Passing down my wife's old 1995 Honda Accord LX 2.2 liter 4 cylinder, 4 speed automatic to our son. It sat for the last year to year and a half.
The last few weeks, I installed a new battery, replaced the gauge cluster (speedo/odo/gas gauge not working on old one), replaced both front headlights, turn signals, fixed the hood and bumper (from a fender bender the wife had 2 winters ago).
Took it yesterday to get 4 new tires, an oil change and inspection.
Car cranked and drove fine all day.
It rained all night. Wife and son went to practice driving this morning and car acted like it was out of gas.
Would turn over, but not crank. Went and got 1.5 gallons of gas (thinking the gauge may be off on the cluster I bought used).
After a few tries of priming the fuel line, it cranked.
Wife and son took it to gas station to fill up and car started doing the same thing.

I can get it to crank and run eventually after priming the fuel line once or twice before actually cranking. It does try and sputter when I first press the gas when idling.
Any ideas? My initial thoughts are 1) garbage in the fuel lines, 2) Fuel filter, 3) Fuel pump/relay.
Any tips or tricks to try and narrow it down without just throwing parts on hoping one works?
Thanks in advance!

 

Update: Now that it has been sunny today, I decided to give it another go after mowing the lawn. Car cranks up fine now as if nothing was wrong.
Could moisture from the rain have an effect? Maybe causing a misfire or something?

 

That is some of the "new" problems with a car this age that I think several of us are seeing: water getting inside the car in areas and then causing weirdness.

The first thing I would do is cross my fingers and see if I can find where the leak is coming in to give you the issue. Obviously first feel, but often I think you just have to pull the carpet up in the front and back and the trunk to search for water leaking in.

However, there are probably some common areas and maybe that's what's happening.

So, first check very very carefully at the drivers seat area. Water can slowly leak in through things like a sunroof tube that is down near the driver, up against the footwell on the left side. Some people see it's really wet, some people pull the carpet to find it's wet, which would give you your clue that's there area. Where that water comes through, inspect carefully the electronics it might be getting wet.

Also, check the passenger front side, it also has electronics in that footwell.

You could also check the distributor cap in case it's cracked, which when damp will cause an issue.

If you think it's fuel related, then check the fuel pump location and the fuel pump relay location.

Just make sure it's a fuel related item though, because cranking just means the starter is turning the engine, not that there is any spark.

Check ECU to see if it got damp.

These are not fun because they work when dry. You might have to try with a hose and wash/water down each area to see if water appears.

I had one not long ago on my Civic, the drivers side was all wet, turned out the sunroof hose had slowly shrunk over time and came loose, so instead of running water outside, it ran the water inside the car. Bleh.

 

My car did the same in the rain or when very damp outside.
What i noticed is the fuel pump would not prime.
it would eventually sometimes five minutes and sometimes 25 minutes.
I checked the main relay for bad solder joints, did not find any issues.
made a trip to the local upull and just picked up another ecu with the same numbers, opened at the yard and inspected it before i paid. After i i stalled it i never had the issue again.
i think it was only 20 bucks and came with a 30day warranty

 

Yes, Jeremy64, these ECUs do not always show anything physically wrong, just die or get squirrely. But, if it was wet, one would still want to find the leak or it will happen again. Although, perhaps in your case, it's just age and not getting wet, just simple humidity.

 

I just wanted to make a long story short.
obvious water damage and green fluffy wires are a clue that water is the problem. Like you said.
I did a lot of research and testing along with visual inspection and cleaning of wires, grounds and circuits that needed it. Never had a clue to what was happening
I just gave it a try what is $20 that you can get back if it doesn’t work. Also picked up other parts anyways.
I will also add that the d4 light did not light up when i turned the key to position 2 or run. Before i hit the starter. That is the part that took 5-25 minutes when wet or humid or it would just crank.
I have never just turned it to start the motor after that. i always watched the d4 light to come on then go out along with that, you can here the pump. Then i start the car.
my symptoms just sound almost exactly the same as his.

 

Agreed, I wasn't really disagreeing with you, simply making sure someone doesn't end up with the problem twice. I think you are right about the cause.