I have a 1994 honda accord with a '97 accord engine. My car doesn't start sometimes and dies sometimes while I'm driving. I showed it to a mechanic and he said it has to be a problem with the distributor and not the distributor cap. I've gone through many threads and many blogs and I didn't find the cause for this problem to be with the distributor. For now, mt mechanic suggested a temporary solution than to change the entire distributor. For now, he wants me to spray some brake cleaner fluid in the vacuum line if the car doesn't start. If I do this a couple of times, my car does start. But I'm just keen to know the actual cause for this problem so that I can spend onto something that's worth it. I'm really tight on budget. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

so the car fires if u use brake clean on the vac lines sounds like a fuel problem to me not spark

 

honestly id try the main relay first its under the dash it control the fuel pump they go bad and tend to do this work sometimes then not work then work 5mins later

 

You might want to pick up a fuel pressure tester from Harbor Freight for only $20 hook it up and lay the hood on it so it's on the windshield facing you and drive around and when the car dies see if fuel pressure is dropping off. At least then you'd know if it's fuel related.

 

Watch Scotty Kilmer's YouTube videos "Fixing a car that randomly dies while driving" . If you have a check engine light, you can get the car scanned at pretty much any auto parts store for free. Start with that. Some problems don't trip a code and the check engine light doesn't come on. Watch Scotty Kilmer's video "Fixing a car that shuts off randomly" if that is the case (yes, this a different video than the first one). It could be your fuel pump or your fuel filter or fuel pressure regulator. One of those is my best guess. But, like in the first video iIt can be a sensor. It could also be your charging system. While you're at the auto parts store have them check your charging system free too.