Problem with 88 Acura Legend, wont start sometimes

My old Legend has been giving me some trouble lately. Sometimes it
simply doesn't start when you turn the key. Doesn't even crank the
engine. It just clicks. Usually if you turn the key a couple times it
will start, but a couple times it has simply refused and I had to come
back later and try it again. The problem is getting worse. Any ideas
what it might be?

On another note, my Legend has been giving me some other misc.
problems lately. The sunroof leaks when it rains. The windshield
wipers don't work in intermittent mode and don't retract themselves
when you turn them off (you have to sort of time it). When you hit the
horn it blows out the fuse every time (which is also the fuse for the
break lights). Any suggestions for any of those odd problems would be
appreciated.

 

My father's 1988 Legend with 165,000 miles on it had a similar no-start problem
last year. The next time I tried to start it, about three hours later, it was
OK.

I've heard on from fairly reliable sources, including Car Talk, to check out
the fuel pump relay. Apparantly, it is a relatively cheap, easy to install
part.
JIMBO

 

As the clicking and not starting, I would think you either have a weak
battery or a weak starter. You may have corroded connections. Also some
Honda starters have replaceable contacts that can get rid of that problem.

The sunroof leak is probably caused by plugged drain tubes.

As far as your wipers are concerned the chart in the service manual would
make me consider the wiper control unit or the motor, or both.

The fuse blowing for the horn is probably a bad horn. If you have an L or
LS one horn is in the engine compartment, by the left fender. The other is
in the bumper on the right side. If you have the STD model, then both horns
are in the bumper. Assuming that the horn is the problem, should be able to
disconnect one and honk to see which is bad.

 

Simplest, inexpensive solution: might be a bad ground. What happens to any
lights which are on when you try to crank it, i.e. do they dim? You need
to check the battery connections and then trace the ground wire to the
chassis and on to the engine/transmission mount point - clean off any
corrosion and reattach with some silicone grease to prevent more corrosion.
If that's OK it could be a bad starter solenoid or relay if any in the
system.

Check for a plugged drain tube. You need to run something like a bicycle
inner brake cable, or a stiff electrical cable, up the tubes from the
bottom and flush with water. The bottom of the tubes are often hidden
behind inner fender liners

I don't *think* this can be caused by a bad steering column mounted switch
- more likely the internal wiper motor contacts but check wiring and
harness connectors first.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??