I have been having a starting problem with my car for a while now. When the car sits in the hot sun for a while (~4 hours) it will not start, and refuses to start until it gets cooler outside. If it is cold or rainy outside it starts/runs fine. I've been scratching my head about this for a while, and yesterday noticed that the PCV valve was clogged! (yes I'm an idiot for not noticing this earlier) I immediately replaced the PCV valve. Would the valve being clogged cause the engine to not start when sitting in the sun for a while? Thanks for any help...

 

sounds like the old main relay problem, but I havent heard about that going on with the 6th gens...

 

Yah I was going to say main relay as well sure was with mine..but again its a 4th gen.

 

could someone post up the part number for the main relay on a 4th gen, and the cost of it from honda, or hondaautomotiveparts.com?

 

Not sure if this will help...

http://www.accordracing.com/recall2.htm

...but it's worth getting it cheched out for free.

 

thanks guys... I have already had the car checked out for the recall, they said my car was not affected.

As far as the main relay goes, is there any way to test it to see if that is the problem? Sounds like it might be, but you would hope that Honda would have fixed that on newer models.

 

On the 4th gens at least, the CEL will light for about 2 seconds when the ignition is first turned on. During this time, the fuel pump is energized and stops when the CEL goes out. Listen for the faint hum or whiring of the pump while the light is on. If you don't hear the pump, there's a good chance the main relay is the culprit.

 

how did you figure out that your PCV valve was clogged? im just wondering...

 

I think it's the solenoid. When the engine get extremely hot, it radiates heat outward to all other components - including the solenoid. The solenoid
is basically a switch which turns on the starter when you
turn the ignition key. When it is too hot, it can fail and thus
cause the engine not to start.

 

Razor - you can check your PCV valve by taking it out of the valve cover, visually check for oil build up, and then shake the valve. If it does not rattle it is clogged and should be replaced. It's only about $2.00. I noticed a little bit of oil leakage around my valve cover gasket, which can be caused by excessive pressure under the valve cover due to the valve being clogged...

I don't think it's my starter solenoid because the engine actually cranks over and tries to start, it just doesn't fire....

Also I am doubtful that it's my main relay, as I did some research on that problem and the main relay seems to come into play when the car is running and just dies all of a sudden. My problem is that if the car sits for a while in the sun it wouldn't start until is cools down some.

It looks like today will be the big test, it is supposed to be pretty warm this afternoon and I made sure that I parked the car in a very sunny spot... If it fires no problem at lunch time I am going to be convinced that it was the PCV valve. Wish me luck!

 

Actually, I had the problem where by the car wouldn't start if I left it out in the sun a few days--not driving it and then tried to start it in the hot sun it would crank but never turn over. This was solved by the main relay being replaced as I was told it had something to do with the connnection in the relay not making contact at warm temps.

 

That's a pretty good description of what a bad main relay will do. I very rarely see one cause a stalling problem.

 

Thanks everyone for the help, I do think that the PCV valve was my problem. Yesterday it was HOT and I left my car in the sun all day, and the thing kicked right over both at lunch and when I went home from work... last week there is no way it would have started for me in these conditions. I'll post again if the problem reoccurs....

 

A clogged pcv valve would in no way cause a no start situation. If you don't believe me, plug the hose from the pcv valve or pinch it with some pliers. Car starts right? It causes oil leaks, and nothing else. You're no start condition sound like th emain relay or your ignition module, or possibly your starter, but you never said if the car would crank.

 

pvc valve regulates oil pressure. It does not have anything to do whatsoever with starting a car.

if you have bad (stuck/sticky) pvc valve, it will increase oil pressure inside the engine and may blow some oil seals out of its place and cause some oil leaks.

 

the pcv is a emitions device not a oil pressure controler...lol...it controls crankcase pressure and keeps the gasses from going into the atmosphere....

i think it is the ignition module...just because honda says u arent under the recall dosnt mean urs isnt bad....lol