90 Accord Starting Problem

Hi All, I have a 90 Accord, automatic with 128K miles. The car sometimes
gives me problems starting. It would start and then die immediately. I can
hear the fuel pump and it seems to be working normally. It would do this
for 2-4 times and then would start normally. This only happens once in 2-3
days. Also, as per recommendations from this forum, I changed the Main
Relay but the problem still exists. Could it be some sort of a loose
electrical connection? If so, what all should I check for. The dealer is
asking for $90 to just look at it. I really appreciate everyone's help in
this matter.

 

Clean the distributor cap! Mark the order of the plug leads,
then take the cap off the car. Go inside with it and wash it in the
sink as if it was a piece of porcelain in soapy water. Then rinse
and dry. Replace it on the vehicle and test.

Two people this week have written in to me to say that procedure
fixed their problem.

 

I know what's happening to your car. I happen to my Accord 91 for a
while, until one day it didn't started.

The problem is the electrical part of the engine switch. It is the
electrical connection from the engine switch to the main fuse panel
(main fuse panel is located in the side kick panel in the driver's
side).

What you have to do is disconnect the electrical part of the engine
switch from the fuse pannel (it is a big connection, has lots of
cables wrapped with a black cover).

Then take the cover of the steering wheel column off (the lower
cover), and in the left side (parallel to the engine switch) you'll
see the cable (connection) you have to disconnect (electrical part of
the engine switch).

This cables, or electrical part (to me it's just a bunch of cables),
is attached with a clip to the car structure under the dash, so be
sure to remove that clip in order to fully remove the part.

Finally, when putting the new piece in place be sure to first attach
it to the switch, and once you finish there, attach the other end to
the fuse pannel (in that way you don't have current on it while you
install it).

I know it sounds confusing, but it's simpler than it seems. The
electrical part of the engine switch are a bunch of cables that
connect the switch to the fuse pannel, that's it. That's what you need
to replace.

This part cost me less than $50 dollars at a Honda dealer, but I got a
good discount on it, so I don't know what the normal price would be.

When I disconnected mine it looked like nothing was wrong with it, I
replaced anyways and my car worked just fine.