So my Aunt has a '93 Accord SE with just over 100k on it. She has been complaining that sometimes it will not start. It just cranks over (no cel light). It will restart after sitting for a while.

It finally got to the point where it would not start so I thought I could do some troubleshooting. I verified that it would not start. I then decided to check for fuel and spark. I sprayed a small amount of starting fluid into the PCV line and it started right up and continued to run. It would then restart and run without any starting fluid after that.

I let it sit for a half hour or so and tried to restart again. It wouldn't start. I tried starting fluid again, and it started up immediately.

I will change the fuel filter today and see if that helps/fixes the issue. If it does not, what would you suggest? I don't think master relay or fuel pump, as it runs as soon as it gets going. I also don't think its a distributor issue. Is there a "cold start injector"? I have not tried cycling the key several times to "prime" the fuel system in case it is loosing its pressure (check valve in fuel pump or leaky injector)?

Any suggestions?

Thanks, Mike

 

If it's not a fuel delivery problem, you may want to consider the ignition switch. I have a 93 Accord that when you turned the key to the on position none of the dash lights (oil, battery etc..) would illuminate and car would just turn over. If I ever got the dash to light up the car would start. I replaced the ignition switch just this past Monday and haven't hard the problem since. Hope this helps.

 

I will check that out. I do believe the dash indicator lights were coming on but I will verify this before I do anything else.

Thanks!!

 

check the MAIN relay. they go bad on this generation because of shitty soldering and when that happens your fuel pump doesn't pump.

 

Thanks for the replies. I did verify that all the dash lights come on when the key is turned. I also verified that the fuel pump is NOT priming when the car will not start. This leads me to agree with the main relay being the cause.

With my Accord ('98 V-6) I was having issues with it dying and not restarting until some time later. I suspected the main relay or a fuel pump. To verify it I spliced a pressure gauge into the fuel line and taped it to the outside of my windshield (ghetto, but effective). I could see that when it would die, the fuel pressure would drop. Then I ran a simple test light to the connector on the fuel tank that feeds the pump power. I could then see if there was power to the pump when the pressure dropped.

When it finally happened, I was able to see that there was no power getting to the pump. Of course this happened in the middle of summer with my infant son in the car. I sat there for a min contemplating my dilemma... then it hit me!! I took the wire that ran from my test light to the fuel pump and pushed it into the cigarette lighter. The car immediately started and got us home!! A good MacGyver moment if I do say so!!!! LOL

I think for this car, given the age and milage I will just replace the relay.

Thanks for all your help!!