Have a 1999 Accord EX 4 cyl Auto. We bought the car from its first owner who was a little old lady. The car was spotless inside and out and it looked like someone went over it and replaced a ton of stuff under the hood from battery to plugs, to O2 sensor etc. We've had it now for 4 months without any issues.

The other day we got a flat and left it at the work parking lot. We stopped by the next day and swapped out the spare, got in and the car cranks real fast but will not turn over and run.

It has an after market keyless entry, that does not have the starter lock out installed as the car already had anti-theft. If I sit in the car and press the lock button I can hear the lock activate and some relays going. I press unlock and the locks unlock and more relays going. So the system is doing something. We tried to start the car several times and all it did was crank. At first I thought maybe the timing belt had split. We had it towed to our local dealer and called them to tell them what was happening and that the car was on the way.

We get a call this AM that the car started fine. WTF? The timing belt is obviously OK, and I would assume that fuel system is fine as well. I'm thinking either a relay of some sort that kicks in the ignition system or more likely an anti-theft system glitch locking out the ignition.

Looking for any ideas....

Thanks

 

If there is carbon buildup on the stems of the valves in your Accord the valves could have been held open. That would explain the fast crank and with no or low compression the engine wouldn't start. Between the time that you last tried to start the car and the dealer started it the carbon could have loosened up enough that the valves closed. This used to be common on the older Civic.

 

Dealer found the coil burnt and replaced same. Hopefully that will be the end of this issue, if not I'm suspecting the main fuel relay.