trouble starting - 89 accord

I have a 89 accord, 190,000 miles and has been a great car, however, it has
begun to be tempermental when it comes to starting. Today it started just
fine, but after it was shut off for about 20 minutes and i tried to
restart it would turn over and immediately quit. I thought it may be a
vacuum problem but did not see any loose hoses. Any suggestions?

 

When you say "it would turn over and immediately quit", do you mean that it
fires up and actually runs for an instant before quitting? Or does it keep
turning but will not fire up?

If it's the former, I am guessing it's the ignition switch or the igniter.

If it's the latter, and this would apply if your car is fuel-injected and
especially if the weather is warm, the culprit would be the main relay.

 

It starts (fires) and then immediately quits. It is fuel injected though.
What does the ignition switch or a main relay usually run?

 

Main Relay is first culprit.
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/faq.html#startrun

 

---------------------------

If it starts to run but dies the second you let your hand off the key,
it's the ignition switch. Bad main relay won't usually manifest except
when the car is already not running. . . the vibration of the engine is
usually enough to keep it sparking along. That's why smacking the dash
in position II (or chilling down the interior) will often start an
otherwise 'unstartable' Honda. The relay connects for a second, primes
the fuel rail, then the car starts and runs because of the vibration. Go
into 7-Eleven for five minutes and it will not start again :-(

'Curly'

 

I've similar problem. My 89 civic with 200,000 miles. Today I have had
to wait
3 hr to start the car. The car starting problem is getting worst these
days.
It refuses to start in first try in the morning. I have had to try 3 or
4 take around more than
a minute to start the car. That's normal these days. Today after
driving 30 min and
shut the engine off, tried again it refused to start. I replaced main
relay but no luck.
I banged the starter and starter solonoid, no luck. My option was wait
to cool down.
Around 2 hr, I decided that ok this is it it will not start forever. I
decided to tow it. Talking
to the towing driver, he asked me for $95 for it. I had no money for
that I gave up towing... I just have to wait another hour. Yeah it did
start when the sun went down
when the car temp gauge down almost to bottom.


Why it does not start in the morning when the car is cool?
Why it does not start when the car is hot with the temperaure hot
outside?
Are these caused by same problem?
Main Relay? Probably not because I replaced main relay.

 

Are you saying impact on the main relay could start the problem?

I don't get it by smacking dash board with key on Position II would
start the car.

Please explain to me clearly. I need to understand.

 

It's usually the main relay with that symptom, actually. In fact, that's
*the* most common main relay symptom.

 

wrote in

You force momentary contact between two pieces of cracked solder.

You never looked at this page, did you?
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/startproblems.html#mainrelay

 

It doesn't crank? Something to do with the clutch or console switch?

 

1959 Ford pick-up truck?

 

I have the cold starting problem in my 89 Accord . Any idea as to the
cost of replacing the relay and igniter? I read that might be the
problem. Thanks

 

(Herb) wrote in 3353.bay.webtv.net:

Symptoms?

Blindly throwing parts at the car is harmful to your wallet.

 

Usually cold start problems doesn't deal with the
igniter or main relay. Does it crank or does it just
click?

 

Okay,here's what happens!

After sitting all night,I press the accelerator peddle to the floor
once.( the manual instructs this). I turn the key,and it kicks right
over,then sputters and dies.
Again I press the peddle to the floor. (manual instructions again).

It then cranks,sometimes for 10 to 15 seconds (doesn't start). I shut
down and wait maybe 10 seconds,and turn the key again. Sometimes after
cranking,it will fire right up. Sometimes The battery will start to
discharge.
After that just give up and drive another vehicle. I also re-charge
the battery for the next fiasco.

IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY !!!

 

Presuming that the car is a DX, LX and not an LXi?

Either your fuel filter and/or carburetor is clogged. You can check
this by removing the air filter and look at the bowel fuel level thru the
eyeglass if it has one. If there is fuel inside the bowel then check
to make sure there is fuel dribbling into the carb after it starts and
idles by peeping inside the carb.

The problem could be that you've used up all the fuel during
starting. The solution, if this is the case is a carb overhaul and
replace two fuel filters.

 

(Herb) wrote in 3357.bay.webtv.net:

<snip>


Do you have fuel injection or a carburetor?

 

Carburetor

 

(Herb) wrote in 3351.bay.webtv.net:

What happens if you press and release the gas pedal two or three times in a
row, hold it half-way, then try to start it?

 

If this only happens when cold, you need to give it more gas, both
before cranking and after it starts to fire. Every pedal pump squirts a
shot of gas into the carb. Do this until the car runs on its own. If
this makes no difference, your accelerator pump, in the carb, has a
torn diaphragm.

Don't do this to a warm engine though, or you'll flood it and then
you'll have to wait several minutes to restart.