93 Accord 2.2SE start problem

Hi,

I have a 93 Accord Aerodeck 163k miles & have a very intermittent start
problem. Around five times over the last 12 months or so when I go to
start the engine from cold it cranks a couple of times then makes an
odd noise then cranks quite fast but doesn't fire.If I hold the key on
it cranks like this for a few seconds then starts to fire now again. If
I keep the key on the now and again fires get closer together until
eventually the engine starts up and then runs fine. Just once the
engine stopped on me in traffic (just died for no apparent reason) same
procedure to get it running although this time it took a really long
time to pick up and I was cranking the engine for around thirty
seconds.

Any advice really appreciated.

Alan

 

You've checked the battery, I take it?

Not sure what a Aerodeck is here in the US, but on most cars when this
happens, it often is the starter.
It has a large relay on top of it that engages the starter to the
flywheel. If this relay is not doing its job, you'll hear the starter
turn (actually won't sound at all like a car starting, but more like an
electromotor spinning at high speed) but the car won't start.

Often when cars spin a lot faster than normal, the timing belt is
having issues. I can't imagine that this is your problem, because you
can start it eventually: Once the timing belt breaks or skips, your
car's timing would be incorrect and starting would be impossible.

Remco

 

wagon. pretty popular over there.

 

Thank you for the reply. Battery is almost new & 100%. Aerodeck is a
U.S manufactured Accord estate sold in U.K in 1993/4. (after this the
vehicle was manufactured in U.K) It isn't the starter not engaging
because the engine is definitely cranking, it just isn't fireing.
Timing belt is fine -replaced only 5k ago. Important point here is that
when the problam occures the engine is engaged with the starter and
cranks but the engine initially doesn't fire until several seconds
later when it starts to fire and as the engine continues to crank the
fires get more frequent until eventually the engine starts. After this
it is fine.

 

-------------------------

Did you get the ignition switch replaced? There was a HUGE campagne here
in North America and I'll bet you didn't get notified. Phone your dealer
with your serial number. Meantime, dop a google.com search ....honda
ignition switch recall.

'Curly'

 

Ok, understood now. I didn't think it was the timing belt either: while
it would crank faster, it would never start. Yours starts, so that
can't be it.

The fast cranking is just weird or maybe I misunderstood what you
meant: is it starting normal or a lot faster than normal? A lot faster
would indicate some mechanical load change.

Let's start with the absolute basics: are you sure you are getting a
good hot spark and have good fuel pressure?
When it starts, do you see a huge puff of smoke (indicating perhaps
flooding)?

 

Doesn't the ignition switch control the starter? If so, he wouldn't see
it start, would he?

 

Keep in mind the ignition switch controls other circuits in addition to
the start circuit, such as ignition, main relay and most accessories. A
defective switch could possibly have faulty (IG1) contacts feeding power
to the ignition coil, igniter and main relay while the (ST) contacts
feeding power to the start circuit are good, resulting with an engine that
cranks but won't catch. The give away of course would be not hearing the
main relay engage or no illumination of the CEL when turning the ignition
switch to the run position...

 

I see what you mean after looking at the schematic: it is a double pole
switch -- I didn't realize that.
Goes to show you that one learns something new every day
Thanks!
Remco

 

That's where I would start first, too. My '94 Accord showed similar
symptoms at around 150K miles and a new ignition switch cured it all.
The starter worked fine but the circuit controlling the ignition was
intermittent due to worn contacts in the switch.

Rudy

 

I own a 93 honda accord wagon and had very similiar problems as you ... It
stalled one day right on the interstate... at random..
the car sat for 2 months while I ponderded the problem.. a honda expert
came buy one day and suggested that it could be the "igniter" I looked in
my trusty chilton manual and tested the igniter at auto zone for free...
and sure enough that was it.. 80$ but I checked and tried every thing I
knew of and no help.. this finially fixed it...

Hope this helps..
John K.

 

Thanks to all who took the time to help out with this problem. Ignitian
switch sounds likely but if it were the switch why, when the problem
occures, does it intermittently fire as I continuously crank the engine
getting progressively more frequent until the engine picks up and then
runs fine?

 

Try cleaning the distributor cap inside and out. If that fixes it either
wash it and polish it or replace it.

There's an article on my website (below) in the 'Miscellanea' section
which is similar to your problem.

 

It could be because once the switch manages a good contact for some
time, the steady current flowing through the contact reduces the
resistance in the contact point, forming a decent enough contact till
you shut down and start again. Of course it is also possible that the
symptoms of a bad igniter are also similar. The only igniter proble
I've had was with a Toyota Corolla but there it went bad immediately as
if the ignition was turned off and the car had to be towed in. Nothing
like the intermittent problem you describe, but it could happen with the
Honda's igniter for all I know.
I just know that the ignition switch problem is quite common on certain
Honda models. I was told that by a Honda service advisor himself.

Rudy