Ok have a 96 LS which once it reaches operating temp and you turn it off and then try to start it back up it only tries to crank/turn over.

Now most will say it's the main relay under the dash... already changed this.
next port of call was the Distributor (ICM or Coil).. replaced entire distributor, wires, plugs.
Next MAP sensor.. nope changed that.

So whatever the cause is, it is heat/Temp related.

Given thought to the ECU itself, but before I go pulling that out anyone else have any ideas?

Every once and a while it will crank while it's hot, but at a struggle. As if it is flooded spitting and sputtering to begin with and the strong smell of fuel, once this is burned off runs normal. So chances are it is flooded. It may also do this just as it is reaching the cooling down point where it will start.

it does not go dead while driving or sitting idle.

when cold the car starts normally, idles high, then once warm drops back to around 750rpms.

Fans do come on once it heats up.

There is no check engine light on.

So throw out some other ideas, if anyone has any.

thanks,
Joe

 

I remember a thread like this a while back. his was the ignitor. So i'm guessing that if it s and nothing, then you have no spark. its funny. cold=spark. NOT(normal operating temp.)=no spark.

 

check for codes. sounds electrical, so a code is probably stored
possibly a bad ground/connection causing higher resistance

 

Ignitor is located in distributor.. also known as the IC Module or ICM... entire distributor was replaced..

Spark is present at all times.

 

Nope no codes to indicate the issue.

Problem comes about only when engine is at operating temp.

which points back to a heat soak issue.

Upon more research it may be the Temp Sensor on the block. when these fail they can tell the ECU that the engine is cold and it floods the engine with fuel or may not allow the car to crank at all.

I'll test this later today by going to radio shack and pick up a can of compressed air to cool the sensor back down and see if this resolves the problem, if it does then there lies the problem.

If not then it's back to scratching my head for other possible problems.

 

Sounds like a temp sensor.

 

I think you are on the right track, [temp. sensor], you say you have spark and it sounds like you have fuel, [too much when engine warm and during crank].

A can of "freeze it" will be better then comp. air.

The other possibility, [as you mention] is the ECU/ECM as it is what controls the injectors. 94

 

Have you checked your starter Solenoid? Ive seen those get heat sunk and only work when cool. Not w a Honda tho.

 

I had the same problem with my CRX, it ended up being the coolant temp sensor for the ecu.

 

tried a can of freeze spray on the temp sensor which had no effect, but to be honest it didn't bring it down that much.

From what I can tell is when extremely hot it simply won't crank (other than the odd time here and there). soon as it begins to cool down it struggles to crank with flooding. Goes cold, cranks right up first try with no problems.

 

Clarify what you mean by "crank"???

Does "not crank" mean engine is not turning over, [starter is not working] or do you mean the engine will turn over, [crank] but will not fire, [start]? 94

 

I have a 97 dx. Started having similar issues, the car will start if it's been sitting long enough for the engine to cool all the way down. Run the car up to temp, shut it off and try to restart and it just cranks. I've figured out that it's getting excessive fuel and that's the reason for the start trouble. I was checking my fuel pump and decided to see what would happen if I disconnected the pump. Did do andit fired up within a few seconds. I'm trying to figure out what's causing it to dump so much fuel in. When the engine is warm it'll just crank and I smell raw fuel. It also started idling high when it was hot. Cleaned out the IACV and it helped with the idling but not the no start when hot problem. I can get it to start once the engine has cranked long enough for the battery to run down almost completely. My guess is that it starts when the fuel pump doesn't have enough battery power to dump all the excess gas in it. I'm getting no codes so it's still eluding me.

 

Could also be the main relay, common thing on hondas