I have common problem that is reported by several other honda owners. My '90 Accord was having problems while starting when it was hot outside. This has been happening for the last 2 weeks. Yesterday, I changed the air filter, spark plugs and the wires, the distributor cap and the rotor inside it. After changing all this, I cranked up my car and it started just fine. I kept it running and after 3-4 minutes it just died. It was yesterday evening and not "hot" at all. I've been trying to start it ever since but it just cranks but won't start. Now, I'm not sure if I have a bad main relay or something else is a problem. I tried listening to the main relay "click" after setting the key in the ON position and I can hear it clicking. Some people mention that if you can hear your main relay "click" then the main relay is fine. I'm totally confused and not sure what needs to be done. At this point my car doesn't start at all, no matter how cold or hot it is outside. Please help.

 

check for spark and check for fuel. I'm guessing fuel pump.

 

like BLKFLSH said u need to see if it is spark or fuel related..........remove the tube going to throttle body, spray some carb cleaner in the tube toward throttle body if car starts then u know that it is fuel related, if so, remove the main relay and chk it for cracked solderings , if u see any, resolder and put all back together and retry ,,,,,,,,,,,If u are not getting any spark, first off double chk al the work u did , if all ok. u could have a bad ignitor or bad coil......remove the distr cap , get a test lite, have someone crank the engine, hook up test lite to any ground and to neg side of coil , if the test lite pulses , u got a bad coil,,,,,,,,if no pulse u got a bad ignitor

 

i would say it is the main relay i had the same problem awhile ago it would start sometimes and others it wouldnt. My fuel pump wasnt priming everytime i tried the car which is controlled by the main relay. listen for the fuel pump while you are trying to start the car you may have the same problem i did. if it primes everytime do what desert said

 

Snoop here, 90 Accord LX, I have the same problem. Changed the main relay, still starts when it wants and not when it doesn't. My fuel pump continues to pulse for quiet a while after the key is turned off. Also when taking off from a stop or driving and changing gears 1) engine is cold (IE not to operating temp) 2) accelerating (normally RPM well below mid range) 3) under power (conservative power) it will cough and die. While still rolling, turn key off and back on, it will restart. Does not matter what gear. This does not seem to happen if I let it warmup to temperature. Like that show "Ghost In The Wiring"!

 

Thank you guys for the tips. I have my Accord back on road now. Yesterday, we changed the distributor and it started back up just fine. I test drove it yesterday night and drove it to work this morning. The only thing that is still bothering me is what was going wrong with it when it was hot outside. It will be a test day this afternoon because it is suppose to get to 90+ deg F here in Dallas today. I'll keep you guys posted. In the interim, I'd appreciate any inputs on what exactly happens to Honda's when it is hot outside. Thanks again guys!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by khurdn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thank you guys for the tips. I have my Accord back on road now. Yesterday, we changed the distributor and it started back up just fine. I test drove it yesterday night and drove it to work this morning. The only thing that is still bothering me is what was going wrong with it when it was hot outside. It will be a test day this afternoon because it is suppose to get to 90+ deg F here in Dallas today. I'll keep you guys posted. In the interim, I'd appreciate any inputs on what exactly happens to Honda's when it is hot outside. Thanks again guys!

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did they diagnose no spark before replacing distr ????

 

I know the mechanic checked for the coil (with a testlite) because he said the coil was ok. I don't know if he checked for a spark. But I'm thinking he did and that's why he tried changing the distributor. Could you please briefly explain how the spark, ignition coil, ignitor and the ignition distributor work. Thanks!