Hey, I could really use some help:

I have a 91 Honda Accord LX with 120k. It is fuel injected, manual, 4dr.

For about 6 weeks it has had a problem where it will sometimes not start. It will crank just fine. I was told by some idiot mechanic that "he'd seen it 100 times and a new starter would do the trick." So I changed the starter and it still does it.

It will ALWAYS pop-start. Also, if you wait 20 minutes to an hour, it will start. Sometimes it goes days without doing it. Sometimes it does it twice a day. Does it when the engine is warm. Does it when it's cold. Ruins my life.

So the obvious suspect is spark: I unplugged the wire at the distributor end and you can see the spark jump, so that seems to be ok.

I am not sure if the fuel pump is coming on. What's a good way to check for this?

Ignition? Main Relay? Distributor? I've searched the forums and I haven't nailed it down. The two things that really make it odd are that you can pop start it and that it is SO intermittent. It doesn't seem to have gotten worse.

ANY help you can spare would be MUCH appreciated.

 

Do you get any CELs? If so which code? if you don't know, go to CB7tuner.com and search for CEL codes and post it up. also, how old is your battery, are your plugs fouled, and are your grounds all ok?
Kind of need a bit more info. that website also has a lot of people who can help you if no one here can/will.
Good Luck, I have the same car as you except mines 93.

 

When I turn the key, everything comes on. The car cranks just fine, it just doesn't start. The starter does a great job and seems to have plenty of power, but it just won't start.

I don't know what CELs are. I'm assuming some type of error code or something? I'll google it, but if anyone wants to explain it to me quick than I would appreciate it.

The plugs are fairly new bosch platinum pre-gapped ones. If it was plug problem would it be so intermittent?

I don't know how to check the grounds, so if you have any help there that'd be good too.

I'll check out the cb7 site.

 

CEL = Check Engine Light. It's cool I'm not trying to flame you.
It's a learning process in it's own. And don't google CELs, go to http://www.cb7tuner.com and search in the tool bar there. I'm on there right now as Spartan1987 so if you make an account and need to pm me I'm on two comps right now. hmmm can't quite remember how to check grounds so look there as well.
Good Luck

 

rip out that junk *** MAIN RELAY and resolder the connectors that are cracked.
Bosch platiniums have a nasty habit of fouling out on start up, when you go to start the car turn on the key, wait till the Check Engine Light goes off, then crank the car. That allows the fuel pressure to get high enough so there is an easy to ignite fuel mist in the cylinder instead of a low pressure drip.
Bosch parts are for Euro cars, but if you want to turn you Honda into a Volkswagon a part at a time I won't stop you.

 

I were you i'd put my focus on the main relay or ignition starter switch, cause my car does the same thing you mentionend cept' mine is a 94 lx turn the key rotates doesn't start, sometimes i'd spend the day getting it started and NOTHING and i'd let it sit a few hours and starts like nothing happened i'm gonna get a main relay hopefully that will solve my problem. but i'm sure that's what it is. good luck

http://techauto.te.funpic.org/mainrelaydefine.php

check out this site

 

Ok, looks like the bets are on the main relay. I'll swap it out.

Does it make sense that if the main relay is bad I can still push start it? I mean what work does pushing it do that the good old (new) starter does not do?

Thanks

 

if you can pop start it during times that it normally wont start, it probably isnt the main relay... but its weird that you say itll start if you wait 20 mins, thats a main relay symptom.

the times it doesnt start, try turning the ignition on, wait 3 secs, off, repeat 1-2 times, then try starting.

maybe the fuel filter is getting clogged or the pump is wimping out?

 

yea ! it is the main relay ! just resolder it good !..
change you fuel filter !!

 

definitely get rid of the shitty bosch plugs NOT FOR HONDA S jus let u know that right off my car used to do the same **** when i had em in, now my car runs fine ive went with the denso platinum and ngk wires starts up everytime now