Please help - '97 CR-V Won't Start, IAC Valve buzzing

I have a 97 CR-V (125K miles) and it won't start. This happened once
before fairly recently and it finally started by just keeping the key
turned for a rediculous amount of time. Then it was fine for a while.
Now it won't start again and doesn't even make an effort after many
minutes of leaving the key turned.

When I popped the hood, I could hear a buzzing sound and found that it
was the Idle Air Control valve. When I pulled the plug to the valve,
the buzzing stopped. I'm inclined to buy a new IAC valve, but am
wondering if this is a typical failure mode or whether it could be a
symptom of something else. Or does the IAC valve typically buzz and I
just never heard it.

Thanks.

-jeff

 

On many cars the IAC valve is pulsed open/close/open/close continuously
by the ECU, so buzzing is not a sign of a problem (although I would
describe the sound as more of a hum than a buzz). Don't know if that is
the way it works in your car.

When you say you leave the key turend for "minutes", is the starter
actually engaging? The Hondas that I have seen have one electrically
operated IAC valve that lets a controlled amount of air bypass the
throttle (under ECU control) and one thermal fast idle valve that lets
some air bypass the throttle when the engine is cold. Even if both of
these were plugged or both were stuck wide open you should still be able
to start the engine.

 

====================

Was your ignition switch replaced during the recall a year or two ago?
Do you hear the fuel pump cut out after three seconds or so, when you
watch the dash lights do the 'lamp test'? Try tking the distributor cap
off and see if the rotor spins when you crank the engine.

If it's really cold out, are you holding the gas pedal half-way to the
floor, according to the manual?

P.S. You're never supposed to crank the engine for more than 15 seconds
at a time.

Do you own an Owner's manual? 1-800-782-4356 is the number where you can
order your FINE manual, if
you're in North America.

'Curly'

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Jeff,

You might want to check out www.hondasuv.com. They have extensive info and
a member forum for help from fellow CR-V owners.

Hope this helped,
Ron