Honda Accord won't start in the cold

Hey all, I've got a '93 Accord that won't start consistently. I find that in the mornings when it's colder it will only crank but not ignite. I have to wait until about noon if I want to drive it. I've taken it in to my local Honda repair shop; they kept it for two weeks and couldn't fix it.
Then I started looking around on the internet for possible solutions. I resoldered my main relay connections and tested them, so I know that's not the problem.
I tried to make the main computer throw a code, but the "Check Engine" light didn't blink at all when I performed this test. So I went ahead and started manually checking all the engine sensors. Right now I'm looking at the prospect of replacing the Intake Air Temperature sensor since the resistance was a little low. Do you think this will help me at all? Or do you have any other suggestions as to what my problem is?

Hey all, I've got a '93 Accord that won't start consistently. I find that in the mornings when it's colder it will only crank but not ignite. I have to wait until about noon if I want to drive it. I've taken it in to my local Honda repair shop; they kept it for two weeks and couldn't fix it.
Then I started looking around on the internet for possible solutions. I resoldered my main relay connections and tested them, so I know that's not the problem.
I tried to make the main computer throw a code, but the "Check Engine" light didn't blink at all when I performed this test. So I went ahead and started manually checking all the engine sensors. Right now I'm looking at the prospect of replacing the Intake Air Temperature sensor since the resistance was a little low. Do you think this will help me at all? Or do you have any other suggestions as to what my problem is?

The IAT is a possibility, but I've not seen one cause it to not start, but maybe run poorly. It would be good to know what it's lacking when it won't start (spark, fuel, niether, both)

I know I'm gonna catch hell from the Honda guys for suggesting this, cuz I really don't know your engine well, but some Toyotas have a cold start injector in the intake manifold that fattens up the mixture on cold start, and sometimes causes a problem like this if it goes bad. (usually the injector is OK, but the timing circuit for it can have problems)

I would start with changing the spark plugs. Also when it is cold, what is your voltage at the distributor when cranking the engine?

I've got the exact same symptoms. Gets a little cold, it'll chug-a-lug and then maybe finally start. Once it starts it runs just fine. Gets colder and won't even chug-a-lug. ECU (check engine) light is on steady and gives no code. The day warms up and it'll start. Went to replace spark plugs and found existing plugs were in great shape and gapped well. Ignition wires, distributor cap, & spark plugs, had been replaced a month before. I listen for the hum of the fuel-pump before turning the key all the way. Hums. Help

totu, what vehicle do you drive?

If your check engine light is on the ECU has to have some codes stored. How did you check for them?

Have you checked your fuel filter?

Sam

Hi somick,

It's a 93 accord. I used the shade-tree technique for accessing the ecu codes, paperclip into a connector plug under the dash next to the front passenger's right knee. It'll (check engine) blink codes if they're set. Some codes had been set. It had been blinking that everything on the car had failed. I disconnected the battery to get a fresh set of codes. Now no codes. Nope, havent checked the fuel filter.

I guess if you are able to start it again you will get all the codes back.
Try to read them one by one. Post it here. I am sure somebody will be able to help you with that.
Sometimes the combination of codes will give you the real picture.

Good luck!

Sam

Did you look at fast idle valve?

Sam, I too thought that codes would reappear after driving it around. Nope.
I drove it 30 miles to the airport last week before leaving town, hoping for warm weather when I returned. Cold front hit. So I'm now in a rental car and the car is at the airport. I went out there last night and determined that it has spark. It's got to be fuel related.

Misha, no I haven't. I'll have to do so.

Solved. It was a bad coil and bad igniter. I had given up and took it to a shop. They found the coil resistance to be out of specs so they replaced it. Better but not good enough. They also replaced the igniter. Sucess! Then they put back in the old coil. Failed. So new coil & new igniter.

They said my fuel pressure was good so nothing was done for the fuel pump or fuel filter. Also said my distributor, cap, & rotor was ok.

Funny thing is I did a klutzy evaluation for spark and was getting electricity thru the one sparkplug connector I tested. I thought it was fuel cause the plugs didn't appear to be getting wet so I poured just a little gas directly into a couple cylinders and put the plugs back in. Nothing. I also listened for the double-click of the main relay, it double clicked. No ecu codes were being flashed on the check-engine lamp. Good luck on yours.