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Honda Accord (1976-1989) Maintenance & Repair

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  • Kirstie_HKirstie_H Administrator Posts: 11,146
    I am not at all handy, but I can tell you that a wrench won't help you. :) There's your hot tip-of-the-day.

    You might have a look for online repair manuals - I know that several sources for these have been mentioned, so it might be worth doing a Forums message search on those terms to see which have been recommended frequently. It could be as simple as a fuse. Replacing a fuse usually only requires tools that I am authorized to use (fingers, and maybe a screwdriver to access the panel).

    If that's not it, you may end up having to check electrical bits like relays, and will involve checking voltage. Your interest in doing this may vary based on your comfort level with wiring.

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  • dextindextin Member Posts: 7
    well i'm pretty comfortable with wiring, iv done alot of work with my uncle, who is an electrician, but i know that it can be different in cars, iv checked all the fuses over and over again, and they are all good, i will try searching the forums to find a diagram, thanks
  • dextindextin Member Posts: 7
    ok, so i have been looking up some things to try, but there is one problem, for the life of me i cannot find where my horn, or horn relay is, i have been looking all over the internet for something to show me where it is physically located, but no to avail.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    I just had the horn replaced in my '06 Accord Sedan and it (they - there are two) is visible in front of the radiator. I have no idea where it is on my '96, and I'm not where I can check it right now, but I thought I'd offer what little info I could.

    For the record, it took the mechanic 25 minutes; he removed the chrome grill insert and a black panel covering my radiator. I spent $35 on the install, $29.99+tax on the horn, made by Blazer.

    Now my '06 Honda sounds like an older one, with the "beep" sound instead of a deeper "honk" noise, like American cars have always had. Oh well.
  • dextindextin Member Posts: 7
    ok, i have been doing some troubleshooting, one think ppl keep saying to try is disconnecting the horn and connecting it to the battery using jumper cables, but that's all it says, i don't know where to hook the positive or negative
  • mrbill1957mrbill1957 Member Posts: 823
    The negative connection to horns is through the metal enclosure, so you don't have to worry about that connection. If you want to test the horn, you need to run a single wire from the + connection of the battery to the electrical terminal on the horn. You will need to unplug the existing connector to do that.

    I had my own issues with the horns on my 88 Accord. Both would not function. I live in Wisconsin and they use alot of road salt. The salt had worked it's way into the horns and corroded the electrical contact inside. I was able to get them functioning again by tapping each horn with a hammer. Tapping vibrated the contact enough to clean off corrosion for them to start working again. That lasted for about a year and the problem returned. I tried to disassemble the horn but they were so corroded on the outside, I just ended up replacing them with aftermarket horns.

    Mrbill
  • ervlmervlm Member Posts: 1
    I have replaced ignition coil and fuel pump and still just turns over and won't run
    any ideas?
  • corkscrewcorkscrew Member Posts: 254
    Here is a link to a troubleshooting Flowchart, hope this helps: http://techauto.awardspace.com/ignition.html
    Corkscrew
  • harbormomharbormom Member Posts: 1
    Car has been running fine until last night. He said while he was driving the car felt like it slipped out of gear. Sounds like it is in neutral when giving it gas. He said he tried putting it into the other gears but no luck. He stopped and turned off the vehicle, when he restarted it the gears worked for a little while then the stopped and started intermittently the rest of the way home. Does this mean he needs a new transmission?? Could it be something else like a link or cable or something??
  • maxpowers1maxpowers1 Member Posts: 1
    My accord runs fine till i try to go up a hill or over 55 it loses power and starts skipping real bad i have changed plugs wires dis cap fuel filter i wonder if it could be fuel pump but it cranks and idles fine help please
  • doug119doug119 Member Posts: 1
    I have a 88 accord and it doesn't pass the smoke control in calif the mechanic change son sensors bat still no pass that's anyone have ideas what can be wrong
  • picturemom00picturemom00 Member Posts: 1
    Ok I have a 88 Honda Accord lx I had the motor replaced last febuary so the newer motor has 60,000 miles on it. it sat for about 4 months maybe starting it once a month we went to drive it in august of 10 and it ran fine the very next morning we went to start it we got nothing. we replaced spark plugs, and wires. we got nothing sent it to our honda mechanic that did the motor work he said it could have been trash in the carburator he did some work charged me $111 drove it home but we could never get it to run right when you would get it started by using starter fluid it would go strong for a min or two then when you pushed the gas all the way to the floor it was getting nothing. changed fuel pump, fuel filter under car and on firewall, then thought something was wrong with the carberator again had a mechanic come out he adjusted the gas flow screw on the carb. it would start for a few minutes but idles very strong took it for a drive did fine but died everytime you pushed the brakes. Now it is doing the same thing it will start with starter fluid or carb cleaner then runs out of that and dies . Can someone please tell me what it possibly could be this car is making me crazy we have over $2000 under the hood and it still wont run I'm very frustrated but dont want to give up yet. I'm thinking it has to be something so simple that we are just not seeing. Please help.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    edited February 2011
    Japanese carburetors of this time period are pretty complex and very hard to rebuild (extremely small passages inside that can get clogged). Presuming the usual suspects have been checked over carefully

    tune-up (inspect spark plugs, cap, rotor, wires, etc).
    fuel filter (replace)
    bad gasoline (take a test sample)
    vacuum leaks (test with a smoke machine)
    tight valve clearance (check with feeler gauge)
    bad compression (have this tested)

    then you may have to spring for a new carburetor as a last resort. This unfortunately will not be cheap.
  • lauramacteenezlauramacteenez Member Posts: 1
    I have a 89 Honda Accord Lx-i somedays it starts and cranks and some days it just doesnt crank at all idk what to do or where to start to look. help please!
  • jslaghjslagh Member Posts: 1
    Check the connection of the signal wire to the starter motor. The crimp connection might need tightening. This happened in my 89 Lx-i occasionally and I fixed it just squeezing the crimp with a pair of pliers.
  • roxyfoxy02roxyfoxy02 Member Posts: 4
    do you happen to know the exact web site. i really need to find this part. thank you
  • roxyfoxy02roxyfoxy02 Member Posts: 4
    Does anyone know where i can find a choke pull off for a 89 honda accord lx
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Yikes, probably you'll have to buy a defunct carburetor from a wrecking yard...try this:

    CAR PART
  • roxyfoxy02roxyfoxy02 Member Posts: 4
    does anyone know why the only way i can lock my doors is from the inside pulling on the drivers side handle then locking the car or from the outside using the key
  • roxyfoxy02roxyfoxy02 Member Posts: 4
    thanks i will have to look into that. don't know if i will be able to find one in the junk yards around here
  • corkscrewcorkscrew Member Posts: 254
    Bernardi Honda has an 89 carb listed by part. Follow the prompts, then under "section" select "engine, then select carburetor.
    http://www.bernardiparts.com/SearchOptionsV7.aspx?Search=MODEL&ModelID=honda-acc- ord-parts.
    Hope this helps
    Corkscrew
  • chevyman63chevyman63 Member Posts: 12
    Got an 89 accord just starting to have same problem- fan motor and radio goes on the blink for a wile then comes back on ?????? Anybody ever find a reson for this. I'm starting to think a relay somewhere?
  • nygizzlenygizzle Member Posts: 2
    Yeah, when I replaced the ignition switch everything was fixed too, but then lights kept going out. It turned out to be the fuse for the rear defroster was out, and for some reason the affects the dashboard. If the fuse blows again though you have a wiring problem or there's a break in the lines on your rear defroster. I know it's weird, but for some reason Honda decided to make the dash and the rear defroster work off the same circuit. Anyway, good luck with it let me know if you have any more issues.
  • bigdaddy861bigdaddy861 Member Posts: 1
    Hi guys,

    I have a 1989 Accord LXi. 3 months ago I had the water pump replaced. Apparently whoever had the vehicle before me stripped the alternator tensioner belt when they replaced the alternator.

    Since then I have been on a search for this bolt since it seems Honda no longer carries any parts for this vehicle. I have also been unsuccessful in finding a replacement from local junkyards in Upstate NY.

    Can anyone help me out here?

    Thanks.

    Joe
  • corkscrewcorkscrew Member Posts: 254
    Here is a link to the alternator bracket, just follow the prompts:
    http://www.hondapartsnow.com/
    Hope this helps.
    Corkscrew
  • chevyman63chevyman63 Member Posts: 12
    Just some down the road info..... problem came back and I did a junk yard control box and have been good for 6 months+
  • chevyman63chevyman63 Member Posts: 12
    I fought with what I thought was a engine miss at idle for quite a while. Did full tune up, adj liftters, played with timing.... ect. Turned out when I got around to fixing ac I found my ac fan wouldn't start up sometimes. After replaceing fan assembly for ac my idle miss went away.... who woulda thought ? Hope this saves somebody time and bucks.
  • jbb8jbb8 Member Posts: 3
    I had problem with radio doing the same thing not sure if fan motor stopped or not . Went though fuse box and found the radio fuse fit loser than the others.
    I wiggled and radio would come back on. So lets make it short lightly glue common household staple to fuse. Now fuse fits tighter radio stays on
    Not sure if will blow if necessary but the alternative is to remove fuse box try to fix from inside
  • jbb8jbb8 Member Posts: 3
    About the only can lock from drivers outside with key/pull handle before flipping lock lever has saved breaking in for the keys giving you time to think before shutting door. I will think of more to tell since I have owned 89 Honda Accord DX since 05 Oh check ground at thermostat housing
    if won't run unless holding throttle open it connects to idle shutdown to stop runon if ground is broken won't idle.
  • jbb8jbb8 Member Posts: 3
    I had problem with radio doing the same thing not sure if fan motor stopped or not . Went though fuse box and found the radio fuse fit loser than the others.
    I wiggled and radio would come back on. So lets make it short lightly glue common household staple to fuse. Now fuse fits tighter radio stays on
    Not sure if will blow if necessary but the alternative is to remove fuse box try to fix from inside
  • rickyredrickyred Member Posts: 1
    Here is the web site which has it and many other things. It is an Abobe .pdf file. So if you know how to use Adobe, you are in luck:
    http://www.pauldesign.ru/honda/shopmanual/62se322.pdf
  • palemanpaleman Member Posts: 1
    Hi, I had my wiring harness ripped out on the driver side all the way up to the head light. Found another harness in a 88 accord and the wires almost match up. But, are different gauges. would anyone know where to find a diagram for the wiring. No money for a book. Thank you very much everyone. Oh and its an lx if thats helps
  • chevyman63chevyman63 Member Posts: 12
    been poking around trying to help wierd idle problems. It seemes to be more when hot or running something electrical. Started looking at frequency solenoids A and B. Have yet to try to pull them out and bench test. This is all on a 89 accord lx carb model. Finding out nobody carries these anymore....... real bummer for parts like this. Anybody know something about what feeds them or where to get them?
  • 87accord201287accord2012 Member Posts: 1
    Try replacing the thermostat and that should get heat to blow through vents and check the wiring for the headlights maybe somethings wired wrong
  • walter38walter38 Member Posts: 1
    I have a 1987 Honda Accord with the standard carb engine and pollution control. The car has been sitting for 6 months and I just started (tried) to drive it again. Before the only real issue it had was it has an off idle hesitation that if you hit the gas hard eneough would stall the car. Now it cranks a lot to start and wont idle without giving it gas. It almost sounds like it has a miss at low RPMs. If I rev the enigne and put it in drive it will go, just wont idle. Also seems to have very low power if I get it to drive. Petal to the floor and it creeps along until the RPMs pick up and then it feels fine.

    Only has 89,000 miles on it. It did sit for several years with very little use prior to me driving it before.

    I work on cars but I do older chevys and such with simple carbs and mechanics. This car requires a road map to follow all the vacuum and sensors all over the engine.

    Last note, I have a buyer for this car but I dont want to sell him something that doesnt work. I just need it to run decent so he can buy it.

    Thanks,
    Walter
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    6 months of sitting? Probably lousy gas.

    You might try adding some fresh gas, changing the fuel filter, tightening up the carb base nuts, checking for vacuum leaks, broken vacuum hoses, etc (don't forget the power brake hose!) and see how that goes.

    Maybe a little carb cleaner wouldn't hurt either.

    Rebuilding that carburetor can be quite tricky, so best avoided.

    Anyway, in 6 months gas can turn bad very easily.
  • mrbill1957mrbill1957 Member Posts: 823
    Also check the PCV valve. I had an 88 Accord and it wouldn't idle. The problem was the check ball in the PCV valve had disintegrated.

    Mrbill
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    A leaky PCV would also create a vacuum leak.
  • lakers_24lakers_24 Member Posts: 1
    I have a 1988 honda accord manual. It was running and driving real good. Now all it does is start up and switch gears at all. I tried pushing on the clutch and switching gears but it still wouldnt work. Can anyone give me advice on why it wont switch gears.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    So you push on the clutch but can't put the car in first? Is it like the gearshift just grinds when you try to do that?

    If that's what is happening, first thing I'd do is look for a leak in the clutch hydraulics. Check your clutch master cylinder to see if there's any fluid in it.
  • aveh0321aveh0321 Member Posts: 1
    I have a '98 Honda Accord LX and i don't really know what is wrong with it.
    It spills a little bit of oil and i feel that it does not drive at its full capacity.
    I was told it was the transmission but i dont wanna put it alot if money into the car and that not be it.
    The car drives okay but when we come to a stop, it begins to shake.. like really shake,
    (I'm not much of a car person, clearly)
    Does anyone know what ir could posibly be?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Your year Accord has an OBD II diagnostic port and that would be the first thing I'd investigate---extract some codes and post them here.

    When was your last tune up?
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