ok my car died on the freeway today while going to work so i had to get it towed home. i crank it but all i hear is the starter going and thats it. what is wrong my my accord? its a 1986 honda accord lxi. any input and suggestions at all would help.
thanks in advance.

There are so many things that could cause your problem. Need to check electrical, mechanical and fuel to try to pinpoint to an area. . How many miles on the car? When was timing belt changed last? Take oil cap off, look into rocker arm area and see if cam is turning while someone turns engine over with the starter. When you turn key on, do you hear fuel pump run for a couple of seconds. Check fuel pump pressure by hooking a pressure guage to outlet of fuel filter. Do you get spark from plugs when engine turns over ? Just a few places I would check first.

Check you camshaft. I have an 87 lxi and its camshaft broke monday. same thing was going on. drove it down the road and it shut off. went to start it again but it sounded like just the starter was turning. took the valve cover off and found the cam gear hanging loose. It is running now but if you are not very mechanically inclined let a mechanic do the work. I can almost guarantee the timing is way off.

ok i did the oil cap thing and no the valves arnt moving, so basically the bad news either the timing belts gone or the camshaft correct?
damn, this sucks both seems like alot of work. can anyone direct me to any sites or something on how to change the timing belt and or the camshaft.

thanks


winston

Get a CHiltons manual....however take off the valve cover see if it is the belt or a broken cam....then you know what you need to do next...buy a belt or a new cam...

i just got back from taking off the valve cover too check was it the belt or the camshaft but it seems like neither. i had someone crank the engine and the only things i see move is the alternator belt, powersteering belt(serpentine belt). i also took off the timing belt cover thinking that if the timing belt snapped the belt should come right out, but it was real tight in its spot, wouldnt even budge.
any other suggestions?

thanks

winston

When you did the engine turnover test you say the only thing that moved was the outside belt. Does the Cam and valves move when the engine is turned over?

no it does not

You have a timing belt/drive problem. When the engine turns over, the belt has to move and the valves move and the cam has to turn. The belt may feel tight but still be bad, i.e. the teeth could be stripped on the crank end. The big problem on Hondas is that the valve clearances in the head is so tight, that if a valve is not completely closed when the piston comes up to the top it will hit the valve and bend it. So the good news is that the belt is damaged and no valves are bent and a new belt will fix the problem. The bad news is the belt is damaged, some valves are bent and you now need a valve job in additon to new timing belts. Sorry to be the bearer of a $1400. repair job.

so basically i should just junk the car? beause if the valve's are bent i have no money to fix it. way to much for a really old car because 2 months agot i just changed the alternator, battery and drive axle. this car is just to much problem.

well im just gonna change the timing belt since i already bought one. could anyone give me any tips in how to change it? (tips)

thanks

winston

for the people that have done the timing belt on an 86 accord. is this gonna be a pain in the ass job? or simple for a guy thats not that familiar?

It is not easy. It also takes a long bar and/or a impact wrench to get the crank balancer nut off. You will also need a floor jack to hold the engine when you remove the left side engine mount.

has anyone ever experience the bel breaking while driving? if so were your valves bent. or if you just know my valves are bent let me know. i was going sixty and the car just stopped accelerating but i didnt hear any piston hitting valves. thanks in advance.

god im really frustrated, i looked in the manual and changing the timing belt is not really a simple job, many tools needed which i dont have. so if the cams dont move and the cam gear is not spinning that has to be the timing belt correct? could it be anything else more simple?

god im really frustrated, i looked in the manual and changing the timing belt is not really a simple job, many tools needed which i dont have. so if the cams dont move and the cam gear is not spinning that has to be the timing belt correct? could it be anything else more simple?
Does the engine turn over (take a small flashlight and poke it down the oil filler cap)? Where are you located? I could help you do the belt since the weather has lately been nice.