1990 Honda Accord EX "S" light blinking and car won't start...

[djreggie]

Pleaseee Helpppp!

I own a 1990 Honda Accord EX and I'm having a problem with the "S" light on the dash. When I sometimes try to turn the car on, it tries to start but won't and the "S" light on the dash blinks on and off like crazy. I pull down the rug on the passenger side floor to get a look at the ECU to see if the LED is showing any trouble codes and I see that the LED is blinking 1...2...7...8 over and over again. What I do to be able to turn the car on is that I wait like 30 minutes, putting the ignition switch in the on position every 2 minutes or so to see if the "S" light stops blinking, until it miraculously it stops blinking and the car starts up fine. I just don't get it!!! After this happens, I could go a month or two without it happening again and suddenly, out of the blue, when I turn the car off for a moment at the gas station or something and try to turn it back on, WHAM!!!, the damn "S" starts blinking and the car won't start for another half-an-hour! I'd have to push the car out of the way and wait 'til it stops and and the car turns on just fine!!! It's driving me wacko!! .

DOES SOMEBODY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE, WHAT THIS MEANS AND IF I SHOULD CHECK THE ECU TO SEE IF THE TROUBLE CODES TELL WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?? I know that the blinking lights mean numbers, but HOW DO I DECIPHER THE TROUBLE CODE (1...2...7...8)??? WHAT SHOULD I DO??

PS: The check engine light doesn't turn on indicating a problem, only the blinking "S" light. I have the ECU trouble codes list that I found on the web and the Gaynes Honda Accord manual which I bough at Pep Boys. The thing is I don't know how to decipher the trouble codes.

Thanks in advanced!!!

[gitter44]

It's your transmission computer. I had the same problem and just replaced mine. The trans computer is right next to the ecu on the passenger side floor board. I got mine from these guys
http://www.d-a-p.com/shop/scripts/pr...dCategory=5809. you may be able to find them cheaper on ebay but this guy atleast gives you a warranty.
Good luck.

[djreggie]

THANK YOUU!!
Thank you so much gitter44 for taking the time to answer my question. You information has com of great help to me. Now I won't go nuts!! If there's anything you need, don't hesitate in contacting me for help. You've just won yourself a new friend . Thanks


---DJ Reggie---

[Salmon]

hey, im having the same problem. i have a 90 honda accord dx.. only my check engine light does come on eventually after the 's' light flashes for a while.. is it still the transmission computer? and if u dont get it replaced what happens?

[ktnguyen71]

Hi guys,
This is my first time here . I have no back ground on fixing car but I would like to learn, so I hope this is a good start.

I have a honda accord 92 LX, a manual car. My car has the similar problem to the car you have here. The problem is when the car is hot, I mean the car is under the sun for the whole day. Then I would not be able to start up my car. when I turn the key, the car cranks but it won't turn over. I just leave it there until late afternoon when the temperature cools down then the car works. It gives me a lot of frustration sometimes.

Your help is appreciated.

Thanks,
ktnguyen71

[gitter44]

Originally Posted by ktnguyen71

Hi guys,
This is my first time here . I have no back ground on fixing car but I would like to learn, so I hope this is a good start.

I have a honda accord 92 LX, a manual car. My car has the similar problem to the car you have here. The problem is when the car is hot, I mean the car is under the sun for the whole day. Then I would not be able to start up my car. when I turn the key, the car cranks but it won't turn over. I just leave it there until late afternoon when the temperature cools down then the car works. It gives me a lot of frustration sometimes.

Your help is appreciated.

Thanks,
ktnguyen71

IT's sounds like your main relay has gone bad... Very common problem.

[hondagofigure]

djreggie or anyone, Have you replaced the tcu computer? If so, has the starting problem stoped?
I have a 1991 accord ex that is acting very similar, although i'm getting the trouble codes 1,2,7,8 from the blinking s light when I jump the service connector under the dash on the passenger side, no check engine light ecu codes. I've talked to a very experienced honda machanic
and a supplier of tcu computer's. They both caution against replacing the tcu until the real problem has been identified. The hard part in my case is that it doesn't happen at home (yet), so I haven't been able to see if i'm not getting fuel or spark. This would at least give me a starting point.The guys say the tcu will not cause a starting problem,but may be storing the codes throught the ecu. Sounds weird because the tcu only controls the transmission. I don't want to spend $195.00 dollars remanufactured w/2 year warranty, $550.00 new, just to start all over.
Anyone else have a similar problem?

[hondagofigure]

Originally Posted by hondagofigure

djreggie or anyone, Have you replaced the tcu computer? If so, has the starting problem stoped?
I have a 1991 accord ex that is acting very similar, although i'm getting the trouble codes 1,2,7,8 from the blinking s light when I jump the service connector under the dash on the passenger side, no check engine light ecu codes. I've talked to a very experienced honda machanic
and a supplier of tcu computer's. They both caution against replacing the tcu until the real problem has been identified. The hard part in my case is that it doesn't happen at home (yet), so I haven't been able to see if i'm not getting fuel or spark. This would at least give me a starting point.The guys say the tcu will not cause a starting problem,but may be storing the codes throught the ecu. Sounds weird because the tcu only controls the transmission. I don't want to spend $195.00 dollars remanufactured w/2 year warranty, $550.00 new, just to start all over.
Anyone else have a similar problem?

I gave up on finding the problem and took it to a machanic, turns out it was the main fuel relay.Replaced it 2 weeks ago no stored codes in ecu or tcu. Relay cost 55.00 labor 65.00 hopes this saves someone labor cost. Hondagofigure

[sanjayd]

Hi guys,

I have the same problem with my 91 Accord .... i.e. The 'S' Light starts blinking and after 7-8 kms driving and after a few more kms there is a drag in the speed and then the Engine Light comes up and after that the car runs without any drag but the Engine light remains.

When I checked the error code, it pointed to Speed Sensor. Also the speedometer mostly does not work. I am in the process of getting one and hope that it will solve the problem.

I checked various sites on this issue and all pointed to malfunctioning Speed Sensor..... there was no mention of TCU problem.

Any input is welcome.

Thanks,
Sanjay

[Igovert500]

Yeah, that sounds like your VSS, vehicle speed sensor...there is a 'search' function up on the top right of your screen. If you do a search for the speed sensor you will find plenty of results, as this is a common problem.

Welcome to AF, also, I know this is your first post, and you probably stumbled across this thread using Yahoo or something, but next time, please start a new thread if you have a problem. This thread is 2 months old.

[winlo408]

sanjayd... i had the same problem with my 91 accord and it was my vss. my speedometer dont work either so i bought one on ebay and that still doesnt work so i just gave up. unless anyone have any advice for me?

[AccordCodger]

winlo408 - same advice to you as Igor's to sanjayd - start a new thread.

[h8dtech]

Originally Posted by ktnguyen71

Hi guys,
This is my first time here . I have no back ground on fixing car but I would like to learn, so I hope this is a good start.

I have a honda accord 92 LX, a manual car. My car has the similar problem to the car you have here. The problem is when the car is hot, I mean the car is under the sun for the whole day. Then I would not be able to start up my car. when I turn the key, the car cranks but it won't turn over. I just leave it there until late afternoon when the temperature cools down then the car works. It gives me a lot of frustration sometimes.

Your help is appreciated.

Thanks,
ktnguyen71

hey i got a boy who got the same problem that when the car is hot it wont start and it is said that tose hondas 90-93 have a relay underneath of the dash on the drivers side that when it gets hot i want start the sodder kind of gets weak i guess if u get a windshield cover and block the wind shled on a hot day try to start it . thats what mt boy did and his started thay say u have to remove the dash to get to the relay cause its under the vin number around that area if this is of help let me know i mess with hondas and thats the bad with these hondas that and the shifting problem most likely its the solenoids on the trans or the tcm good luck guys

[somick]

Originally Posted by h8dtech

hey i got a boy who got the same problem that when the car is hot it wont start and it is said that tose hondas 90-93 have a relay underneath of the dash on the drivers side that when it gets hot i want start the sodder kind of gets weak i guess if u get a windshield cover and block the wind shled on a hot day try to start it . thats what mt boy did and his started thay say u have to remove the dash to get to the relay cause its under the vin number around that area if this is of help let me know i mess with hondas and thats the bad with these hondas that and the shifting problem most likely its the solenoids on the trans or the tcm good luck guys

Do you realize that this thread is 5 years old?