I recently couldn't start my 2000 Accord 4 cyl and it was my spare key that was the problem! I swore that I used it once before but now I think it was just to open the door to get to the real key inside. Being a mech. Engineer I started going about it the complicated way but never opened the owner's manual! Doh! Couldn't even get advice at honda-tech.com. Thank you for the help guys. Saved me a lot more head aches.

I just started having a problem like this yesterday. I have a 1993 honda accord. Yesterday I went out and started it up, and like usual it started up just fine. Then I drove about 70 miles, and stopped to get gas. I turned the car off, went inside to pay, pumped the gas, got in, and when I tried to start it, nothing. It wouldn't even make a noise. You put the key in, and go to crank it over, and at the point where the car usually starts up, now it just makes a very small, light clicking noise and all the dashboard lights and radio shut off. As soon as you release the key, the lights slowly fade back on and the radio comes back on. So today we replaced the battery, and it started up fine. Then I came out 5 hours later to see if it would start, and that same problem happened again. I don't understand what the problem is, can anyone help me out here?

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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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We have had the same problem with our 1999 Honda sedan 4 cyl. No one could diagnose it because they couldn't reproduce the problem, as the car always started for them. The not starting problem always seemed to happen when the car sat out in the hot sun, not in the garage. We took it to a Honda dealer today, and fortunately the car would not start once there. They said the immobilizer light was blinking and after talking to Honda tech support, they felt it was related to the car alarm wire connected to the immobilizer. The next time it did not start they clipped the alarm wire to the immobilizer and the car started right up. They feel confident this is the cause of our problems. I hope this information is of some help to you.

Had the same problem with our 1999 Honda intermittently not starting. This seemed to usually happen when it sat out in the hot sun, not in the cool garage. Today our Honda dealer noted that whenthe car would not start the immobilizer light was blinking. He disconnected our alarm system wire from the immobilizer and the car started right up. He feels confident this cured our problem. We are hopeful it did also.

I enjoy driving my Accord, but preferr the reliability of my Lexus IS300
I've recently found this informative site that may help Honda owners

http://techauto.tripod.com

(Details Info on Main Relay and Other Intermittent Starting Problems and Solutions)

I am currently having the same problem with my 00 accord. I don't think it's the key problem, because I have 3 keys, which I have tried them all and the car still doesn't work. I don't hear the fuel pump working in the back so maybe that's the problem? I'm about to take my car to the dealership tomorrow to see what's wrong. I hope its not going to be so expensive! Plus its not the thing when its hot outside, because its fairly cool today, and my car has been sitting in this cool weather for a while and it still doesn't want to start. Why oh why are we having this problem??

I also forgot to mention that when I try to start all I get is a click, which sounds like its coming from the "distributor."

Check the battery, try jump start using jumper cables with another car.
It could be (a) your battery, (b) the battery cables, (c) the starter itself, (d) less likely to be the ignition switch.

If your battery is weak or 4+ year old, try replacing it first.

thank you, but I've already tried jumping it, which yielded unsuccessful. I just called aaa and they are about to help me tow it to the dealership. =(

Okay, so I took it to the dealership, and it turned out to be the starter. My starter went dead. Hope this helps anyone

Everyone that is having this issue try this. Turn the key slowly to each turn over points. I think there is three of them. On the last one when the car turns over. At the same time your are turning the key press a little on the gas. If you do this right it will start right up and you know you have an issue with the fuel pump.:)

Honda Accord 98 v6 144,000 miles

Check the main relay by doing this... before soldering if you want...
Test the main relay by removing it first... it's under the dash/left side by fuse panel.
You'll need a volt meter for this... Under 20 bucks at most stores or borrow a buddies.
Using a pair of jumper wires, connect the battery positive terminal to the #4 relay terminal, ground the #8 terminal, then check for continuity between the #5 and #7 terminals. If there's no continuity, replace or solder the relay at these terminal locations.
Continued...
Connect the battery positive erminal to the #5 relay terminal, ground the #2 terminal and then verify there's continuity between the #1 and #3 terminals. If there isn't, replace or solder the relay at these terminal locations.
Continued on more time...
Connect the battery positive terminal to the #3 relay terminal and ground the #8 terminal. Verify there's continuity between the #5 and #7 terminals. If there's no continuity, replace or solder the relay at these terminal locations.

Note: if you can't find the battery positive terminal after you unplug the main relay... find a good ground on any part of the car and touch the terminals with the positive side of the meter individually. This will let you know where the positive one is. Here is the pin location looking at the relay with the "tang" in the up position.

8 "tang" 4 2
7 5 3 1

Sounds like a lot but it should only take five minutes or so to check. In the end could save you a lot of money for a fuel pump that works... only when the main relay is working.

Hope this helps

Hi there ! Having the same odd problem. My 1999 Honda Accord Coupe 4cyl engine (CG4) randomly doesn't want to start. Nothing to do with hot or cold weather. Keys are OK. Fuel filter has been changed. Of course, the problem only occurs with me. The engine starts... few moments later, it stalls. I remove the key and put it back again and waiting 5 minutes, the car will start again most of the times. The problem seems to occur when the fuel tank is half empty. I suspected bad fuel in the beginning but since the filter change I'm doubtful. I noticed this problem once or twice happening the last two years but now it's all the time. Very frustrating. Interestingly, once the car is rolling down the road, everything is fine. Even when I need to stop at traffic lights, no issue. The car doesn't like no more to run idle with the cold engine. Even when the engine starts, it can happen that after 2 or 3 minutes it stalls and I have problems to get it running again. Could this be related to an old timing belt ? My Honda dealer is clueless. Unfortunately, this kind of car is a seldom one here in Europe and the dealership doesn't have lots of experience with it.

jpkasel, I would try replacing the Ignition Control Module (igniter) and coil inside the distributor. These are very problematic components on Hondas--especially the igniter.

Hi ! I think that replacing the Ignition Control Module makes sense. For the coil, I don't think so because it looks quit good inside. I even had the contacts cleaned. The problem with this issue is that the fuel filter was indeed pretty dirty (got replaced), I had a little animal bite a cable under the hood (got fixed) and finally my springs got hit violently when I drove too fast up a slope (maybe that made damage to the ignition control module). Well, all these things at the same time makes it difficult to trace the source of the problem. BUT many thanks for the suggestion, I'll have my mechanic check into it. Jean-Paul

Jean-Paul, here's how to replace the Ignition Control Module yourself:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-t...tml#post265896

Electron migration, accelerated by heat, normally causes these components to fail. I recommend replacement every 10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Just to make a follow-up... The problem appears to be solved by having changed the main relay behind the dashboard and also doing a Honda recommended replacement concerning a "multiplexer control unit". Don't know whether that is the ignition control module but fact is that the car now feels like having 20 horsepower more. Acceleration is pretty good now and the engine no more stalls.

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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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Go to internetauto.com and it can tell you all recalls for your car

/uploads/HondaGuygold/2007-08-21_203814_ignition_switch_recall.JPG

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Originally Posted by asingh

I have the same problems

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As do I. I did check my fuses and they are or seem to be fine. The igintion recall at the bottom of the page is a help but I really would like to sort out this windows/lock problem as well.

Any help would be great!

Hi Folks...
I fought with this problem myself... took me a year to figure out... but I had the exact problem that you did; here is how you fix it.
The Main Relay on the Honda Accord is called a "Fuel Injector Relay." If you go to your local part store it should run about 58 bucks. Purchase the part first... it will help you to know what you are looking for. (A gray little box with a plug at the end.)
This is how you fix it.
1. Get in the drivers seat.
2. Keep door open and look on the left side of the dashboard. You will notice a removable panel labeled fuses. NOTE: You can only see it with the door open.
3. Remove the panel by pulling out.
4. Two (2) screws hold a bottom panel under the steering wheel. Remove the screws (Black and Brass) and remove the panel by pulling outward and down.
5. Look through the cluster of wires and you will see the FIR (Fuel Injector Relay)
6. Use a 10 mm rachet to remove the bracket holding a plastic pin and the FIR.
7. Use a small flat head screw driver to remove the FIR
8. Unplug the old... plug in the new.
9. Reverse these steps to reassemble your panel under your dash.

A honda dealership tried to get 3000 bucks out of me to find and fix this problem. After much research I found the answer for under 60 bucks.

Good luck... this should fix your issues!
Be well.
Let me know if this works for you! The best advice is cheap if not free!
MySpace.com - Tim ONeil - Detroit, Michigan - Ambient / Classical / Acoustic - www.myspace.com/composertimoneil

Sincerely,
Tim O'Neil