Computer chip ??? 90 Accord... starting and speedometer probs

Discussion in 'Accord' started by Mechanic's dream ;\), Nov 13, 2005.

  1. I am curious what problems would show for a computer chip needing to be
    changed ... Would a 90 Accord ever need this? 263,000kms and well taken care
    of.
    I was having problems starting my car, but only intermittently. When it
    wouldn't start, it would turn but not start. It would eventually "catch" and
    start, sometimes I'd have to sit there 20 minutes trying over and over again
    until it started. This happenned more often after short drives than longer
    ones. I finally had it assessed and they replaced both the battery and
    starter. About a month later, not even 700km later, the problem happenned
    again and has a couple times since. A guy I know who's hobby is mechanical
    work, but he's not educated or employed in this area, shared that he thought
    it could be the computer chip bc of the inconsistency and the fact that it
    was turning but not starting... Arhhh! I'm tired of paying for work that
    doens't fix the problem. In the last 30,000 km the distributor and coil were
    replaced, alternator, slave cylinder, timing belt and now starter and battery.
    It drives beautifully, sounds terrific, has all it's power... What could it
    be? Oh, another weird phenominon is that the stereo goes on and off.
    And... just this week I was driving it and the check engine light came on and
    the speedometer stopped working, but then started working again. The check
    engine light stayed on until I turned the car off. When I turned it back on,
    all was fine again. Still, my car is driving beautifully, sounds terrific,
    has all it's power... Then yesterday the check engine light came on again and
    speedometer stopped. Please help. I'd like to get this car back in great
    condition but without spending too much more money, since I just spent
    several hundreds "fixing" what seems to be the non-problem (starter and
    battery).
    I REALLY appreciate any insight or help you can give!!!!
     
    Mechanic's dream ;\), Nov 13, 2005
    #1
  2. The computer is the least likely cause (unless the vehicle has been in deep
    water before this began; the ECU is on the floorboard.) My first thought is
    the "main relay" - the fuel pump relay - which has a very long history of
    symptoms like that. See TeGGeR's FAQs at
    http://tegger.com/hondafaq/faq.html#startrun for the details and other
    ideas.

    Mike
     
    Michael Pardee, Nov 13, 2005
    #2
  3. This part sounds like a different problem from the starting and running
    problem, and has all the signs of a bad ground. The easiest to see is the
    engine ground, which passes from the front of the valve cover over the
    radiator to the chassis, but I'm thinking more of grounds under the dash.
    Hope others can give you more details.

    Mike
     
    Michael Pardee, Nov 13, 2005
    #3
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