hi all,

im new here, and didnt really know what to search for, so i hope this question hasnt been asked a million times already.LOL

i have a 1998 accord LX with a 4 cylinder VTEC engine in it. engine has about 165,000 miles on it. usually runs great!

the problem im having is that the car will sometimes die right after it starts.
no hesitation upon starting, but dies immediately afterwards. this happens with cold and hot starts.

im thinking the problem is electrical and here's why:

sometimes when turning the key to the ON position, the dash lights and indicators will not come on.
turn the key just past ON and they click on.

sometimes when the key is turned to the ON position, i hear multiple relay clicks in an intermittent fashion. like a relay is going crazy.

today, for the first time, the car died in traffic.
i was going very slow to make a left turn, and all the dash lights and indicators went blank and the engine died.

just like if i had turned the key off and took it out. the little green key light even blinked!

i coasted the car to the side of the road, put it in park, and turned the key off.

went to re-start, and it died immediately.
did this a couple more times, and car finally stayed started.
i pulled it into a parking space, as i got lucky enough to have this happen right outside of the parking garage where i park for work.

so, here i sit at work worried that i wont be able to get the car home.
it is now 4pm, and i get off work at 10:30pm.

if someone can give me some advice before that, it would be wonderful, but i will take any input i can get whenever i can get it.

i have done lots of work on cars ive owned, so hopefully i will be able to fix this myself.

thanks in advance for any input anyone can give,
matt

 

Main relay.

I had the same problem not too long ago. The car would be fine while driving, but the start-up was usually a problem. It would start, run for a second, and then die. After that, it would just crank, but not turn over for as long as it wanted to.

 

ok, i will do the test procedure tonight to determine if the main relay is bad or not.

just to put it out there for everyone; my car never cranks like its trying to start but wont. it always starts right up, but then dies immediately after.
and only happens sometimes.

thanks for the tip crono139!
matt

 

just fixed same problems on my '95 with b2 engine.
answer is bad ignition switch which is mounted onto the ignition lock assembly.
diagnosis is to check the continuity of the ig. switch for the 4 key positions and you should find the key on position is intermittent/bad.
car will start in the key start position but dies as key is released to the key on/ run position.
also, if you can get car running, wiggle the ig key while in the run position and watch the funky electrical responses which likely will cause the car to die also.
diag and repair steps are in haynes.
in brief, one pulls off the covers and traces the correct ig switch wires to fuse box, remove connector at fuse box, insert the key and check continuity in each key position with special emphasis to the key on position.

 

im pretty sure i fixed it today!!!

thanks for the input Jamin!

i tested the ignition switch using this tutorial:

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/2353017

it tested bad, so i bought a new one for about 70 bucks.

replaced it and so far so good!!!

thanks to all who replied,
matt

 

you should of called honda there is a recall on the ignition switch on these accords, just had
mine done acouple months ago.