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Honda Accord (1994-1997) Maintenance and Repair

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Comments

  • omarromarr Member Posts: 88
    Check the fuse for the fuel pump.
    Check the fuse for the injectors.

    Check for voltage at fuel pump.

    Download the Service Manual, it tells you how to trouble shoot the fuel system.
  • corkscrewcorkscrew Member Posts: 254
    Here is a link to a troubleshooting flow chart. Hope it helps:
    http://techauto.awardspace.com/ignition.html

    Corkscrew
  • windsor8windsor8 Member Posts: 2
  • windsor8windsor8 Member Posts: 2
    I have a 1995 Honda Accord EX Sedan 4 Speed Automatic Transmission. Its VIN indicates that it was made in Japan. It has over 220,000 miles on it. Drives beautifully, till now!

    A few days ago I cranked up the car and it started normally. Changed the Shift to 'D4' and then turned on the AC, about to drive. AC turned on normally. But I realized that I had forgotten to pick up something and so I changed the Shift back to 'P' and the car went dead. I was not able to start the car again. It cranks just fine, but does not start. I then noticed that the D4 light kept blinking.

    Based on the posts on this site, I retrieved the OBD codes manually and they read as below:

    1 8 13 and 14.

    The Engine Check Light is a steady yellow.

    I have a previous SRS problem that I have not fixed yet. When I did the above test, the SRS light on the dashboard was also blinking.

    Does this indicate a faulty ECM?

    Is this a certain diagnosis? Or can I do anything else to confirm before I purchase a new/used part.

    If I removed the ECM, can I do any basic functional test with a multimeter to confirm that it is faulty.

    Thanks. Any help is appreciated.
  • mecncmecnc Member Posts: 3
    My heat control knob won't open the valve to let water into the heater core. It works when going from hot to cold (valve closes). I can operate the valve by hand and I have taken the knob off and it's not cracked, the shaft from the knob that goes into the dash appears fine also. Why will it work going from hot to cold but not the other way? Any one had this problem? Thanks.
  • jason105jason105 Member Posts: 1
    Hello,

    My wife recently bought a used 1995 Honda Accord with a 2.2L (non Vtech). It is Automatic and had several problems when she purchased it.

    First off the speedometer wouldn't work (it was unplugged from the sensor).

    The second thing was that it was loosing coolant (water pump- I changed it and replaced the timing belt and such).

    The main problem it is having, that I can't figure out for the life of me, is that it stalls out all the time. Mind now, It will only stall out once it reaches operating temperature. Even then, if I allow it to warm up by just sitting in idle it will run till it runs out of gas or I shut it off.
    As soon I take it for a drive and it reaches operating temp it will stall at low rpms (such as a traffic light, stop sign, w/e) It will keep running if I keep the accelerator held in slightly.
    I have tried changing the fuel filter and spark plugs/wires and other tuneup related repairs but it still does the same thing. Mind now, It has been stalling out the same way even before I changed the Timing and Balance shaft belts.

    Does anyone here have any idea on what would be causing this problem? Remember, it runs fine till it gets warmed up and I use the accelerator, then it won't hold idle and just stalls.
  • jimdempsterjimdempster Member Posts: 34
    It's almost a guarantee it's stalling because of a lack of fuel pressure. Why? When the car is cold the computer deliberately makes the mixture rich; when it warms up it leans out the mixture. If it will idle forever, then there is adequate fuel flow to the injectors - AT IDLE.

    When you put demands on the fuel supply system however (warm=lean mixture; accelerate from stop=rush of fuel needed), the car will stall. Slight opening in throttle lowers fuel demand and car will keep running (although poorly).

    Best thing to do: check the fuel pressure actually supplied to the injector rack with a fuel pressure gage (Harbor Freight Tools has one for <$20; can be ordered on-line). Bolt this in and test. I forget how much pressure should be there always (36 psi or 9 psi). This will confirm you are getting adequate fuel pressure even under acceleration. Hope it's not the electric fuel pump - could be $400 to replace. Reconfirm for dirty fuel filters/clogged/bent fuel line. Should be 36 psi under all circumstances - if it drops off for some reason (weak fuel pump) then the car will sputter and stall.

    Could also be the fuel "main relay" (virtually all of them failed in this series of Honda; the replacement relay has same design defect; can be repaired by taking apart and resoldering, or replacing). A failed main relay will cause a stall when the car gets hot - however it will not restart until it cools off (which could be hours).
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    Hey all,

    I have a 1996 Accord LX with 232k miles on it. It has slowly developed an abnormality with the turn signals when the weather is cold. The colder the interior of the car, the longer it takes for the signals to begin to flash. On a morning when the temp is under 40 it can take as long as 45 seconds to start flashing. The hazard lights work immediately when you press the button regardless of temp. The mechanic replaced the flasher, but the issue didn't change.

    Thoughts?
  • mrbill1957mrbill1957 Member Posts: 823
    It may be the switch itself. Switches always have a coating of grease in the mechanism, yours could have thickened from age and that's slowed down the moving contact. Depending on the design, the contacts may be exposed and spraying a lubricant may help.

    Mrbill
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    The odd part is that once the interior warms up, maybe 15 mins into the drive, the blinkers are much quicker to respond. In the summer, there is no lag at all.
  • mrbill1957mrbill1957 Member Posts: 823
    Grease like anything else gets thinner as it warms. My bet is still on the switch.

    You probably could take a hair dryer and blow the heat in the area of the switch when it's cold and acting up to see if that makes a difference.

    Mrbill
  • byoungbebyoungbe Member Posts: 4
    On an ad on craigslist, a guy is selling his accord that has recently threw a rod. How much approx. would it cost to replace the engine in a car like this? Any rough estimations would be appreciated. Thanks
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    edited October 2011
    Well a used one installed by someone other than yourself is probably a $1500 proposition at least; a rebuilt engine is out of the question--you could buy an entire, clean good running '94 Accord for less.

    My point of view is that a '94 Accord with a blown engine is a free car, or maybe $250 if you are generous.

    Buying a dead car is risky because you cannot test the rest of it.
  • omarromarr Member Posts: 88
    Take a look at this site.

    http://www.jspecauto.com/catalog_product.aspx?prod_id=361

    Compete engines $895.00 plus $100.00 Shipping
    Japanese JDM engines, Between 20 to 60 thousand mileage.
    Highly recommend Japanese JDM engines, I have one now in my car and runs excellent. Better than rebuilt engines.

    Install it your self, find a buddy with know how if you don't know.
  • ffsbk68ffsbk68 Member Posts: 8
    My recently acquired 1997 LX Accord Auto trans overheated on a short trip to town. The heat gauge was pegged when I smelled something hot. I stopped immediately, raised the hood and the entire engine compartment was splattered with coolant.
    After trailering the car home I replaced the radiator which had a blown lower seal and coolant sensor. While awaiting parts and time, I started the car several times and moved it around the driveway. It always started right up.
    After refilling the system, the car started up and ran fine initially. Later I restarted the engine with difficulty. It stuttered for a short while then seeded to smoth out. I drove 7 minutes into town and shut it off after arriving. During the drive, the temp gauge swung to nearly hot, then rapidly dropped to mid gauge. I had a lot of difficulty starting the car back up and the check engine light came back on. I did get her started, drove home and parked but now it will not restart at all. The engine cranks ok but not so much a sputter. I will go out later and check the oit cap to see if there is goo around it. I have not seen any steamy exhaust, or smoke under the hood or fluid under the car at all.

    Any ideas or help appreciated.
  • jimdempsterjimdempster Member Posts: 34
    edited November 2011
    You've got some serious problems here you can't fool around with (if it's not already too late).

    Engine overheating can cause the piston rings to get so hot that they relax and no longer form an effective seal. This means that more oil can get into the combustion chamber (so you burn oil) and passing smog is more difficult. The only way to fix this is to completely dissassemble the engine and replace the piston rings (complete engine overhaul). Never let your engine overheat!

    A contributing factor to engine overheating is 'hard water' deposits forming inside the radiator and engine, if you dilute the coolant with tap water instead of distilled water. The deposits are white, and are the same thing as deposits that form inside a tea kettle. You need a special Prestone acid-based 2 part radiator flush to get rid of these deposits. If you have them, your engine will continue to overheat even after fixing the radiator. You can see them simply by removing the radiator cap (while the engine is cool) and looking inside the radiator. If they are thick, the radiator/engine coolant system needs to be "boiled out" (cleaned) or your engine will overheat climbing a hill. If this goes on too long, the deposits plug up the radiator channels. Most mechanics don't care about diluting coolant with distilled water, so it's a common problem. It's the same reason you should use distilled water in your steam iron, or it will plug up too.

    If you see water/goo in the oil, then you have a cracked block, head gasket, or head - those just get replaced. If you see oil in the coolant, same resolution.

    A sticky thermostat could cause the temp gage to swing to nearly hot, then possibly snap open and temp drop to normal as you describe. If you replace the thermostat, replace the o-ring and electric temperature sensor at the same time - it needs to provide an accurate electrical signal to the computer and sometimes they age/fail.

    Coolant is mildly corrosive (glycolic acids and chromium chromate) and will strip paint if left on painted surfaces for any length of time - they should be washed off.

    In any case, continuing to drive the car when overheating will cause either the need for complete engine overhaul, a seized engine requiring replacement, or an engine fire. The transmission can overheat too. I've seen these things personally - you need to get this fixed pronto.

    The check engine light is a separate problem (but possibly related). You will need a OBDCII read-out device to read the check engine messages. You can get one from Harbor Freight Tools; cost is <$60. Just plug it in and it will tell you what the problem is. This will really help solving your re-starting problem. The computer monitors engine temperature, but that's not the only possible source of the check engine light - you really can't debug these problems without the tool.

    Generally speaking, "no restart at all" problems boil down to either lack of ignition or fuel. Lack of spark is fairly easy to check if your car won't start; if you have spark you will at least get a 'pop' or sputter. (Squirting some starting fluid in the air cleaner will provide fuel temporarily and confirm there is spark).

    Honda's are notorious for the "main fuel relay" problem - virtually all of them fail sooner or later due to a design defect Honda doesn't want to fix - the car won't restart after it gets hot, and is worse on a hot day. After it cools down for several hours it starts and runs just fine, and then will fail again after the main fuel relay gets hot again. There is a solder joint that fatigues and needs to be re-soldered, or just replace the relay (it's under the dash).

    A car running very lean will run hot too, so there's a chance there's something else contributing to running hot than just the coolant system.
  • omarromarr Member Posts: 88
    I would not get to excited yet.

    The coolant system needs to have the air bleed out of the coolant system.
    A sign of air in the system is erratic temperature readings.
    There is a bleeder plug in or near the thermostat housing.
    You can also loosen one of the highest radiator hoses.

    Use caution when the water is HOT.

    Get some WD-40, LPS or other similar spray lubricant and spray the wiring, connectors and fuse block to displace any moisture.

    Pay particular attention to the distributor inside and out.
  • ffsbk68ffsbk68 Member Posts: 8
    As a follow up to the original post, I did bleed the cooling system when I refilled with new antifreeze. After the last post, I went outside and the Accord started on the first crank. I let her idle for till she warmed up to check the ATF. Then shut it off while working on another project. When I tried to restart after 20 minutes or so, she would not even sputter, although I did listen for and heard the fuel pump hum when I turned the igniton key one click before cranking her up.
    I checked the exhaust pipe while she ran, no smoke or steam. Also on the oil filler cap and dipstick, no gooey white junk like I have seen on other cars with head gasket problems.
    Where should I begin checking relays and such?? Or maybe a pressure leak down test??
    I am not driving the car at this time.

    Thanks for all replies.
    \
  • jimdempsterjimdempster Member Posts: 34
    edited November 2011
    The "starts once - won't start after it warms up" repetitive behavior is very consistent with the mail fuel pump relay problem. What happens is that when the car is cold, the relay circuit board connectors shrink back into electrical contact, so the car starts. When the car has been operating for awhile, the relay heats up, expands, and breaks the electrical contact to the circuit board. Re-soldering can re-establish the connection permanently. The root cause is solder-joint fatigue from the circuit board to the actual relay contact 'legs'. You need a 10X magnifying lens just to see the microcrack - it's finer than a hair. Just a modest amount of heat is enough to expand the joint, and the electrical connection is broken. It's always worse in the summer or when the car is parked in the sun.

    If you noticed the fuel pump operation when you turned the ignition key once while it was cold, listen carefully for the same thing when it is hot. If it is a failed fuel pump relay, the pump won't make a sound. Of course, after the pump has been in operation for awhile, it doesn't need to turn on because the fuel has already been pressurized. You could wait until the fuel pressure leaks down, but then the relay might have cooled off. The most reliable way to test to see if the pump has electrical power is to pull up the rugs in the trunk and see if you can get access to the electrical connector on top of the pump, and use a voltmeter to see if you have ~12V.

    The main fuel pump relay has failed on virtually all Hondas from 1990 onward. It has a design defect in that the printed circuit board has no stress reliefs designed in, so the board is very rigid and promotes solder joint fatigue. I've replaced it twice on my car (200,000 mi) and my friends Honda. Honda knows better but doesn't want to fix it (after all: they're not paying for it).

    It's a characteristic of Hondas with fuel injection to not start (without even a sputter) if fuel (or fuel pressure) is lost. Since the car starts and runs well at least for a little while while it's cool, that tells you the ignition is working fine, so it is likely in your fuel system.

    The main fuel relay is mounted under the dash on the driver's side WAYYY up there behind some other brackets and other relays. You need a ratchet wrench with 10mm socket and 8" extension to remove the other stuff and get to the relay. I think it was a 6 conductor red plastic connector into the relay. Honda is the only one selling the relay. If you don't have the money, but have a soldering iron, you can remove the relay, take off the cover and re-solder the big relay contacts and re-assemble. The replacement part you buy from Honda will have the same design defect, so eventually you'll have to do this again.

    In a pinch, you can get a schematic, figure out what electrical wires the relay is connecting to power up the fuel pump, and jumper them with some leads with alligator clips. I've had to do this in an emergency when I was stuck on side of the road. The electrical connection I made manually just did what the relay did normally. Of course I disconnected the wires when I got home so not to discharge the battery.

    The coolant problem is not consistent with your starting problem - they're probably separate problems. A pressure leak down test is a good idea anyway (Harbor Freight Tools has the tools cheap).

    Harbor Freight also has a fuel pressure test gage kit (<$20) that can test the performance of your fuel pump (and whether you're getting fuel pressure from the pump). I don't think this is your problem: the car sounds like it runs fine when it's cooled down.

    There is an obscure possibility that there is a deeper problem with your computer & sensors (the computer behaves differently when cold vs. hot), but exhaust this much more likely possibility first. If your Check Engine light keeps coming on, you still have more problems to uncover - get the OBDC II read-out tool from Harbor Freight and see what messages your computer is sending
  • ffsbk68ffsbk68 Member Posts: 8
    Today, with overnight temps around 40 and 52 now, the car will not start at all. I cranked repeatedly and got a sputter, but no fire. Would main fuel relay replacement still seem an good starting piece to replace? I plan to replace the thermostat, too as a safeguard for piece of mind?
  • jimdempsterjimdempster Member Posts: 34
    Replacing the main fuel relay would only be justified under the conditions you described earlier: you can hear the fuel pump charge when the car is cold, the car starts and runs normally, and then after a while either the relay or the car gets hot (worse in summer), and then the car won't start.

    So the key question is: can you hear the electric fuel pump charge up pressure when the car has sat overnight? If so, you have a power to the fuel pump, and the fuel pump is supplying pressure to the fuel injectors.

    If you don't hear the fuel pump charge up after the car has sat overnight, your electrical connection to the fuel pump is faulty - could BE a failed fuel relay, but could be other connections too. Most important thing is that you SHOULD hear the fuel pump charge up after sitting overnight.

    Now, if you hear the fuel pump charge up, then you must have electrical power to the fuel pump, so the next likely thing is that you don't have ignition spark. You can test the ignition spark with a spare spark plug by disconnecting one of the ignition wires, plugging in the spare plug to the wire, then holding the threaded portion of the plug against a clean metal surface on the engine while you have a friend try to start the engine. Careful examination will show a spark to the bent electrode as the engine cranks.

    Obviously, you need to be careful to hold the spark plug by the rubber insulator (not any metal), keep your hands away from any moving belts/fans/moving parts. There is a nice description how to do this at http :// techauto.awardspace.com/ignition.html#spark

    Clearly, if there is no spark (or weak yellow spark) you must repair/replace ignition parts. Most problems like this are electrical in nature (either ignition or connections to fuel pumps), but they can also be things like failed/failing fuel pumps (no pressure/$$$ to replace) or faulty ignition coils. I've had ignition problems (replaced coil, electronic ignition transducer), but fortunately the fuel pump itself is holding up well.

    One trick you can do is get Starting Fluid from your local auto supply retailer (or Wal-Mart/K-Mart). It is an aerosol can containing ether. Open up your air filter and spray the filter element until it gets wet with starting fluid. Quickly reassemble the air filter and then attempt to start the car. If it starts up and runs (even if roughly and for a short time) then this directly points to a lack of fuel for one reason or another - ignition is fine because the car will run fine momentarily, and a bad ignition won't do that. If it still won't start, then it point to lack of ignition (because you have manually supplied sufficient fuel). Cost of a can of Starter Fluid is about $2 or so. Starter Fluid is also used to start cars on VERY cold days by the same means.

    Thermostat replacement is a good idea - just be SURE to get the correct replacement thermostat - you might consider the original Honda replacement part for this. I forget the exact opening temperature (190°F), but it is important that the temperature open up at the right temperature because the computer is basing it's operation on that precise temperature. After market parts are more cheaply built and will work, but probably fail sooner than the Honda part. Also, replace the temperature sending unit at the same time for the same reason - the computer is basing it's operation on correct readings, and this part can wear out/fail too and substantially affect the correct performance of the car.

    Look carefully at the cavity the thermostat resides in - if you see a lot of white-ish "hard water deposits" in that cavity, the engine and radiator need to be chemically cleaned out to dissolve these deposits; they can cause overheating of the engine because they block cooling. The cause is from not using distilled water to dilute the coolant - a common oversight.

    Prestone has a Part A/Part B cleaner (it is oxalic acid in powder form - the other Prestone liquid flushes ARE INSUFFICIENT) - you may have to order it because I don't frequently find it on the shelves. Again, you only need to do this if you see white deposits inside the engine or under the radiator cap.

    It is actually good that the car won't start - you can track the problem down to the failed part and replace it. It's the intermittent problems that are difficult to find.
  • ffsbk68ffsbk68 Member Posts: 8
    Again, today she would not fire. When I turn the key to on, I hear a buzzing, not only the first time I try, but every time I switch the key on. I plugged an old spark plug into the plug wire and grounded it against a bracket and got a good spark. Even though my gas gauge said a quarter tank, I added a couple gallons of gas from my can. As I removed the cap, pressure hissed out.
    I tried to soaking the air filter with spray ether, but got no fire either. But it was windy as hell outside.
    Since the fuel pump runs with each key turn, does that indicate anything?
    ??
  • jimdempsterjimdempster Member Posts: 34
    Ok - one question before we go further: is your car parked facing downhill? The fuel siphon is located at the back of the tank so if the gas is tilted forward there will be no fuel to the engine - just a check (it's happened to me). A couple of gallons won't be enough to fill the tank sufficiently under these conditions.

    You will know that the fuel pump is not charging up pressure if it runs continously (it is sucking air). The fuel pump ought to stop after a few seconds on the first key turn and stay pumped up for ~30 seconds or more (and it won't make a noise the next time the key is turned on until the fuel pressure leaks down, which could be awhile). Mine sounds like is makes maybe 7 "pumps" and then goes quiet (if there is gasoline available).

    It appears you have spark, but still no sputter? You can't have BOTH spark AND fuel, and have no sputter - it WILL pop.

    Two other things to check:

    1) It is possible the engine is "flooded"? (too much gas for the spark plugs to ignite) The easy and accurate test is to pull a plug and look to see if the plug is wet with gasoline.

    If so, the correction is to crank the engine with the throttle FULLY depressed to "air" the cylinders out. This is one of the scenarios where the Starter Fluid won't start the engine: too much fuel all around. Cranking the engine with the throttle fully depressed for awhile will drain the battery a bit - if this is problem, pull all the plugs and let the engine dry out overnight, or put the battery on a battery charger.

    2) Your fuel pump appears to be working (that's good), but since there is no pop, it indicates there is no fuel is getting to the cylinders.

    Again, the quick and accurate test is to pull the spark plug: if it is dry, then your fuel supply system is stopped up somewhere. The obvious locations: empty gas tank, plugged line, fuel filter, but fuel filters rarely plug up so quickly, even then a dribble tends to get out, so the car runs badly, but it runs. I've heard of people putting sugar in gas tanks, but try it yourself: sugar doesn't dissolve in gas, so it might as well be salt or sand - this is unlikely.

    The other possibilities are that the fuel injectors are all clogged (very rare); the more likely possibility is that the electrical connection from the computer to the fuel injectors is broken (or fuse is blown), or computer is bad. While this is possible, it is not common (and is expensive to fix). Let's look at the less expensive alternatives.

    One scenario is that you appear to have *no fuel at all* to the cylinders. Why? You have spark, but no pop. It's a pretty reliable test: if you have both spark and fuel (and compression) to the cylinders, you **WILL** get a pop.

    It is possible the spark plugs that are installed in the engine are not gapped correctly or are worn out (unlike the one you used for the test), but *all four* don't fail suddenly like this, so it is quite likely your ignition system (coil, distributor, reluctor, etc) is working (as you have confirmed).

    If the spark plugs are working, then in a "non-flooded engine" you should get a pop with Starter Fluid - it's that simple. We know the ignition was working fine recently when you drove it, so the timing (and timing belt) were working at that time.

    The following is a simple test:

    A) If you pull the spark plugs and find they are wet with fuel, then a flooded engine is likely the problem.

    B) If you find they are dry, then you have to ask yourself: why it is when you appear to have spark, and supply fuel manually with the Starter Fluid, there is no pop?

    *You'd have to look again at the ignition system* (since you've supplied the fuel manually, you now have both spark and fuel).

    Is the ignition timing right? (It has to be at top dead center of the cylinder timing).

    Is there compression (a compression test tool is possible through the spark plug holes and is inexpensive to conduct).

    There is a remote possibility of ignition working OK on a good spark plug held manually against the engine block, and then an old plug in the engine fail under actual engine compression, but this is almost always due to a single bad spark plug, and *all four* are unlikely to fail like this. Flooded engine or complete lack of fuel are much more likely.

    Believe me, the engine will pop if you have spark and *not too much* fuel (especially with the Starter Fluid, which is very volatile and explosive). It's how I get my Honda started quickly if it has been sitting six months or longer - try again when not so windy. Add fuel gradually: you can always add more ether to the filter step-by-step, or spray directly into the intake system, up until the point you flood the engine with ether.

    You can't have a situation where 1) the spark is correctly timed, 2) you have compression and fuel in the right ratio, and 3) not get a pop.
  • ffsbk68ffsbk68 Member Posts: 8
    Thanks again for the input. The car is on level ground. When I added gas, the fuel gauge went up to nearly a half tank. I am hearing a whirrring sound for 3-4 seconds each time I turn the key to on. There is also a clicking noise from under the dash at the start and finish of the whirring. I can not hear any sort of pumping throbbing type sound at all.
    I will pull the plugs and see what they look like. Would they stay flooded for days??
    Thanks again for your help.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    I am hearing a whirrring sound for 3-4 seconds each time I turn the key to on. There is also a clicking noise from under the dash at the start and finish of the whirring.

    That's exactly the sound my car makes when I turn the key to the ON (II) position before cranking. It's the fuel pump priming, from what I understand. The car is so old I try and let it do that before I ever fire it up.

    Drive it 105 miles a day now, and it still delivers 32mpg at 70-75mph. Gotta love 'em!

    1996 Accord LX I-4 Automatic
    233,000 miles
  • jimdempsterjimdempster Member Posts: 34
    edited November 2011
    The ideal fuel air mixture is around 14.8 air to 1 part fuel. When an engine is flooded with fuel, the fuel is in a liquid form, when it really needs to be in an aerosol form (for the spark plug to ignite it). If it is warm enough to evaporate some of the fuel (or you put in ether which is very volatile even when cold), then you have a combustible mixture. If the engine is really wet with fuel it can stay wet for days and you can run your battery down trying to start it.

    Once you pull a plug you'll be able to determine if the engine is flooded with gasoline.

    If you find the plug(s) are dry and the car won't start, you have a deficiency of fuel (assuming you have spark and no fuel). What is a little puzzling is that, if you supply fuel manually through the starter fluid, you ought to get a pop. If the plugs are dry then perhaps you need to add more starter fluid (although getting the air filter wet and spraying a little extra down the intake tube before closing up the air filter; usually works for me, even after 6 months being parked and I want a quick start.

    You are going to want to get a 'pop' from the starter fluid before proceeding further.

    If you can get no pop (and you have provided the fuel), then there is no working ignition (that is properly timed with compression of course). Even though you see a spark, it is possibly too weak (perhaps an ignition component is weak or failing or just failed now) or improperly timed (although it was working recently).

    If you get a pop (but the engine won't continue to run), then you have a deficiency of fuel supplied through the injectors. In all likelihood you aren't getting fuel pressure to the injector rack for one reason or another. There is a low cost fuel pressure gage from Harbor Freight tools for this purpose that can measure injector pressure in the rack (should be a constant 36 psi or thereabouts, I have to look up the exact pressure each time), and is invaluable for tracking down problems like this.

    I had a weird situation recently where the fuel pump appeared to work (made noise, etc.) but would fail (and the engine would die) going around a right-hand turn. Turned out it was a "almost failed" fuel pump that would provide just enough gas to get the car started and run slowly, but would provide insufficient fuel when demands were placed on it. Replacing the pump ($400) solved the problem and the car runs great. We thought initially it was flaky ignition parts getting hot and failing intermittently, but replacing the ignition components did not solve the problem. A fuel pressure gage test on the injector would have shown insufficient pressure immediately and revealed the problem for <$20.
  • omarromarr Member Posts: 88
    Trying again!!!

    Please tell me how you go from an overheated engine to a major overhaul, fuel pump problem.

    It sounds like the engine was tuned off as soon as the over heat was noticed.

    I have never had a automobile or anything else that needed a new fuel pump or an engine overhaul from a simple overheat problem.

    You had one problem, a bad radiator, that was replaced.
    The other problem was moisture through out the engine compartment.

    Check the electrical connections!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    If it does not fire on starter fluid it is not fuel related, It is electrical.

    Have a nice day.
  • ffsbk68ffsbk68 Member Posts: 8
    This morning I removed the fuel pump fuse, then each spark plug. Both 3 and 4 were dripping with oil. #2 was wet, but not dropping. #4 was moist as well. When I looked down the plug holes, the 2 piston tops i could see were wet looking. I cranked the engine for a couple minutes then wiped off and reinstalled the plugs. At the same time I checked the oil. It is now more than a half quart over the holes on the dipstick. The engine sputtered on the first crank, and several times in succession a few seconds later . I again aremoved the plugs and they were all wet and stinky of gas.
    I also removed the radiator cap, since I hear coolant gurgling back into the over flow reservoir and though cold, it really popped when I turned it a quarter turn to release the pressure.
    I guess you all can probably confirm my fears about worst case scenerio. In meantime, I will begin looking for a donor car.
    Thanks for everyone's responses.
  • jimdempsterjimdempster Member Posts: 34
    edited November 2011
    This explains why the car won't start, even though there appears to be fuel.

    Let's take the least expensive scenario: if the head gasket has worn out/broken between the combustion cylinder and the coolant passage, you would expect the very high combustion gases to get into the coolant system (since they are at higher pressure than the coolant when the engine is operating). You would expect the coolant tank to overflow, radiator hoses to burst, engine to overheat, a lot of pressure to be released when the radiator cap was removed, etc.

    Conversely, when the engine is not running/turned off, the pressurized coolant (which you noticed when you took off the radiator cap) will leak back into the engine, causing the ideal air:fuel ratio to be upset, so the car runs poorly, or won't start at all. You would also possibly see oil in the coolant, or see the oil levels appear to rise (because coolant/water was getting into the oil pan).

    Starting the car is very difficult because of all the water/coolant around. The drips on the plugs could be ethylene glycol coolant mixed with oil. The fact that plugs #3 and #4 were wet may indicate the location of a possible break in the head gasket.

    It's IMPORTANT to confirm this scenario: a radiator coolant pressure test will fail to hold pressure for any length of time. A good coolant system should hold ~12psi for many hours with no pressure drop, maybe even overnight.

    A coolant pressure tester can be obtained very inexpensively from Harbor Freight Tools (in-store or on-line). A blown head gasket (or cracked block) won't hold pressure for any length of time. You mention that a lot of pressure came out of the radiator, but not how long after starting/attempting to start the engine. (A leaky head gasket would leak down all the pressure overnight or even within a few minutes)

    *IF* it is a "blown" head gasket, it is a comparatively simple repair: the head is un-bolted and the gasket replaced, then the head is re-torqued down and the rest of the equipment re-assembled. A coolant pressure test confirms the effectiveness of the repair.

    If you wanted to do the work you will need to purchase some new, really good quality sockets and breaker bar (because the head bolts are REALLY tight and difficult to remove; 1/2" drive tools aren't adequate, they just bend; you need 3/4" drive; the bolts are high-strength 12-point ; cheap tools will just break and damage the bolts).

    If you take the head off, you can replace the gasket (follow the appropriate instructions). It is possible to exchange the head as well to get re-worked valves in the exchanged head (if you want to keep the car).

    The worse case situation is where the head gasket is fine, but the block is cracked into the coolant system. The symptoms are identical. It's tough to diagnose which it is: from my perspective it's easiest to pull the head off and hope it's a blown head gasket.

    If there gasket is nothing wrong with the gasket however, then the block (or head) must be cracked and replacing the engine (engine block) is the next step to consider. A cracked head can sometimes be welded, but it's a little cheesy so be careful.

    Rebuilt engines are not hard to find (or too expensive considering what you're getting), but the labor to remove and replace the engine is what will be most expensive. Engine hoists can be rented.
  • ffsbk68ffsbk68 Member Posts: 8
    I see some kits have new head bolts included. Are they necessay? I have craftsman 1/2 inch sockets and a 2 ft breaker bar.
  • jimdempsterjimdempster Member Posts: 34
    1) Yes, the new head bolts are necessary. Why? These bolts are torqued so tight that they are actually have an "installed stretch". What the Honda Engineers want to do is make sure that these high-performance bolts have a consistent stretch - and old bolts that have already been stretched won't behave in a predictable manner. You may see the same thing on connecting rod bolts. It's a good practice if you want your car to be dependable. (The engineers are depending on the 'springiness' to hold the parts together).

    2) I tried loosening the bolts on my head with a 1/2 drive and 2 ft breaker bar, and the bar bent without loosening the bolts. Those bolts are really torqued in there.

    This is a case where you will need some good tools. You will need a 12-point impact grade socket (a cheap 12-point socket is likely to crack or strip), a 3/4" drive 2 ft breaker bar (1/2" drive will bend), a short 3/4" drive socket extension bar (so you can get to the bolts), and a torque wrench (1/2" torque wrenches go up to 150 ft-lbs and are built a little stronger, so may be OK to tighten the bolts down; otherwise you need a 3/4" torque wrench).

    Harbor Freight Tools (on-line or in-store) sells a nice 3/4" breaker bar and extension (and impact socket set too) for a very reasonable amount. It is possible also to rent 3/4" drive tools too (America Rents, try Home Depot too).

    There are at least three places on the Hondas where 1/2 drive tools are inadequate: a) the head bolts, b) the front wheel axle nuts, and c) the crank pulley bolt. There are times I'm standing with my entire weight on the breaker bar, and a 1/2" bar just bends. A 3/4" breaker bar "speaks with authority" and removes the bolts safely and without damage - it's a good investment.

    You'll need to look up the torque values for your head bolts (or ask the Honda parts dealer).

    Don't forget: conducting a radiator pressure test is an important test to confirm the diagnosis of a blown head gasket or cracked block (just to be sure). You're going to have to run a pressure test anyway after the head gasket is reassembled to test the gasket, your hoses, and the coolant system in general (to look for leaks and confirm it holds pressure overnight) - and coolant pressure testers are inexpensive (from Harbor Freight Tools).
  • zenman223zenman223 Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2011
    Hello, I have a 95 accord ex recently I have been having trouble getting it to start and cant seem to pinpoint the problem. When it started out, I though it was the PGM-FI main relay and bad solder joints. So I resoldered them and it would still not crank sometimes. So I replaced it with another used one. Now I wasnt able to resolder properly so I thought I may have just screwed the first one up. Now Im wondering If I possibly got another bad one? Seems unlikely so Im beginning to worry I have a Bad ECM.

    The sysptoms are as follows. When I turn the key on. The relay does not click. I hear one click under the passenger dash or somewhere but no relay click and the fuel pump does not engage. It will turn over but not crank b/c its not getting fuel. Whenever this happens the MIL/CEL will stay on constantly and the D4 light will start to blink after a few seconds. Its not blinking a code just steady blinks. There is no code stored for the MIL. Last time I checked, when it was working the TCM gave me a code 14 on the D4 light. But apparently that can be from PGM-FI or the ECM.

    This is driving me crazy b/c I cant fix it when It is working. I have a shop repair manual but the electrical diagrams are confusing to me. Can anyone give any insight into whats causing this? Thank you for any input.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Ah, Harbor Freight sells cheap Chinese made tools that won't perform!
  • jimdempsterjimdempster Member Posts: 34
    Correct, the tools are cheap, but for non-professionals their one-time use is very helpful - especially if you are out of work and have a broken car!

    Always buy the best tool you can afford.
  • jimdempsterjimdempster Member Posts: 34
    There are several pages of schematics to go through (about 16). You really need to get the Honda schematics if possible because the Chilton schematics are "iffy" whether they will show you your exact schematic. If you don't have the original manufacturer schematics, check on-line at your library(s) to see if they have a auto reference section. On my '90 Honda, the Honda schematic #14 contains the main relay.

    The good news: I don't recall it was difficult to trace. The ignition switch turns on power to the PGM-FI; your check engine light should turn on if there is power to the PGM when the ignition key is first turned. If not, check your fuses (on my '90 Honda, it is the BLK/YEL wire that powers the PGM).

    There is a clutch interlock switch involved on the manual transmission (like mine) - starter won't turn unless the clutch is depressed - just something to consider.

    There needs to be 12V applied to the YEL/BLK wire going into the main relay - this closes the relay and supplies power to the fuel pump. I've supplied 12V manually with some insulated lead w/alligator clips from the YEL/BLU connector on the main relay connector. This does manually what the PGM does electronically: closes the main relay. You will know you have power when you can measure 12V on the YEL lead coming out of the relay - and the fuel pump will start up. At least if you get this far, you'll know the mail relay is working to provide power to the fuel pump.
  • omarromarr Member Posts: 88
    You buy one saws-all from harbor freight for $24.00 and remove one wall.

    You buy one saws-all from Lowes for $224.00 and remove one wall.

    Now what would be the best investment?

    I go for Harbor Freight,

    Love the place
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Point taken in fact I bought a cordless reversable drill from HF last year.

    I'll probably use it twice a year. It looks cheap, it feels cheap and no professional would use one of these. Still, it does work.

    Still, I try to avoid buying the Chinese stuff and feel guilty when I do.

    Wrenches are a different story. Have a jaw spread and round off a fastener or snap when pressure is applied and your "savings" go's out the window.

    I wouldn't want to crawl under a car supported by HD jack stands either!
  • shirlhshirlh Member Posts: 1
    blinking D4 means your speed senor needs to be change it on your transmission there is 2 of them change both
  • jimdempsterjimdempster Member Posts: 34
    The knob connects to a mechanical cable (technically a 'Bowden' cable): an outer sheath with an inner cable.

    Your problem is likely that the outer sheath has come loose; that's why it will close but not open.

    Look under the dash on the passenger side - you may be able to see the cable (wiggle the knob). If you see the outer sheath moving, then you just need to reattach it. It's a very common problem with Hondas as a result of a bad design. The adjustment is sensitive and not very reliable (that's why it failed for you). It can also cause the heat to run slightly even when the knob is turned off - that's a problem during the summer.

    There is another cable running out into the engine area for the coolant shutoff valve, but this is not likely your problem.
  • 94accordsw94accordsw Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2011
    I just found this forum because I was trying to check on problems with Honda Accords.
    Things not working: both passenger door actuators, driver's door lock cylinder, pump for window washer (front), shocks for tailgate seem to be going bad. I have had the car for just short of 4 years and have put on about 36000 miles (it has 201000 miles on it).
    Are all these things common problems? Also how difficult is it to take off the door panel? I was told it would cost 220/250 dollars to replace the front passenger door actuator and about 240 dollars to replace the rear door. Am I throwing money down a hole?
    I am feeling a sense of deja vu. I used to have a 1987 Mitsubishi pickup truck and after I had the truck about 13 years with 150,000 miles on it I kept spending money to get it fixed all the time. I finally sent it to the junkyard in 2006.
  • ffsbk68ffsbk68 Member Posts: 8
    I have had the head gasket replaced, and that problem seems to be solved, but the heat gauge does run on the high side although I had the thermostat replaced in the repair. But now the check engine light comes on repeatedly showing the cat converter code. The counterman at Oreillys said that it might not be the cat at all, but some problem upstream. I wondered if running the car with the bad head gasket, even for a short time could have sent a lot of junk down the exhaust pipe?
    Curiously, in the course of replacing a heater control I had the battery cable off several times which deleted the code. Then on a couple occaisions, I drove the car up to 50 miles with no cel, then on the way home from work, the light came on in the same small town within a quarter mile of the same spot as I decelerated from a 60mph cruising speed entering the town speedlimit of 35mph??
    Any way to clean up the converter chemically short of replacing the whole unit?
  • jimdempsterjimdempster Member Posts: 34
    You must have a hatchback or a station wagon (you don't say what year either): the gas shocks for the tailgate DO go bad (the gas leaks out over the years).

    The bad thing is that the gas shocks leak also back at the Honda parts warehouse, so if you order Honda replacement shocks, you may get the original gas shocks manufactured at the same time. If so, they will fail, if not immediately, very soon after you install them. Special orders usually aren't returnable, so buyer beware.

    Driver's door lock cylinder varies quite dramatically depending on year and model: some are simple locks, and others are electronic. Simple locks fail because they weren't lubricated with graphite; the complex electronic locks cost hundreds of dollars to replace and have to be encoded to match your remote key.

    I have not heard of the door actuators or the window washer pump being a weak part.
  • dobidobi Member Posts: 2
    I have Honda accord 94 4 cyl. auto, Starts well , running ok, but soon after i rich 50 mph it start to losing speed. I am pishing gas pedal dont wonna do kepping same speed about 30 mph. I keep pushig and releasing gas ledal sudently car jumping and start to acceletate. I also hear '' bum" coming from exsuast sustem. What can be a problem? Thx everybody for advice
  • jimdempsterjimdempster Member Posts: 34
    Could be a number of things, but do you find that throttle position makes a difference at 50 mph? That is, if you are very gentle with the throttle, the car will keep going at 50 mph, but if you press the throttle down more it doesn't run as well or at all?

    If so, it could be the car is starved for fuel because the fuel pump isn't putting out enough pressure. The car will start well and idle well, but when you start putting demands on the fuel pump, it can't deliver. You can test the fuel pressure with a pressure gage; an inexpensive gage is available from Harbor Freight Tools, either in the store or on-line. The injector rack MUST keep a constant pressure at all times in order for the computer to inject the right amount of fuel - the only way to tell is with a pressure gage.

    This kind of problem is difficult to determine. You should inspect the car very carefully for any loose vacuum lines or cracked vacuum lines. Generally the car won't idle well if there is a vacuum leak, although it may idle OK when cold, but fail to idle when it gets hot. Why? The computer leans out the fuel mixture when the engine warms up, but uses a richer mixture when cold - so the car may idle, even with a vacuum leak.

    You can also have problems with the a clogged fuel filter or fuel line, throttle position sensor, and/or the oxygen sensor.

    Is the "burn" you mention in the muffler "backfiring"? Does it only happen on deceleration? If so, you may have too much fuel in the muffler, which would more likely point to a failure in the ignition (which allows unburned fuel to get into the muffler), but it sounds more like a fuel supply problem causing the loss of power rather than ignition problems. With ignition problems, they tend to always be the same (bad) and don't vary that much with throttle position or speed.

    This is all depending on the car starting OK and idling OK.
  • yuncker12yuncker12 Member Posts: 1
    I just bought a 1997 Ex and what im wondering is, when you first start it up, the ABS makes a loud buzz sound for about 10 sec. then stops and comes back on 10 secs later for about 5 secs. anyway, im pretty sure it the ABS module but i need help figuring out what to do with it.

    Also what is the normal RPM for the 4cyl at about 60 mph?
    THANKS!!!
  • dobidobi Member Posts: 2
    Thank you Jimdempster For advice. Looks you same a me a bit of money. I start to look for some cracks in vacum system. What a found was different.I toch an electrical house which comes from passenger side going to the engene and RPM change a little bit. I scqused that house and the engene stop. Open that house and found a bed connection in one of the cable. For now car is runnig fine. Thank you and happy new Year :)
  • bdybuilder91bdybuilder91 Member Posts: 1
    Hey so i know you probably do not even own the car anymore, but i just purchased a manual 97 accord ex model and it just started making this noise. It usually starts in 4th gear is sounds like plasic scraping on concret or hitting a fan.

    Did you ever figure out what the problem was on your car?
  • styles0011styles0011 Member Posts: 2
    i have a 94 accord after letting my car warm up my heat gauge reads medium and is blowing out hot air but when i start to drive it starts to read cold and begins to blow out lukewarm air untell i pull over and let it warm up again then i start too drive after it blows hot air again but its like a circle does it all over again wat do i do........checked fluids there fine both overflow and rad
  • jimdempsterjimdempster Member Posts: 34
    Sounds like a thermostat that is stuck open.

    The cooling system has extra capacity for cooling the engine during long hill climbs on hot days.

    When idling, there is less air going thru the radiator, so the coolant warms up. When you start moving, the radiator starts cooling the coolant down more efficiently.

    The thermostat's job is to regulate the temperature to about 190°F. If the coolant runs cooler, you lose fuel economy because the oil is thicker and the gasoline doesn't vaporize as efficiently.

    You want to know WHY the thermostat got stuck. If you see a bunch of "white deposits" (hard water deposits), then you will want to consider a complete cooling system clean (not just a flush). The cleaner to use is the two-part Prestone kit (Part A acid, Part B neutralizer). The standard flushes are worthless for removing hard water deposits. The Prestone product is hard to find and you may have to special order it. An acid-cleaned system plus new coolant plus a new thermostat will have your car running like new.

    Aftermarket thermostats are just fine if the Honda part is too expensive. Be sure to replace the O-ring seal at the same time.

    ALWAYS AND ONLY use distilled water in your cooling system, even during a system flush. Tap water contains calcium and magnesium which forms these white deposits. A gallon of distilled water is 79 cents.
  • sanchez0561sanchez0561 Member Posts: 9
    My wipers don't work when I turn them on at the lever. Intermittently or otherwise. They only work when I pull on the lever. Has anybody else experienced this? Could it be a relay?
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