I wish I could search on here to see if someone else had a similar problem but obviously I can't.

My wife has a 93 Accord (Anniversary Edition) that won't start. Last Tuesday (27 Jan) the tank was almost empty and she filled up. She drove it to and from work 2 or 3 more days that week with no problems. I don't think she drove it at all from Friday till Tuesday of this week. She started it up Tuesday morning and it ran for a couple seconds before stalling which sounds about right for not getting fuel (as in it started and ran on the pressure that was still there from the last time it ran but wasn't getting any more fuel.) Since then it has not started at all, the engine just keeps turning over and not firing.

I have already tried a new main relay (the one that was in there was new last year because it had an intermittent starting problem.) I know the ECU is getting power as I'm getting 5 volts on the TPS. I am also getting around 12 volts on pins 1 and 5 on the main relay connector. I'm pretty sure I hear the pump turn on when the ignition is set to on although I'm not sure if it sounds like it should. I have loosened the service bolt on the driver's side of the fuel rail to relieve the pressure and had a little bit of fuel come out. After relieving it I turn the car on again to get the pump going and after shutting off and loosening the service bolt again it was dry. After trying to start it the first day it didn't work I could smell fuel on the spark plugs and the tail pipe. I haven't been able to check to see if I have spark yet but it seems more like a fuel problem. Any suggestions?

 

if you could smell fuel on the plugs it's not a matter of fuel...really be handy to know if you have spark, but when was the last time your fuel filter was changed? I had a problem (not to this extent though) that my filter was factory original and wasn't helping anything as far as runability...

 

Make your way to your local parts store and purchase some spray Carburetor Cleaner.
Remove the plastic Intake Pipe from the Throttle Body and just set it aside.
Open the throttle and spray a 2 second burst of cleaner into the Intake Manifold Plenum.
Allow the throttle to close.
Try to start the car.

If it starts: Fuel delivery system (pump or possible filter)
If it Does Not: Ignition issue.

The carb cleaner substitutes for the fuel.

P

 

I was going to check the fuel filter but once I got down to it I realized I didn't have any wrenches here. I've got some now so I'll take a look at it. My wife took my car so I can't go get a replacement or carb cleaner yet but I'll try that. Thanks.

 

Ok, I've checked a few more things and still completely clueless about the cause.

Using a multimeter and a Haynes manual I checked the coil, both sensors in the distributor (crank angle and something I can't remember right now), and the ignition control module. They have all tested fine but I didn't check for continuity from the ICM to the ECU (I think the Haynes said to go from the light green wire to the tachometer terminal...where is that?)

I think I am getting fuel as I loosened the bolt on the end of the fuel rail after some starting attempts and there was fuel (this was like a week after relieving the pressure in the fuel system and checking it at that time too.) I sprayed some starting stuff into the throttle body and attempted to start a couple times with no change at all.

Even though the ICM and coil tested good with a multimeter is it still possible that one could be bad? How about the distributor (and included sensors?)

I was going to check the timing but it seemed like a real pain to get the cover off and access the timing marks (I'm doing all this in an apartment parking lot where vehicle repairs are not allowed.) But I should really get that cover off to at least inspect the belt.

Any other ideas?

 

Pull a plug wire from the dist. cap, hold it about 10mm away and have someone crank the engine while you check for SPARK.

 

I have a 92 which acted in a similar manner. Igniter was the cause and seems to be a fairly common one at that.

 

Thank you so much, the ignition control module was the problem. I just wish I would have figured this out a month ago! My wife will be very happy when she gets back from Thailand.