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    tcblu's Avatar
    tcblu Posts: 30, Reputation: 1
    Junior Member
     
    #1

    Feb 20, 2011, 02:01 PM
    1998 honda accord v6 won't start
    I have a 98 honda accord, 130k--> been working great till now.
    Battery is in good condition and has a good charge.
    With the engine off the headlamps off+turned on they are nice and brite.
    When when I turn the ignition on to energize everything but not to engage the starter the displays are different now, maybe? Can't remmeber and not sure?
    It shows the green indicator/tranny light for a sec that its in drive/4 then switches to the red park position, the red lights that indicate open doors show all 4 doors open.
    Below that indicator its says "brake lamp" in red also that stays on.
    The red "BRAKE" lite towards the top of the display comes on and stays on, the yellow ABS and red SRS also lite up but turn off within a few sec's.
    When you turn the key to start the engine the yellow ABS lite comes on and I hear click under the hood, then the ABS lite turns off after a few sec's..
    The check engine lite has been on for a few years, and of course the red engine and battery lites stay on when I teurn the key on.

    Ive tried shifting into difeterent gear modes and back to park but has no effect.
    Its been 2 days like this, just now as I was going in and out to gather info to type out the probs here it started up! Then I tried again and it didn't? Then it started again. Seems to be starting good but I'm afraid I'll get stranded somewhere.
    Could this be an elec-sensor prob or mechanical with the starting sys?
    tcblu's Avatar
    tcblu Posts: 30, Reputation: 1
    Junior Member
     
    #2

    Feb 20, 2011, 02:54 PM
    OK a quick update, it still doesn't want to start one out of 3-4 times but it starts if you hit the key again. Could this be the stop-neutral safety switch in the tranny acting up?
    I know there was a casting prob with the metal side cover for the switch.
    By the way...
    My girl friend rarely drives the car but drove it last a few days ago and that's when the prob started... she also has a prob with putting it in park while the car is still moving and I'm thinking this is where my prob might be.
    TxGreaseMonkey's Avatar
    TxGreaseMonkey Posts: 16,761, Reputation: 5597
    Uber Member
     
    #3

    Feb 20, 2011, 05:24 PM

    . Remove and fully charge the battery--don't delude yourself that it is good. Instead, place it on a charger, which most auto parts stores will do for free. I just helped a lady install a brand new DieHard Gold battery today. Before installing it, I placed in on a charger, because it was drawing over 5 amps. This battery was bought this afternoon. I charged it for 1.5 hours.

    . Check your charging system. I suspect the alternator is also bad:

    https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-t...ml#post1973613

    When your dashboard lights up, like a Christmas tree, suspect the alternator.
    tcblu's Avatar
    tcblu Posts: 30, Reputation: 1
    Junior Member
     
    #4

    Feb 20, 2011, 05:38 PM
    Comment on TxGreaseMonkey's post
    Thanks for the reply O oily primate :)
    That seems to be a lot of what Ive read on this prob... the battery.
    But!
    It starts now reliably 8-10 times and when it doesn't start it will start on the next try or 2.
    Is this a symptom of a low battery?
    Also I replaced the alternator at around 80K but who knows right?
    But I'm not getting a discharge lite on the battery lite on the dash.

    Also, most everything lites up on the dash as before, I just didn't notice.
    But the srs/abs lites that took 2-5 seconds to disappear now are gone nearly immediately once the engine starts.
    More info I hope that will help, tomorrow I will get the charger on the battery and get it to the auto store to test
    The alternator

    Thanks!

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