I have the same problem. My '90 Accord won't start when it is hot. This is happening for the last 2 weeks. Yesterday, I changed the air filter, spark plugs and the wires, the distributor cap and the rotor inside it. After changing all this, I cranked up my car and it started just fine. I kept it running and after 3-4 minutes it just died. It was yesterday evening and not "hot" at all. I've been trying to start it ever since but it just cranks but won't start. Now, I'm not sure if I have a bad main relay or something else is a problem. I tried listening to the main relay "click" after setting the key in the ON position and I can hear it clicking. Some people mention that if you can hear your main relay "click" then the main relay is fine. I'm totally confused and not sure what needs to be done. At this point my car doesn't start at all, no matter how cold or hot it is outside. Please help.

It seems your main relay is fine. Try the FAQ for procedures on how to check for spark and gas. Come back with results. Also, read out error codes on your ECU.

I have a '98 Honda Accord and it was fine all throughout summer but ever since it has been getting colder in NYC its having trouble starting.
I had no problems starting the car last winter.
I had friends jump the car and that didn't work at the time so I had it towed to a shop and when it got there they said it started fine.
So I brought it back and a few days later it didn't start again, waited about an hour then it just started up fine.
This happened again this week but this time I had to wait about 3 hours before I could get it to start and this time it had trouble starting.
I brought it into the shop and they were like there's nothing wrong with it.
I think its whenever I don't use the car for more than 24 hours then it won't start.
Haven't actually had much time to test this theory since I need the car to get to work.

Also, now power windows and power locks are not working after the last time it failed to start.

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP!!

If anyone can help me with this

Next time your car won't start, try checking for spark. Read the FAQ for checking the spark. If it's missing a spark, we'll know it's spark related. If it's getting spark, then try checking if it's getting gas. That will (at least generally) isolate the problem between not getting spark and not getting gas.

I wake up this morning and the temperature is about mid 60's and I start up the car but it just struggles and never catches. I hear the rotation of the belt but nothing starts. I am not too familiar with cars so where can I find the spark plugs?

After the trouble with the car, my rightside power window does not work and all my power locks are not functioning. Did I blow my fusebox by keep on trying to start the car?

I have the same problems

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Originally Posted by ladyj

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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I have faced same situation four five times. I just park to go bank, I came back did not start. When I am using self to start ,the battery were down.
I had to give jump start. I changed the new battery and I am not having any problem since one month.

I have been having frequent start-up problems with my 2000 v6 3.0 accord. When I turn it on, it starts up for a split second then the engine stalls. In order for me to keep it running, I rev the engine and quickly switch it into gear and press on the gas before the RPMs have a chance to drop and the engine has a chance to shut off. So far I have had no stalling problems while driving; all of the stalling problems are at start-up. Also, when I got my car to start today, after repeated attempts, I noticed the check engine light was on. I'm not exactly a "know-it-all" when it comes to cars, so I would greatly appreciate any advice on how to handle this problem.

A little bit of research on the internet made my life easier! I also had the same problem with my 98 accord. Sometimes I would be driving and the car would just die. Sometimes I could start it back up and sometimes it would take about 5 or more cranks for engine to start up. Car would start up and right away die. I found that honda has a recall on lots of their vehicles for the same problem, which is caused by the ignition system. I called honda and they took my car and replaced the ignition fro free at the dealer. It turns out that there was a safety recall for this problem for my vehicle. Safety recalls never expire no matter who the owner is or how many miles on the vehicle. Good luck honda owners.

Everyone else seems to be having trouble starting their car when it's hot outside, pointing the problem being the main relay. I just begun having problems with my 98 Accord V6 today, but it's about 45-50 degrees F outside. The car cranked fine as usual, but wouldn't start. I didn't notice any specific problems and never had any issues previously. Tried cranking a handful of times with no luck so I checked the ignition wires. Looked fine. Checked for the fuel pump humming, which was present. Tried cranking several times again with no luck.

Oddly enough, once I took the key out of the ignition and tapped it several times on my palm, the car started right up. I tried to duplicate the same problem, by turning the car off and re-starting. The car didn't start. So I took the key out of the ignition, tapped it several times on my palm, it it started right up.

Could it possibly be the key that's giving so many people problems? Is that a stupid assumption? Please help. Thanks in advance.

I just ran some tests, experimented, and took some notes. Turns out that my problem is indeed a bad key. :eek:

Long story short, I stick the key in the ignition, turn to the on position, and the vehicle immobilizer system indicator (the green key indicator light on the dash) keeps blinking. So basically, the car doesn't recognize the key, the immobilizer system kicks in, and doesn't allow the engine to start.

I guess it's time to either go the stealership to get my key reprogrammed or, gasp... spend over a hundred bucks to get a new key.

Hope this helps people with '98+ Accords/Hondas with the immobilizer system experiencing engine start-up problems.

:mad: I have this 98 Honda Accord that won't start. I am so lost. The engine light was on and one forum told us that the gas cap might not be on tight. They said it will take a couple of trips to turn off but to twist it on tight and it will go off. It went off. Well once again the gas light turned on Saturday night and now this morning my car won't start. The car will turn over but that is it. Any ideas?

My check engine light came on yesterday morning. I know that I need a timing belt which will be replaced tomorrow. But I can't fingure out why the check engine light came on I am going to have it hooked up at auto zone but if anyone here could help I would appreciate it. The car doesn't want to go sometimes. I will be sitting still or driving and try to excellerate and it will rev but not go. I think this is a timing belt issue but not sure if related. Thanks for help. :confused:

I have a 98 accord coupe V6. I have been having the same problems with my car not starting. A mechanic put in a new alternator a month ago and my car still has trouble starting. It seems mine does it when it is really hot or I just put gas in my car. I no longer turn my car off to put gas in, I always leave it running. I am getting frustrated because I can't get anyone to fix the actual problem. Any suggestions?

before I start... yesrocks - please kill yourself. We are trying to find help, so your forum spam is pretty annoying.

my 4 cylinder 1998 accord coupe has not been starting on hot days for the last three years. Up until last summer, I had always just kept trying and trying until it started. Last summer, it started to take longer, and longer (up to 3-4 hours) to finally start. Thank god I work from home, because I am sure I would have been fired 10x over if I had a job somewhere. I've brought my accord to mechanics who (of course) it started just fine for. I first suspected the starter and battery, both of which have been replaced in the last 30 days, so we know that's not the problem.

Someone said that this problem was covered under recall. That will be my first option, because its free. I will reply after I talk to them and post my results. Let's figure this out together.

Did you manage to find out if it's gas or spark you're not getting when your car doesn't want to start?

By the way, I'd bet you have a bad Main Relay (if that year accord still uses a Main Relay). Try to locate it, take it out, resolder it's joints and put it back in. See the FAQ for more details on it.

If your 1998 honda accord has over 140000 miles, I tell you for sure the fuel pump is almost Dead that's why your car STALLS sometime!! fuel pump is located in trunk,you can replace it in 1 hour. Florin

1998 1999 Honda Accord stalls while driving -the problem is the fuel pump!! Is located in the trunk in 1 hour if you are ambitios your problem is fix and your engine will run without any problems. Florin

I have a 2005 Honda Ex Civic, and I am experiencing some difficulties when starting the engine. It just started a few days ago, and realized something is going wrong. Sometimes when I try to start, a GEE sound will come up, then sometimes it just won't start like I turned all the way to start the engine and nothing happens, no sound, no GEE sound no nothing. It's really unpredictable. When the weather is REALLY cold or REALLY hot, it would happen more often. I don't know what to do and I'm afraid of driving now because it happens more and more. Is anyone experiencing the same difficulties as I am? Can anyone give me advice? Should I go to an auto garage to explain? But it doesn't happen all the time, It only happens when I drive the vehicle, when someone else drives it, it doesn't happen. Is something wrong with the starter? Or the whole ignition process? Any advice, please!

-2005 Civic

Honda Accord 1998 model and your car is still STALLING while you driving,or is Starting Very Hard,your problem is Ignition Switch ,it is positioned behind your steering wheel and you have acces to it if you remove the plastic cap covers,. ignition switch looks like a white plastic capsule with 5 wires on it,and it has a black plastic on it as a protection against accidental shorts ,remove the "belly" panel under your steerring wheel so you have better access when you remove the ignition switch (3 philips screws),disconect the battery when you work. Florin

To Civic 2005, if you have a "gee" noise,that should be the alternator belt or the A/C belt ,check them both if they are not lose or too old,if your car is still sarting hard check the ignition switch,they die pretty fast and when its hot they just don't work because the contacts are poor inside of the ignition switch. Florin

My 98 accord will not start either.It cranks,but won't start. It's getting fuel and it's getting spark. I took it to the dealership and they replaced the ignition switch since it was under recall, and they also replaced the main relay... but 3 days later... it wouldn't start again. So, I took back to the dealership and they kept it for 3 days,and it started every time for them. They said they hooked it up to diagnostics, but couldn't "duplicate the problem". For some reason it seems to not start in the mornings. This is so frustrating, I bought a honda because I thought they were reliable,but apparently they aren't since thousands of people have been reading this thread. My car only has 130,000 miles on it... which I thought wasn't much for a honda. I just paid the stupid thing off, and really didn't want another car payment,but I'm scared to drive it anywhere in fear that it might not start. Please Help!!

"Read the FAQ on information how to resolder your main relay."

I have been all over this site trying to find the FAQ section, and I even used the search faqs and could not find it.

Can anyone PLEASE give me the link to this FAQ?

Many thanks,

LGO

I have a 98 accord that sounds like it has a similar problem. My non-starting situation is completely random though. When it usually doesn't start, if I wait 10 to 15 minutes, it will start. The mechanic shop doesn't know what to do with it because every time they try to diagnosis the problem, it works!
I just recently replaced the distributor. Two days later it started doing the same thing again. It's not getting spark. I read the post about the recall on the ignition. I'm going to check into that further. If anyone has any other ideas please post! Thanks!

I had the same problem with a 1998 Honda Accord with v6. Also a similar problem with a 2000 Dodge 1500. In both instances, the ground cable from the battery was badly corroded. I changed the cable and it seemed to fix the problem. The battery showed good, all lights worked but could not get the starter to turn over. Changed the cables and voilà.

After the dealership kept my car for 2 weeks,it finally would not start for them on the 14th day. It was bad coils and a bad igniter unit, which they said was caused from having the original spark plugs. It has now started up fine for a week,so I think it is finally fixed. Yay!

See if you are getting 5 volts to your MAP sensor. If it's way short, replace your failing Engine Control Module.

I had the same problem when its hot not starting it's the relay assist its under the drivers dash and cost's 35$ at honda dealer.


1998 accord ex v6

CroCivic91 is correct. It's the "MAIN RELAY". My 1998 Honda Accord sometimes kept cranking but did not start. I had to leave it for 30 minutes or sometimes few hours and started it again and it's okay. The problem was random. At first I thought it was the fuel pump. When it starts, I find out the problem is not from the fuel pump. It's from the main relay since it also control the fuel pump. One can short the relay but it's dangerous since fuel pump would work all the times.
I could not solder as CroCivic91 mentioned; I bought a new one from Honda dealer for $80 and have a mechanic replaced it for $20. It solved my problem. Thanks CroCivic91.

Hrm same problem. 1996 Honda Accord died. I thought it was my security system, but we disconnected it and it appears not to work. I attempt to start up the car and the engine sputters, but the car does not start. The battery appears to be fine... so I have no idea what is the problem.

Hi everyone, I want to thank the folks who told me about the main relay
Under the dash. My 1998 honda accord would not start once in a while
And mostly on hot days, after relpacing the main relay switch under the
Dash it's been almost a month and starts every time. It was 70 bucks
Installed by a local mechinic however it took him about 2 minutes to replace
And looked simple. Anyway, I hope other folks replace try this fix cause
It really works. Great forum..

Thanks again.. jt.

Same thing is happening to me on warm days when my 99 Honda accord sits for hours. Lately it turns over and catches but then suddenly dies if I don't give it gas fast enough. I guess I will try the "Main Relay" that everyone is talking about but I think it might be the immobilizer for the key since I have noticed a pattern with that green key light that flashes when you turn your car to II. Definitely not happy with this make and model.

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Originally Posted by CroCivic91

Give us more details. Do you hear the fuel pump working? Does it start for a second and then dies? Does it start in cold weather, or in the morning, and not in hot weather and after it's been left in the sun?

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I have a 1998 Accord with the same problem of not starting when it is in the sun or if the engine is hot. I am going to try replacing the main relay switch and hope it works as it has for most of you. Thanks for the help. No one knew how to fix it and the same problem occurred, but not when the mechanics were watching.

My wife has a 1999 Accord. About 5 years ago we locked her keys in the trunk and had to get an additional key made at the dealer. I have been keeping, but rarely using, this key since. Last night, she went to move her car in the garage using my keys (they were handier at the time). The car would only crank, but not turn over. I immediately thought fuel pump.
My fixes involve "try the cheapest first" approach, so we made sure that the gas gauge wasn't off by adding a couple of gallons of fuel. Didn't help. Next, checked the fump pump fuse. Didn't help. So off to the internet I went in search of suggestions before calling a tow truck. This is where I found out about faulty keys. Who thought a key could not to it's job?! Apparently, some of the helpful people on this site considered it.
Long story short... Got the wife's key and it turned right over.

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Originally Posted by ladyj

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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My 1998 Honda Accord is doing the same thing and it has 77,000 miles on it.
I can go to the store and come back out with my groceries and get in and it will not turn over, but it is getting gas. I just replaced the fuel pump a month ago and now I'm scared to drive long distances in case it breaks down for good. I purchased this car because it is supposed to be a decent car but I had nothing but problems with it. I even had my transmision rebuilt and it still is not right. We should all contact the honda dealer and put in a complaint. I know I will if my car doesn't work after I take it to the dealer come Monday. I had trouble with my abs light staying on too. I can't afford this car and it still looks brand new and I hate to sell it to someone for them to have my problems.

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Originally Posted by pippin24

My 99 Accord began to have the 'hard-to-start problem' this July (2005), and since then it would happen occasionally (once every two weeks). And I noticed that it would only happen on hot days as well. I took the car to a Honda dealership, but they couldn't do anything to it, saying that 'they couldn't reproduce the problem'. But three days after coming out of their shop, I had problems starting the car again. Two days in a row!

Just like others said, the car sounded normal when you first tried to start it, but then it just cranked, and wouldn't start. I had to turn off the key and turn it back on, and repeat the step several times, and crank the car several times, and every time when I was panicked, the car would start.
In the latest occurrence, I noticed my car actually first got started, and then in a second, it went dead, and then it was the 'fully routine' of turning the key on and off, on and off, hoping the car would start.

I am getting frustrated, and at first my husband wouldn't believe what I said about the car. He thought I didn't start the car right. After I found this link, he started to believe me, and we thought it might be caused by a dirty fuel filter, since we have never had it cleaned or replaced.

I am very disappointed by Honda's service. If so many Honda cars (especially Accords) are having similar problems, the dealer's service department should have known better than just saying that 'we couldn't reproduce the problem'.

I wonder whether all of us here should write a petition together to send to Honda's headquarter, so that they could take the problem seriously, so that they could train their technicians better and fix the cars for us. The biggest fear I have now is that my car might stop dead right in the middle of the road!

Just didn't expect a car from Honda with problems like this. Very disappointed!

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I will back you up with that petition!!

I will back you up with that petition maybe they will fix our cars for free. Lol that would be the day

I have a 92 accord with same problem, I usually had the problem when it was warm outside, but early morning and late at night when it was cool, it would start, (really weird) but come to find out after spending a lot of money it was the fuel pump relay switch.

Same inconsistent problem here, too. Wouldn't start sometimes - did fine others.
Sometimes it would stall - but most of the time it didn't. Very frustrating.

I have to give credit to our local Honda Dealer. They would fix one thing - we'd drive it for a couple of weeks and the problem would show up again. We'd take it back to the dealer, and they'd work on it again NO CHARGE.
We ended up needing to leave it with them for about a week, so that they could try to "create the problem". They ended up replacing the computer. Apparently it was sending out incorrect information and causing our problems.

At long last our Accord is humming again!

This problem is most likely caused by the safety interlock mechinism. I had the same problem where my car would start and then stall and flash a green key on the dash panel. This is a recall and honda has issued a service bulliten for it. What happens is your key is computerized and when you put the key in the ignition the ignition reads the key to make sure it is valid for the car otherwise the car won't start. (anti theft device). If the key is not valid it will shut the car off after about 15 seconds of running. And if you put the key in the ignition if it is unable to read the key it will just turn over and over and over without starting. call your honda dealer and ask them if your car is included in the recall. Most 98 accords are.