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-   -   92 Honda Accord engine suddenly shuts off (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=88339)

  • May 2, 2007, 12:53 AM
    GloryB
    92 Honda Accord engine suddenly shuts off
    While cruising at 55mph down a slight incline on a highway at 10pm, suddenly I realized the engine had shut down. The lights seemed to slightly dim, I was able to pull off to the shoulder of the road, turned off the key, then turned the key and car immediately started. About 5 weeks later the same thing happened on a flat stretch 5 minutes after starting the car, driving 30 mph. Did same thing as first time - only this time the car did not start, even though engine turned over normally. After repeated attempts, removed wires from battery and reconnected them - car immediately started. Three weeks later an hour into a trip, driving 45mph, same thing happened again. This time engine tuned over strongly, but wouldn't start. Took key out of ignition, then put back in. Removing battery cables didn't work this time. Had car towed. Next morning car started fine. Car has 135,000 and had timing belt replaced at recommended mileage. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

    PS I should add that now my car has been at the Honda shop for 5 days - I'm told they don't know what to fix unless they can get it to fail in their presence... this could take weeks...
  • May 2, 2007, 07:15 AM
    TxGreaseMonkey
    . Check for codes.
    . Perform the K-Test on the ECM.
    . Replace the igniter, coil, and main relay, due to the car's age, mileage, and described symptoms. These are problematic components and replacing them will likely solve the intermittent problem and provide the reliability you are looking for.
  • Nov 19, 2007, 12:57 PM
    GloryB
    This is a LONG OVERDUE thank you to the Help Desk and specifically TXGREASEMONKEY for making suggestions to my question way back in May and a report of what has happened since then. So the problem was that our '92 Honda Accord's engine, with 135,000 miles, would suddenly shut off, for no apparent reason while motoring down the road. At those times the ignition would turn over fine, but it became increasingly more difficult to start again - and finally it wouldn't start until it sat overnight. The Honda shop said they didn't want to run up our bill replacing parts until they figured out what was wrong - they tried to get it to fail while they had it; it never did. So we decided t'was better to take it to an independent shop that had more experience with older cars. They immediately told us that usually before this many miles, the distributors need to be replaced as this was one of the years that Honda should have recalled their distributors because the bearings were too light weight. So here's what all they did and now the car runs perfectly again:
    1) FI main relay (as suggested by TXGREASEMONKEY)
    2) Remanufactured distributer
    3) Distributer rotor
    For the first time we went with their suggestion to go with non-Honda parts because these parts will last as long as the life expectancy of the car. Total cost was $441.66 - I might add that we live in Oregon.

    Happy Thanksgiving!
    GloryB
  • Nov 19, 2007, 12:59 PM
    GloryB
    Comment on TxGreaseMonkey's post
    It got us started in the right direction of what to replace.
  • Nov 19, 2007, 06:17 PM
    TxGreaseMonkey
    When they replaced the distributor, they replaced the Ignition Control Module (igniter) and coil inside the distributor. The igniter was likely the cause of the engine's stalling and starting problems.
  • Nov 19, 2007, 07:03 PM
    GloryB
    Thanks TXGREASEMonkey - Again! When I cut and pasted my last note, I see that I lost a letter in describing what they did: it should have read that they replaced the EFI main relay (the E got dropped) - but you already knew that :) :) Since we were in the middle of doing a wedding, it was imortant not to leave guests stranded at the side of the road - happy to say the car has behaved splendidly since it's fix. GloryB

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