I have a 1988 Honda Accord lxi hatchback with a 2.0 L PGM-FI engine.
The problem is that it will start when it's cold and run fine. When it gets to operating temperature, it will still run fine. It's when you shut the engine off and try to crank it back up it won't start immediantly. You have to turn the ignition on and off maybe 3 to 10 times trying to start it and it will start back up fine, In that process though sometimes it will start up and shut right back off. I was checking the main relay contact points with a test light and there are two contact points that get power when it cranks. Well I let it warm up and duplicated the problem while testing those two contact points and when the car got to acting up, I tried to start the car and those two contact points had no power while turning over the motor, and also the fuel pump didn't cut on also... and I gave it a second and turned the ignition on and off a few times and it started as well as those two contact points got power also.

Is the main relay defective?? or what do you guys think? Thanks!

 

Your ignition switch sound bad to me. Check that out.

 

thx but the main relay was indeed the problem.

 

Hi I am a nembie to honda tech, longtime honda owner 3 hondas 1 acura. Have a 89 accord SEi coupe (rare bird) 110 kmiles. I lost 5th gear a while ago but still driving car to work as no highways in commute. The other day lost all gears but had speedo reading when car was running in 1-4 gears. Checked axle and found it poppped out. reset axle and same thing happened again in nunder a mile. Do you think problem is axle or tranny? I've heard accords are notorious for this problem but what is fix?