I have a 94 accord that was my daily driver. It is approaching 300k miles so I decided to use it as a second car since the milage is getting high. It has always been a dependable car and to look at it you would never guess it has as many miles as it does. I replaced the fuel pump about 2500 miles ago. When I was driving the car every day it started easy all the time,but now if I let it sit a couple of days it has gotten really hard to start. I was thinking maybe it could be the fuel filter since I have owned the car 15 years and have never changed it. What type of tools do I need and where should I tap into the fuel line at to check fuel pressure? This car and I have been through a lot together and over the past 15 years and it really bothers me when its not running right. Any help is appreciated.

 

Easiest way to remove the fuel filter is to use two crows foots and long extensions. Get the nose of the car up and crawl under there. It can be a bitch, but it can be done.
Upper, just use an extension and socket. Then remove the filter and bracket from the body. But it will be tight so you take the filter off the bracket and pull the filter clear. Put the new filter on the bracket, put the bracket, loosely back on the car, and get the lower compression fitting snugged up before reattaching the bracket to the body.

Fuel pressure can be tested at the test port. Look for the 10mm headed bolt on the fuel rail next to the banjo fitting from the hose that attaches to the filter.

 

Thanks Mike, Do you know what size crows foot is needed for the filter? Also do they make a crows foot that has the extra side on it like a line wrench has? Thanks again

 

Just a note. There are crows foot adapters and then there are crows foot for hydraulic and gas lines. They are shaped like a gas line wrench and won't slip off and won't damage the fittings. And in addition, the larger size works great for removing stuck tie rod adjustment nuts.

 

If memory serves me, might also be in the FAQ, they are 17 and 19 mm. You can get a set from harbor freight for ~$15

Honestly I wouldn't replace the filter.

What happens if you cycle the key a few times - prime the fuel pump - before you try to start the car after it has sat for a long wime?

 

Just tried cycling the the key and same thing. It turns over awhile before it cranks. It took 4 tries (starter cycles) before it cranked. It seems to idle a little lower than it used to also.

 

If the fuel pressure isn't it, I would try running a fuel cleaner through it. Put the fuel cleaner in and take it on a long-ish drive on a highway - an hour or so. Cars need more fuel when they first start up and it may be that the fuel injectors are clogged somewhat. Driving at highway speeds can help clean the fuel injectors. Scotty Kilmer is a famous mechanic and has a lot of great YouTube videos and he says the best fuel cleaner he ever used is a gallon of automotive paint lacquer thinner to 9 gallons of gas. It can help clean out the whole fuel system and the catalytic converter as well. I would do this once a year or so just for good measure. ChrisFix has a bunch of YouTube videos on fuel cleaner tests as well.

 

IIRC it is 17/19mm for the crows feet.
Are you saying the engine turns over but does not fire?
Even if the fuel was low pressure it should still fire. Have you verified its not a spark issue?

 

When I drove the car everyday it would start right up after turning over maybe three times. Still after sitting a couple of days once it starts the first time as long as it does not sit a day or two it starts right back up. The problem is getting it to start after sitting several days. The engine turns over fast it just does not even give a hint of starting even if I cycle the fuel pump several times before trying to start. It will take 5 or 6 tries without over heating the starter before it starts.

 

It might be a spark issue. Verify there is spark on the first starting attempt, check under the distributor cap for anything, condensation, bugs, junk.