Starting problem,89 SE-i

I'm new to this group. Glad to have found some Honda friends.
Got a starting problem with my wifes Accord. It's an 89 SE-i 5 speed
four door. There are 139K miles on it, and I'm the third owner.
The problem has come on slowly. Wife reported that "My car almost
wouldn't start today at the bank." She described it as turning over, but
not firing. I couldn't get it to act up for me.
This kept up for a month or so till one day I was standing in the
driveway when she got in the car and hit the key. The car turned over
but had a very different sound. It was like a low battery or a worn out
starter motor. Sounded like: rrrrr RRRRRRR rrr RRRRR----RRRR rrr----- ,
then it started.
Has gotten to the point of happening all the time now. I have noticed
the tach needle jumps around while the abnormal turning over is going
on. Once it starts, the car runs fine, except that it now 'pings' under
very light loads. It never did this before. I can also make the starter
sound normal by disconnecting the coil wire.
Auto Zone checked the battery and charging system. They said the
starter was "drawing a few too many amps." I replaced the starter, but
that didn't fix it.
I have checked the timing with a light, and the timing belt for proper
position. They are both fine. I even replaced the distributor, but the
problem is still there.
Any good ideas out there as to what may be going on?
Thanks for listening! Bob Stroud, in Akron Ohio

 

I'm not sure about my reasoning here, but I'll lay it out anyway.

If disconnecting the coil allows your starter to function normally, then
your coil, or something else in your ignition system, is drawing too much
power. Also, if the coil is not functioning properly then you may be
getting a weak spark which would affect detonation, possibly causing your
pinging.

If you combine a weak spark with a slowed down starter it obviously won't
start very well.

Another thing to look at (hopefully the fine folks at Auto Zone did) is your
battery connections and ground wires for the battery, starter, coil, and any
other grounds that your car has.

Good luck,

Jason

 

Coil numbers are all right on the money according to my instruments.
I'm getting close to finding an old LX-i to park next to and start
switching parts till it's fixed. Never had one this hard to figure.
I'm beginning to think it's a fuel delivery problem. May have an
injector that's giving too much.
bob

 

Sounds kinda like your timing is off. I've seen the advance weights in the
distributor seize up before, but I don't think I have seen or heard of them
sticking in the advanced state.