'91 Accord LX start problem

[renchhednot]

Hi all- I have a '91 Accord LX that will not start after sitting overnight. I turn it over once and nothing. A second time it will pop and die. It takes me sometimes 10 times to get it going and stay running. Once started and warmed up it runs like a champ. If I drive it a while and turn it off it starts right up again. It only happens overnight or after sitting a long time. I was told it could be the fuel regulator, that the seal or o-ring isn't keeping the fuel from going back to the tank. Can anybody help or have a suggestion?

[mpumas]

Don't jump to conculsions on fuel being the problem. You need to test first. Check for spark in those times when it won't start. It could be the coil or the igniter.

[renchhednot]

The coil was replaced two months ago. I don't know about the igniter. Where would that be?

[mpumas]

Igniter is inside the distributor. Why did you replace the coil? When you have starting problems. do you have spark?

[renchhednot]

The coil was replaced by a friend who I bought the car from. He told me it wouldn't run so he replaced it. Initially when I start it cold it has no spark the first time its turned over, then I wait a couple of secs and try it again. Then it has a small pop. It does this sometimes 10 or more times before it pops and stays running. When the car is warm it starts with no problem.

[mpumas]

OK, so when he replaced the coil, the car would now start where before it wouldn't so that is progress. But you say it sometimes exhibits the same problem but eventually starts. So I would look next to the igniter which is a switch that pulses the coil. It is inside the distributor. Some say that it should be replaced when the coil is replaced.

[renchhednot]

Thanks mpumas for the responses. Ok, I will look to the igniter first and see if thats the problem. If not, I will post again and hope you see it and respond again.

[renchhednot]

mpumas- Now my buddy says he thinks it is the fuel pump. He says they can act up for six or more months before they go out. Now I dont know what to replace. Should I get it to a mechanic for a diagnostic?

[mpumas]

Fuel pumps can be tested. All it takes it to measure pressure on the fuel line. You can look at it this way--fuel pumps wear out and depending on how many miles on it you can say by replacing it now you are fixing a present problem or a future problem. They can be expensive though. I've got over 260K on mine and it is still running great. As said before, you can start replacing stuff you think may be the problem and will eventually fix the problem if you have enough money or you can do tests pipoint then replace the thing that is causing the problem.