The Accord forum is foreign territory for me, but I am hoping you guys can help (I spend most all my time on G2IC.com and the Integra section here)

91 Accord LX, 5sp, 2dr w/ ~300k (Mom's car)
Over the last week or so she has tried to start it and nothing happens. IE - no dash lights, nothing. The first time it happened she turned the key on/off 3 times and it fired up on the 3rd try. She has also said it will flicker all the lights and dash while driving, but the engine doesn't seem to loose power.

Being an Integra owner, I am familiar with our MFR, aka - main relay, and I know you guys have basically the same thing under the dash. Does this sound like a main relay issue, or something else? She took it to the dealer today, and they said they couldn't find anything wrong. Thanks for the advise.

 

Doesn't sound like a main relay problem, I'd pull the steering column shroud and look at the solder connections on the back of the ignition switch; see if one of them looks 'frosty' from overheating.
Lots of people think it doesn't matter if you have a 5 pound key chain, but I've seen enough of these problems to be convinced.

 

Thanks, I will try check that when she comes by next. Know of any pics for reference of a "frosty" connection?

Oh yea, forgot to mention, she noticed the clock reset each time she had trouble starting.


Modified by Wraith_G2IC at 2:42 PM 12/30/2006

 

sounds like a bad solder point or a bad ground

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Wraith_G2IC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Oh yea, forgot to mention, she noticed the clock reset each time she had trouble starting.</TD></TR></TABLE>

sure now you tell the rest of the story.
Check the battery connections first thing.
The clock 'backup' fuse should be hot at all times, so that points to a total voltage loss.

 

Sorry I forget she said that. I would have thought it was the battery/wires too if it wasn't for her saying it was flickering while driving sometimes. And I will have to assume the dealer check the battery, but I will do it myself. The only thing is at that point the battery shouldn't have anything to do with providing power to the lights/dash. And she didn't note any loss in engine power meaning the alt was still cranking (assumption).

 

The intermittent clock is a good hint but it should receive power from the alternator even if a battery connection is loose. I would look at how the B+ is distributed from the main fuse block under the hood. It sounds like the feed to the instrument cluster is intermittent. And as suggested this problem could also be in the ignition switch. This sort of problem is a bitch to find and usually takes someone watching the lights while someone else wiggles wires and taps terminals. Another trick is to feel suspected problem connections to see if they are hot to the touch. Good luck. Jim