Hi everyone, I'm hoping someone can help me with this one.

I own a 2000 Honda Accord EX Coupe with a 5-speed manual tranny and have experienced starting problems twice over the last three weeks. Before this began to occur it would start up on the first crank almost every single time.

The first occurrence was about three weeks ago when I braved the 10 degree temperature outside and got in my Accord to start it up. I turned the key and the engine cranked over and over without igniting. I waited five minutes, tried again, and the same thing happened. After 15 minutes I gave up, went inside, and called AAA for a tow. When the tow truck was nearly at my home I went back outside and for the hell of it tried to start my car again. This time, it fired right up (the outside temperature had risen at that point to about 20 degrees). I ended up dropping it off with my mechanic because I was due for the 45,000 mile maintenance and asked him to look at the starting problem. Even after leaving it with him overnight, he was unable to duplicate the issue and could find nothing in the diagnostics that would help.

Since then I have not experienced any starting trouble until this afternoon when I went to get lunch. I parked in front of the restaurant, walked inside for five minutes, and returned to my car. Upon turning the key, the engine once again cranked over and over with no ignition. I stopped, waited about 10 seconds, and tried again; this time, it fired right up. Today the outside temperature was around 35 degrees.

In both instances, I was parked on a slight incline (with the engine above the rest of the car); whether or not that is relevant I have no idea, but it's the only thing I can think of that was similar during both ignition problems. I should also mention that my battery is less than one year old, and holds a charge with no problems. I thought maybe it could be a fuel pump issue, but my mechanic tells me that most likely it would have shown up in the diagnostics testing he completed for me.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance for taking the time.

Sincerely,

Jon C.


Modified by Macks1974 at 2:40 PM 1/26/2007


Modified by Macks1974 at 2:40 PM 1/26/2007


Modified by Macks1974 at 2:41 PM 1/26/2007

 

Nicely detailed post. I wish more people would take the time to do that.

Anyway, I have don't have much to offer by way of diagnosis, except to suggest that on really cold days with a cold engine, it sometimes helps to turn the key to the run position and back off two or three times before cranking. This allows the fuel system to pressurize and the injectors to prime.

Your hard starting on a warm engine however would indicate there may be something more going on here. The main relay has been known to fail due to hairline fractures of the solder joints. (You should hear the hum of the fuel pump while the CEL is on when the ignition is first turned to run) The ignition switch itself has been known to fail on some models, but those symptoms usually involve the engine shutting down after starting or while driving.

 

Thanks for the reply.

One thing I forgot to mention was that I drive a 4-cylinder manual transmission.

I also haven't had any problems with the car shutting down while driving/after starting.

 

there is a service news article about this kind of problem, it says to have the customer read the owners manual for starting procedures. I don't have an owners manual; not sure what it says??
The bottom line of the situation is that Honda says to let the fuel pump build pressure,[as stated in the above post] and the other part of it is to open the throttle 1/2 way when the engine is 1/2 warm.
I guess there are a lot of complaints of flooded engines from 'short hop' trips.
If you think that you are having a flooded engine, holding the gas all the way to the floor will shut off the injectors when cranking and let the cylinders air out.