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Home > Home & Garden > Cars & Trucks   »   1998 honda accord don't start

 
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Old Sep 7, 2004, 04:52 PM
ladyj
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1998 honda accord don't start

I have a 1998 honda accord that don't won't to start all the time.   I have read that other honda owners are having this problem.  I have had a mechanic to look at the car and of course the car starts with him my husband is trying to figure this out.  I think I am going to contact the main Honda headquarters and see if this is a problem that might need a recall.  This is such a pain. Im' afraid to drive my honda. I would like to know have any one found the solution?  Thanks ladyj


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2005Civic agrees: I have the same problem,but with my 2005 civic honda. Sometimes it starts and sometimes it doesn't. I have tried slowing the process of starting the engine (starting by turning the music on, then to thenextbylightingthelightsup,thenengine&wont start
KellyPI agrees: I'm having the same problem with my 98 accord. It turns over,but won't start. It's getting spark and fuel. I took it to the dealership and they replaced the main relay and the ignition switch. I thought it was fixed until it wouldn't start today!!!!
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Old Aug 18, 2005, 12:49 AM   #21  
CroCivic91
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grokr74
I started having a stall problem on my 98 accord,which has 136,000 miles, about a month ago.
I was at a stop light and when the light turned green and I hit the gas the engine stalled. I was able to start it up again right after it stalled.

Over the weekend I started up the car and after about 5 minutes of just sitting in idle waiting for someone the engine stalled. I could not get it to start up again until I came back fifteen minutes later.

Could this be related to the main relay? Any help would be appreciated

Noob
This does NOT sound like a main relay problem. Do like this:
Turn the key to "I" and prepare yourself to listen for a humming sound in the back (you're listening for fuel pump working). Turn the key to "II" and listen if you see a humming sound from the back of the car. If you do, your fuel pump is working. Humming sound should stop with a click from under the dash. If there is a click - your main relay is working.

It would be best to get your car to a shop, to get it connected to a diagnostics tool which will read out errors ECU has stored. It can give you a better idea of what is going on with the car.

When was your fuel filter last changed?
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Old Aug 18, 2005, 04:59 AM   #22  
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Thanks. I followed your instructions and heard the sounds you described.

The check engine light does not come on when I start the car normally. I followed the procedure in the Haynes repair manual for my car to read the OBD codes by putting a jumper on the DLC connector then turning the car on and checking for check engine light flashes to read the code. The check engine light comes on with the jumper installed in the DLC connector as described in the manual but I don't see it flash, which according to the manual means there are no stored trouble codes.


I never had the fuel filter replaced. I asked a couple of places to do it but they all said that in my car it is located in the fuel tank and they cannot access it.

-G
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Old Aug 18, 2005, 02:46 PM   #23  
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7 years old fuel filter doesnt sound good.

Ok, in order for the car to start - it must get both fuel and spark. Here is an easy way to see if you're getting gas. Have someone crank the car while you "sniff your car's ". Don't laugh now. You have to get close to the exhaust and smell for gas. Though, don't stick your nose inside the exhaust. If you smell it - it is getting through the injectors and that means your fuel filter is not clogged. If you don't smell it, pop the hood and smell there while someone cranks.

Or you can pull out the fuel rail with injectors and electrical connectors still attached to the rail, and point it to something that will not ignite the gas (if they squirt gas out), and have someone crank it while you check for injectors squirting gas.

Other than that - i have no idea what to check for, other than checking whether you're getting spark (refer to FAQ for instructions how to do that).
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Old Aug 22, 2005, 06:09 AM   #24  
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Thanks for your advice!

I noticed that when the car is in idle the tachometer would usually be about 660 rpm but it would fluctuate down to about 500 rpm periodically when in idle.

I checked my records and I had not done a fuel system cleaning in over 30,000 miles. I had Firestone perform a fuel system cleaning. After they did the cleaning the tachometer was solid at about 660 rpm when in idle. It seems like the car is running better and it hasn't stalled so far.
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Old Aug 22, 2005, 03:19 PM   #25  
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Glad I helped...enjoy your ride!
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Old Aug 25, 2005, 07:54 AM   #26  
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The solution

I have a 98 accord that was doing the same thing. I just got a new engine installed for other reasons but when I got it back it still would'nt start every time. I left it at the shop to see if they could fix it and they told me I needed a new ignition. They installed an ignition from a '00 accord and it starts up every time now. They charged me $100 for the ignition and installation.

Please let me know if this is any help.

After they finished with my car my stereo was locked and I cant find the code. I called the dealership but they said they could'nt help me because I did'nt buy my car there. I have a stock accord CD player but from a different accord, it was given to me by a friend who got a newer stereo installed in his car. Can anybody help with this code?
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Old Aug 30, 2005, 08:20 PM   #27  
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Ignition key problems with Honda Accords in very cold weather

Help! I have two Honda Accords (1990 and 1995) Both have similar problems in very cold weather. Either I can't turn the key in the ignition at all, or I can't get the key out of the ignition when I need to leave the car.

Sometimes if I wait just a minute or two, suddenly it turns completely freely. This is very distressing in cold weather when you risk being stranded, or when you need to leave the car and can't do so since the key won't come out.

It happened to both cars during the very cold season this past winter.

During the summer I have no trouble at all.

Does anyone else have this problem? Can anyone help? thanks!
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Old Sep 3, 2005, 05:28 PM   #28  
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98 Accord - Similar problems - any resolution?

Mom has a 98 Accord. Car dies intermittently, and then won't start.

HOW IT DIES: The RPM's gradually drop (at random) until the idle no longer keeps the engine running. If you notice it dropping, you can give it gas and "ressurrect the idle" - which seems to be fine for awhile after.

AFTER IT DIES:
After the car dies (at random), it will turn over with a healthy crank, but not start unless you let it sit for 5 minutes or so. So far, this has happened in relatively warm weather (75+).

AFTER IT RE-STARTS:
No check engine lights are flagged, and the car runs fine for an indefinite amount of time (sometimes days).

My theory is, it has to be related to Engine Management (sensors, OBD, etc), Fuel Delivery (pump, relay, filter) or Ingition (spark, distributor, etc).

Has anyone experienced this? Dealership says they can't find out what's going on...

Many thanks.
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Old Sep 11, 2005, 10:58 AM   #29  
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1999 Accord has the same problem

I have experienced the same problem with my 99 Accord. It only happens when it's hot (70+) out and the dealer can't figure it out. The car will start up but then die...I swear I can tell right when it starts up each time it will happen. It happens both after a drive or if it's been sitting for hours. Then I just wait about 15-30 mins and it starts right up. Have had it in four times now with no help.

I still have bumper to bumper warranty but it's no help if the dealer won't attempt to fix it. It totally sucks. I think I'm done with Honda.

On edit: just happened again but it's a hot one (90F) and it had been 1.5 hours and it still won't start. Turns over great though! Too bad the dealer isn't open today cause it's Sunday.
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Old Sep 11, 2005, 04:28 PM   #30  
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Did you all try resoldering your main relay? Problems with starting a Honda in hot weather is most likely related to a bad main relay.
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