Hello All:

Two different starting problems, here they are. First problem occurs on intitial start in the morning. Nothing happens at all for about two seconds and then the car starts like normal? This only occurs on the first start in the morning. The second starting problem has more clues. Sometimes when I turn the key to the start position the check engine light doesn't turn off. When I attempt to start the car the starter is turning over bit the car just willn't start. I've tried jumpering the wires to get a read on the cel code but it's not giving any codes. The problem usually goes away by itself after about twenty minutes but it's getting worse. When the problem goes away the check engine light goes away like normal. Apparently the car knows what the problem is but it's not telling me? Any ideas? What do these symptoms sound like?

 

id like to know too, my car does this once in a while. ill go out and try to start it in the morning, and it just wont fire at all. but about 20 minutes later, it starts up perfectly fine

 

Sounds like the infamous main relay problem. The ECU won't throw a code, but if it does it would throw Code 43 (fuel supply). The relays are known to crap out after all these years under the sun. Pick up a new main relay from Acura for about 60 bucks, problem solved for another 13 years. The relay is located right underneath the steering column...you'll have to take off that panel...But it's not hard at all. You'll see it when you pull off the panel.

 

Thanks for your help. I've been looking into the main relay a bit further to see if I can save it without replacement. When I pulled the relay I didn't notice any cracks in the welds or anything like that. Is there something obvious that I would see if the relay is bad? The second of my problems does seem to have all the symptoms of the main relay that I've been reading about. I'm still not sure about my first problem? I just got sone cleaning the white deposits of my cables but that didn't make a diff. If no further suggestions I will spend the $66 for the relay and see if my problems disappear.

 

when the car is running, take it to autozone or advanced auto parts and have the test the starter... its free.. and wont hurt.. atleast that will eliminate 1 possible issue. the other would be to borrow a friends main fuel relay if you have a friend with the same car and thats nice enough to help you out.. i hate spending money on the wrong thing.

what if you just try pulling the ecu fuse in the fuse box in the engine bay for a few minutes, let it reset and then go from there..

what about distributor? igniter, etc... ??? i dont know.. just throwing those out there as more possible options to check.

 

Update: I have a few more clues about my car not starting in the morning and wanted to run them by the experts. Here is the pattern I'm currently having. Turn the key first time in the morning and zilch. Second turn of the key I get a couple of weak cranks and then nothing. Third turn of the key the car starts right away. does this help eliminate anything like ingnition switch or clutch switch? Can Autozone test the starter while it's in the car? Since I'm only having this problem on first start in the morning would the test autozone does be able to determine if the starter is bad? What is the best way to trouble shoot this problem?

Battery has been tested recently and is good. Contacts on the battery have been cleaned. Ignition coil was replaced on warrenty long time ago.

Thanks for all your help,
bust

 

The first problem ended up being my starter. Replacing main fuel relay cured the second problem. All starting problems were cured for several months. Now i've got a new intermittent starting problem. It's happened to me twice so far. When i turn the key zilch, nothing happens. Everything battery related works but that is it. After turning the key 50 times it just starts up about twenty minutes later. I noticed both times it happened it was hot outside. This problem appears to be a cross between my previous bad starter and main relay problem. Very strange! I'm wondering if i didn't get a bum starter. It was a rebuild from autozone. My ignition coil was replaced under warrenty at 70K. Car currently has 150K? Does anyone have any suggestions? I still have my old fuel relay so i guess i can use that to test if i get stranded. What a drag

Thanks in advance,
bust