well, after deciding i need to get out of my house because my pain in the *** sister is causing problems....i found my car doesnt want to start. it turns over, i can hear the fuel pump, but it doesnt fire up. i pulled the plug wires and i found some rust in two of them...which is really scary. im going to go pick up a new set of wires and plugs because i dont know when the last time they were changed was. this has happened before though, sometimes after putting gas in the car. if its low, i put gas in, and then when i park it and let it sit, i cant get it started the next day or morning. and the car has plenty of gas, i have over half a tank in it. sometimes i can get it to fire up, it just takes a while, trying to start it and then letting it sit, trying again, letting it sit and eventually it works. sometimes it trys to fire, stutters, and then dies. so yeah, anyone have any ideas? or should i sell it cheap and get another car? i REALLY need my car by wednesday, hehe.

EDIT: should have added...this is a 94 Accord EX w/auto tranny.

 

alright, i put some new plugs in, removed the dizzy cap and checked all the goodies under there, and then cranked it over and it started up. i could smell fuel on the plugs, so i know its getting SOME gas, but i was told it could still be the fuel filter. anyone got any ideas?

 

If your fuel filter is clogged it would make since that it's not getting any or enough fuel. I would change it anyways whether if it's bad or not. Inexpensive and not hard to do.

 

i plan on doing that real soon. either taking it in or doing it myself. im pretty sure its been on there for a lot longer than it needs to be.

 

Changing the fuel filter on the 5th gen Accords is sometimes a biatch. There is a DIY in the FAQs stickied above; but, many people have trouble loosening the bolts.

So, you stated the car started in your second post. So, it is stilling having problems?

 

Yeah, the car started after i put the new plugs in and took the cap off the dizzy (dont think that did anything, just wanted to see if everything was good). it does this mostly after i get gas or when the car sits and the temp changes. the last time it did it to me i was at work. got there early, 5am, and it was cool....went in, got off around 12 and the car wouldnt start up, just turn over. and finally i got it to start. i had plenty of gas in the car, as i do now. this is why im thinking it might not be the fuel filter inself, but something else. once the car starts, it runs fine. it doesnt die on the road or at stops or anything. i know once it did it right after i put gas in the car. drove to the station, put gas in, and it wouldnt start.

 

I don't think it's the fuel filter either. Here is a link that may help you isolate where the problem is:

http://techauto.bravehost.com/

 

wow, i could possibly have the notorious main relay problem. i just might have to check that tomorrow morning. pull everything out, check the relay and see what it looks like. the symtoms almost match it perfectly, everything else doesnt. and yeah, if it was a clogged filter, id think it wouldnt start at all or would die while driving.

 

Start with a full tune (sounds about time) plugs/wires/cap/rotor/O2 sensor.
Use a shop manual and check the condition of the COIL with an electrical tester.

When doing the tune-up, change the fuel filter, as discussed. Warning-per multiple posts, this can be a !@#$%^&. Maybe consider doing all the other work and paying a slight fee to have the fuel filter changed. An old, clogged filter causes all kinds of problems.

Next, run 2X through the system some good fuel-system cleaner, then follow with a bottle of "gas-line dryer" to remove all water from the system. Then buy some spray injector/TB cleaner, and spray directly into the intake (air-hose removed) with the engine at about 2500 RPM. Clean as far into the TB as you can reach with a soft rag and solvent. (Some engines with their MAP setups will allow this cleaning-others will not (mine will). Procedure will be outlined in a shop-manual.

You need to check the TB cleaning procedure in a shop manual- it will tell you if you can do this. If not (like my 2001 Avalon), you need to take it to a shop and have it "force-cleaned" with a drip-injection cleaning system. Also, per the manual you can "listen" to each injector to see if they are working. If in doubt, pull each one and run a resistance check per the manual. If you need a shop to "force-drip-clean", wait to change the fuel-filter. They will do it at the same time.

Most hard-start problems lie somewhere in these areas. It sounds like your car has some miles on it and you are overdue for a tuneup, TB cleaning, and may need to get the contaminants out of the fuel-system and the filter changed.

Every procedure discussed is outlined in a good manual- get one. Wrenchy