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myhonda98 · Oct 16, 2006, 10:53 AM

I have a 1998 Honda Accord Ex and it does not want to start all of the time . I went out of town and I had it towed away to a garage and they put a new fuel pump in it and it still does not want to start. I took it into the dealer and told them too look at the main relay since everyone is having trouble with theirs. But they cannot do anything since is does not show up on the diagnostic machine. I have written a complaint to the BBB about this issue and they will contact Honda for me, which we all know nothing will be done. I had also sent them this Web site so they know I am not the only one with these troubles. I just want to know how to get the dealers service to fix this problem without the diagnostic test since it does not show? Because my husband wants me to get rid of the car and I only have 79,000 miles on it and it is in perfect shape inside and out and I love it! Other than it only starts intermittingly.What can I do?

TxGreaseMonkey · Oct 16, 2006, 11:10 AM

When the ignition is turned to ON, does the Check Engine Light (CEL) come on for 2 seconds and then go off? During this 2 second period, do you hear the fuel pump in the gas tank run? When the CEL goes out, do you hear the main relay "click"?

I would NEVER get rid of a great car, like yours, for the reasons mentioned. The solution is likely simple and you would be costing yourself lots of money.

The solution probably lies with the Main Relay, Igniter (ICM), or Coil. Even if you replaced all of them, it's not going to cost too much, provided you buy them yourself and not from Honda. I would also replace the NGK spark plugs, distributor cap, and rotor. Thess are standard preventive maintenance items for a vehicle with 79,000 miles.

Here is where the Main Relay is located on your 1998 Accord:

http://techauto.te.funpic.org/mainrelaydefine.php

This is not difficult to replace--you can likely do it yourself.

myhonda98 · Oct 16, 2006, 11:22 AM

All of the lights are on for 2 seconds and then they go off. And I am getting fuel. But I don't know where the main relay is o hear it. I do have a clicking sound when I turn the key but my starter was checked and is fine.

TxGreaseMonkey · Oct 16, 2006, 11:31 AM

See my accompanying link. It is located under the dash, just to the left of the steering wheel. The clicking sound is the Main Relay. You could probably reach up and feel it click, as well. See if you can feel it click when the CEL goes out.

TxGreaseMonkey · Oct 16, 2006, 11:34 AM

I believe the problem is likely a bad igniter or coil. Igniters are especially notorious for failing on Hondas and many modern-day cars. Igniters are the analog to distributor points on older cars. They are an electrical switch (microchip) that allows the electrical field in the coil to build up and collapse many times each second. When this happens, 25,000+ volts is generated in the secondary circuit of the coil for firing the spark plugs.

Igniters are located inside the distributor and look like this:

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductL...Control%20Unit

Igniters, main relays, and coils can fail intermittently. I would replace all of them and give your car a new lease on life.

TxGreaseMonkey · Oct 16, 2006, 11:44 AM

Do you have a 4 or 6 cylinder engine?