starting problem on 2004 Accord

I have a 2004 accord Lx with the 4 cylinder, automatic. 13k mileage.

On rare occasions the car turns over just fine and refuses to start. The
engine turns over rapidly for several seconds and just never catches. You
can leave it turn for 10 seconds or longer and it just will just turn over
rapidly and not start or even think about starting.

When it happened today I took the key out and tried again. Then it started
right up. There are no codes and the fuel tank is full. This happened on a
level surface after sitting for about 1/2 hour.

It would be pointless to take it to the dealer as this is so infrequent they
would never be able to duplicate it and it would be a waste of my time I
feel.

Does anybody have any information such as TSB's or common knowledge of this
problem for this year?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

The owner's manual states that the car will sometimes take a long time
to start. It is the emissions equipment doing a self-calibration or
something to that effect.

 

No TSBs that I'm aware of.

Try this: Turn ignition key to II, so the dash lights come on, then leave
it there for a full ten seconds. Now try to start. Does it start faster?

If that doesn't help, hold the gas to the floor and start the car. If you
have a leaky injector (happens on newer cars), the engine can flood
slightly, making starting difficult.

 

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

Were you careful to see if the KEY icon on the dash was flashing? Our
Odyssey did that to me when I accidentally tried to start it with a
non-immobilizer key. I thought I was going nuts when I remembered that
the flashing key icon meant I had grabbed the "useless / doors only"
copy of the true key. .

Huge metallic keyrings, cell phones, dental amalgam (just kidding) can
'jam' the immobilizer signal.

'Curly'

 

I will have to check the flashing key icon to see if that is the case with
my large keyring. I am using the stock ignition key.

Thanks

 

I will have to reread the owner's manual. I must have missed that part.

 

I will try that next time.

 

Huge metallic keyrings, cell phones, dental amalgam (just kidding) can

On my Nissan I've found that my speedpass (to pay quick at the pump)
interferes with this signal as well. It uses the same scheme called RFID,
using chips that burst an ID when near a transmitter. Since they potentially
both burst at the same time when they are in the field of the transmitter,
the transmitter doesn't get the expected ID and your car won't start.

Remco

 

Hello,
If you have the second key (regular key) that came with your car--try it
and see if it solves the problem. If you don't have a second key--visit
the Honda dealership and have them make you a new key. The new key should
have a new chip. I wrote this since it's possible that there may be
something wrong with your key--perhaps the computer chip instead of it is
not working properly. Even if it turns out that I am wrong--it's worth a
try.

 

Every now and then, maybe every 9 months or so, my 94 del Sol will not
start. I've found that when it does this, I can hold the throttle wide
open, crank the engine for about 20 seconds straight and it will
eventually spit and sputter to life. To this day, I have no idea what
causes this.

 

It's my guess that your 2004 is still under the warranty. That's means
that your local Honda dealership is required to fix your problem for free.
Make sure they fix it before the warranty runs out.

 

++++++++++++++++++++++

Bubba,

You have an injector that can't wait until morning to take a leak. The
pressure in the fuel rail will bleed down overnight and the engine is
seriously awash in gasoline in the AM. Your owner's manual describes
that condition as a 'flooded' engine. That's why it works to hold it to
the floor and crank. Running a bottle of injector cleaner might fix it,
or using Gasohol once in a while will possibly help. I do the latter in
our Hondas and the problem hasn't come back this year.

'Curly'