94 EXA Won't Start, Brake Stuck

[funkify]

Please help!

My 94 Accord EX Automatic won't start... The brake pedal is stuck, and of course if you don't step on the brake, the car won't start. The starter, alternator, engine, battery, and all appear to be fine -- all the electrical stuff turns on, and if it was an engine problem I'm thinking that there would have been other signs before now. To the contrary, the car has been functioning very smoothly up until this morning. As of last night the car was fine. This morning when my wife went to drive it, it just wouldn't start.

I had my brake master cylinder replaced a couple of years ago and I was thinking maybe that had something to do with this problem, but there haven't been any previous symptoms indicating as such, and I have been under the impression that master cylinder problems show up as allowing the brake pedal to go all the way to the floor instead of not being able to press down the brake pedal at all.

What could the problem be? PLEASE, I hope someone out there can help. I don't trust any mechanics in my area. If someone out there can help me, I will be sending out a token of gratitude (paypal, amazon.com gift certificate, etc.).

[AccordCodger]

That's a new one to me. You mean the brake pedal is now rock-hard, and doesn't move at all when you tread on it?

[funkify]

Thanks for your reply, codger.

I may have overreacted, as you can imagine one might do when his otherwise dependable car suddenly won't start.

Upon further review, the brake actually seems fine. It was stiffer than normal when I tried it this morning, but your "rock hard" question made me go out and try it again. This time I used the manual gearshift key release to put the car in neutral and used the brake to stop it... so the brakes are fine.



Maybe this will be easy to figure out after all for you car types... here's an updated description of the problem:

When I turn the key, the engine fan, air conditioning, stereo, and all indicator lights come on, but the engine doesn't start. Is this the starter? Alternator? Spark plug?

BTW, I am serious about the paypal/amazon thing. :-)

[AccordCodger]

Does the motor turn over (or even "klunk")? If not, do the dash lights dim when you turn the key to "start" (if yes, bad battery or loose/dirty battery terminals). If there is no reaction at all when you turn all the way to start, I'd tend to suspect the starter relay, but it could be the switch or the starter itself.
If it cranks but doesn't start, it's either a fuel or a spark problem, and there's a whole long list of trouble shooting steps for those.

(Plugs are the least likely culprit because (a) they dont generally give out suddenly and (b) they wouldn't all go out at once).

(No sweat, by the way. We help when we can. But, speaking for myself, forget about the reward - it's not necessary. Next time it could easily be ME asking YOu for help!)

[funkify]

Thanks for your help, Codger.

I ruled out the battery and the starter fuse. I found some literature that backs up what you said, that it's probably the starter relay, starter switch, or the starter.

Is this something that a mechanically inclined novice could fix with a Haynes manual and tools? If not, how much would you guess a professional would charge me to fix it?

[AccordCodger]

The relay is easy. The starter is probably "medium" and the switch is probably "nasty" (due to the presence of th air bag).

That said, I have not had reason to do any of those jobs [on an Accord], so someone else will have to weigh in.

[funkify]

I bought a couple of books, and the best I can determine is that the starter is probably not the problem, or else I would at least be hearing the click of the solenoid switch (I don't hear anything at all so apparently the current is not even getting to the starter).

I was ready to check out the wiring/relay like you said, but the Chilton manual (only one in Borders) does not have any diagrams. Does Haynes or other manuals have helpful diagrams of where to find this stuff? Or am I magically supposed to know what is what? ;-)

BTW, thanks again for your help with this Codger.

[AccordCodger]

I have a fat (2") Chilton and that has wiring diagrams ('though right now it's 38 miles away, at my house), so I guess there are "Chiltons and Chiltons"

I'm not sure you'll need the wiring diagram for this particular problem. Having located the solenoid (and I'm sorry, I don't know where it is), with someone's help to turn the key, check the voltage there (both sides of the solenoid). That should give you all the info you need to pinpoint the problem.