Hello there.. my friends accord crank but wont start.. when i put the key on the "ON" position, i cant hear the fuel pump priming.. can it be the fuel pump or the main relay? Before when the car was below a quarter tank the car would die but when it was fillled the car would work properly. But now the car wont start at all.. it wold crank but not turn over.. theres definetly spark but i hear or smell no fuel.. what can be the problem? thanks!

 

first off, if you hear the pump prime, then it is not the main fuel relay, that pump wont do a thing if the main relay is bad

i would check the fuel filter, maybe its old and crappy and never been touched and needs changing, also check the distributor rotor, maybe that has gone to ****

also if you say the car dies after quarter tank but on full its fine, maybe the gauge is messed up, i had a handful of gauges that were screwed up before, like my tach said i was at 0-100 rpms all the time but my Apexi VAFC told me i was at a perfect 700

 

i dont hear the pump priming... so does that mean bad fuel pump or does it mean bad main relay? i think the distributor should be good cuz im getting spark.. anyone else?

 

There are too many possible reasons for that problem man...it's better to call your mechanic or take it to the dealer...

 

Im trying to avoid the dealers because we all know how they hike the prices on everything.. just trying to see if this can be a quick fix without dumping all of the money to the dealers..

 

he has a point, there are a crap ton of possible reasons, but if you DO NOT hear the fuel pump prime when you turn the key to the battery/on position then i'll bet your main fuel relay is bad, or you might check for a blown fuse or something like that, i've never had a fuel pump go bad on me and i had some pretty well used cars (they were all civics though, so i'm not positive on the accords)

one time i saw a guy that couldn't get his car started, and he had an accord as well, same generation and he KNEW it was the fuel relay, i went through one on my old civic myself, what a bitch that thing was, but anyways i'll bet its probably just that, seems to be an issues with hondas throughout the 90's once they get some age on them

 

Im a civic guy myself but i figure it had the same symptoms as my hatch when the relay went bad..ill let them know and see what they want to do.. what relay will fit on the accord besides there own realy? would a relay from a civic work?

 

replace the main relay. but first to make sure its that locate the main relay its by the steering column try to tap it or hit it with something with breaking it. do this with the key off. then turn it on and see if it works. i have replaced tons of these for this problem. good luck