I have a 1994 Honda Accord LX with about 250k km on it. It has been a great car.

The car is usually a daily driver, but last time it sat for a few days (at the end of Aug.) it wouldn't start afterwards. I tried to start it several times over a span of 15 minutes or so, and then I went to remove the gas cap to listen for the fuel pump (which is audible). The car started just fine after the tank was vented and I haven't had another problem until recently.

I bought a '00 Acura EL and have been driving that more often now so the Accord has been sitting for a few days. When I went to start the poor old Accord up again she wouldn't start... just turn over and if I pushed the gas pedal the engine would stutter and almost catch. I tried the gas cap trick again, but nothing vented and the car still wouldn't start.

That was a couple days ago. I had some spare time today so I picked up an ignition tester. Before testing for spark I had another listen for the fuel pump and the car started fine with the tank vented again.

What's going on? Do you think it's a sporadic ignition problem and the tank venting is a coincidence, or can excess pressure in the fuel tank cause issues with starting?

IF this problem occurs again The first thing I will do is test for spark.

Thanks for any insight.

 

Ive heard issues on other cars if the cap isnt on you can get engine lights, can you just remove gas cap to relieve pressure?

 

it's just a coincidence that after you remove the gas cap the car starts...something else is causing it

 

you can hear noise of the fuel pump every time when
you start the ignition?... sometimes you can hear the pump noise
and sometimes not, Right?. The period has started! specifically sensors fault
(believed or not)