and flow tested. The original spark plugs were pretty black if I recall, don't know if I still have them but Ill check and look at that. As far as the timing, the car was timed when the water pump was replaced and was checked by my mechanic who said it was correct. I don't think it's that simply because the car will start in non-wet and warmer weather if I pump the gas pedal constantly until it does. I've now replaced the fuel pressure regulator, fuel pump and strainer as well and no change. I've also now cleaned out the Idle air control valve, filter and verified that the gasket was intact.
Masospaghetti: The ignition coil is integrated into the distributor which was replaced. I got the car to start the next day when it was no longer wet and was warmer outside but again I had to pump the gas pedal like crazy to get it started.
After I got it to start by pumping the gas for a while it would start up without issue. That is until the next day when it rained and was overcast all day and the problem returned. The fuel injectors are the last line before I move on to electronics. I'm hoping that this will help but I'm doubtful since nothing else has worked ha. IF I do need to move onto the electronics, do either of you know a good way to check the computer without individually resistance testing EVERY SINGLE sensor? The only way I know to read the codes is by jumping the pins behind the glove box but it's not coding so that wont help. I just wish these cars had software interfacing abilities so I could see what the computer was seeing. Then I'd be able to tell real quick what was happening.
Masospaghetti: The ignition coil is integrated into the distributor which was replaced. I got the car to start the next day when it was no longer wet and was warmer outside but again I had to pump the gas pedal like crazy to get it started.
After I got it to start by pumping the gas for a while it would start up without issue. That is until the next day when it rained and was overcast all day and the problem returned. The fuel injectors are the last line before I move on to electronics. I'm hoping that this will help but I'm doubtful since nothing else has worked ha. IF I do need to move onto the electronics, do either of you know a good way to check the computer without individually resistance testing EVERY SINGLE sensor? The only way I know to read the codes is by jumping the pins behind the glove box but it's not coding so that wont help. I just wish these cars had software interfacing abilities so I could see what the computer was seeing. Then I'd be able to tell real quick what was happening.
#5
Honda-Tech Member
Re: 1994 HONDA ACCORD EX CRANKS BUT WONT START
If you know anyone with a chipped OBDI computer you could load up an F22 basemap, plug it in and see all the senor info. Other than that it's troubleshoot each sensor individually.
Kind of strange there are no codes though. Usually if it were a sensor related to the PGM-FI system the ECU should have stored codes.
On another note, pumping the gas (aka throttle pedal) on a fuel injected car doesn't add more gas, it actually adds more air during cranking.
How does your EGR system look? I have seen symptoms like this due to an EGR valve that is stuck open. it would introduce exhaust hydrocarbons back into the combustion chamber reducing the AFR to a point that it will not ignite very well, if at all.
Kind of strange there are no codes though. Usually if it were a sensor related to the PGM-FI system the ECU should have stored codes.
On another note, pumping the gas (aka throttle pedal) on a fuel injected car doesn't add more gas, it actually adds more air during cranking.
How does your EGR system look? I have seen symptoms like this due to an EGR valve that is stuck open. it would introduce exhaust hydrocarbons back into the combustion chamber reducing the AFR to a point that it will not ignite very well, if at all.
#6
Re: 1994 HONDA ACCORD EX CRANKS BUT WONT START
This is a shot, but it costs nothing. Disconnect the battery for 90-120 minutes. Then reconnect and give it a try.
My son's 94 LX (4 cyl F2282 non-VTEC) is going through similar issues (that really need another thread to cover fully). Spark, fuel, compression, and timing are all good. Car starts immediately for a day or two after checks, but progressively degrades over a few days until it won't start at all- and invariably, away from home. Last night, we figured out that the battery was disconnected for some time while doing these checks- so we did that. Car started immediately upon reconnecting the battery.
I believe (and this is wild, unresearched speculation) there are some incremental "adjustments" (which are now errors) that are stored by the ECM (or something) through operation. Long-term power interruption will wipe these out and return to 'factory defaults,' at least for a while.
At least it got me out of towing that car out of the school parking lot AGAIN.
My son's 94 LX (4 cyl F2282 non-VTEC) is going through similar issues (that really need another thread to cover fully). Spark, fuel, compression, and timing are all good. Car starts immediately for a day or two after checks, but progressively degrades over a few days until it won't start at all- and invariably, away from home. Last night, we figured out that the battery was disconnected for some time while doing these checks- so we did that. Car started immediately upon reconnecting the battery.
I believe (and this is wild, unresearched speculation) there are some incremental "adjustments" (which are now errors) that are stored by the ECM (or something) through operation. Long-term power interruption will wipe these out and return to 'factory defaults,' at least for a while.
At least it got me out of towing that car out of the school parking lot AGAIN.
#7
Re: 1994 HONDA ACCORD EX CRANKS BUT WONT START
...the distributor which was replaced. I got the car to start the next day when it was no longer wet and was warmer outside but again I had to pump the gas pedal like crazy to get it started.
After I got it to start by pumping the gas for a while it would start up without issue. That is until the next day when it rained and was overcast all day and the problem returned.
After I got it to start by pumping the gas for a while it would start up without issue. That is until the next day when it rained and was overcast all day and the problem returned.
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#8
Re: 1994 HONDA ACCORD EX CRANKS BUT WONT START
Were you ever able to find a resolution to this issue? I just purchase a used 1994 Honda Accord and believe I am experiencing the same issues.
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