Hi,

I have a Honda Accord 2000 4 cylinders with about 100,000 miles on it. I got it last summer. I noticed that once we enter winter, I had a hard time to start the car. I need to hold my key for an extra few seconds to start it. I suspect the problem has something to do with winter and I am living in SW Ontario, Canada. The normal temperature outside this winter are -10C to 0C (14F to 32F), not really an extreme winter.

Two weeks ago, I wasn't able to start it completely. It made all the normal sound except it won't start the engine at the end. I was outside a garage and me and my friend pushed the car there. They checked my car for a couple of hours and asked me to have it towed to Honda dealer because they couldn't find the problem. They charged me $104 for the labor. I called CAA (equivalent to AAA in US) and had my car towed to the local Honda dealer and left it there. A couple of hours later, they called me and said they had no problem starting the car, so he asked me to drive me car back. I was happy the car was started but I knew the problem with hit me again sometime.

A couple of days ago, my car died in my driveway again and I called another tow truck guy. He basically asked me to try a few things like stepping on the gap pedal while starting the car, banging the gas tank. etc. When he opened my fuel cap while I tried to start the car, it actually worked. He said it's probably the fuel pump problem. I drove the car to Honda dealer again and the guy said he had hard time to believe that it could be the fuel pump problem because Honda's fuel pump is bulletproof. He asked me to wait for next time when I can't start the car, have it towed it without trying to start it again. He told me it's hard for them to diagnose when the car is not in the no-start state. I think they had enough business there that the guy doesn't really care my problem.

I am able to start my car now but it has given my problem twice in the last two weeks. I am afraid that when next time it won't start, I had it towed to the Honda dealer and it will start again just like the first time.

I went to a couple of garages during the weekend and all they said to me is had the car checked by their mechanics and they charge $90/hr labor and there's no guarantee that they will find the problem. I don't want to spend $100 for nothing so I didn't oblige.

Does anybody in this forum had the similar issue before or have dealt with the problem? What could be the problem and is it possible to diagnose when the car is able to start? I don't know cars very well and I am much appreciated if someone tell me what I should do.

Thanks.


JF

 

What's the CCA of the battery you're using and how long has it been in there?

Have you tried just jump starting the car when it acts up?

 

I changed the battery last week, between the first and second breakdown. I tried jump start the car, it didn't help either.

 

Are you using gas line antifreeze? One popular name brand is "HEET".

When was the last time you changed the plugs or wires? Plugs and wires are cheap and easy to change.

A little water in the gas can freeze in the the fuel injector and lessen the amount of fuel getting into the cylinder. Compound that with a weak spark and that makes it hard to start.

I spent 5 years in the upper peninsula of Michigan in a similar climate. Every winter I always used HEET and made sure I had fresh plugs.

The other things to check is the ignition switch. Has your car had the recall replacing both halves of the switch. Call a Honda dealer with the VIN and they can check for you.

 

Thanks for the reply.

I don't know much about the gas line antifreeze. Probably I don't use any. I change the spark plug this winter when I had little trouble starting the car. But I didn't change the wires.

I got this car second hand last summer, the previous owner didn't tell me that he had the recall to replacing the parts in switch.

My car is due for oil change. I'll let the mechanic to check the ignition switch and change the plug wires. And I'll check the HEET antifreeze.

 

ive seen a few main relays go bad on these cars and cause intermittant no starts, make sure the check engine light comes on and goes off when you turn the key to the on position, also look to see if the green immobilizer light(shaped like a key) is on or blinking

 

Could also be the fuel pump relay, that usually acts weird when the temp changes.