Honda Accord 4cyl - starting problem when hot

[rajateli]

Hi Sam,

Last time when I was finally able to reproduce the problem at my mechanic's garage (after some 100 attempts to start and restart the car and the mechanic spending over 2 hrs on it with his computer and everything), there was no spark. From the spark test, it was clear that the spark was going up to the distributor but not coming to the plugs, so we changed the distributor. There is a weak possibility that the new distributor is also not functioning properly.
The problem is that there is only one way of testing this and it is when the problem occurs. When the car dies on the road, I have no way to perform the tests as I am alone and no one to crank the engine for me.

I understand that you guys are trying your best to help me but due to the nature of the problem it is becoming impossible to get to the root cause. Other mechanics just stupidly tell me to come when the problem occurs. They don't even get the simple point that I cannot come when the car is not running and when I come the problem is obviously gone.
I am frustrated with this now that I want to sell off the car ... but again my conscience would not let me do that as it is too risky for anyone to drive. I can drive because I know how to handle the car if problem occurs.

[somick]

I also drive 99 Accord and it happened to die on me two times. It happened in motion and we (my wire and I) were very lucky that there were no accidents and we were able to safely restart a car without any problems.
That was the reason I sent you a link for replacing contacts in the ignition switch.

If you look at the electrical diagram (I do not have one handy), there are few more points that may cause the problem. One of them is main relay. I would test it like it was mentioned in post # 6.

I would also use testing techniques mentioned in the post #5.

I of course appreciate your thoughts about not selling your car. I would not want to stick anybody the way I would not want to be stock myself.

I wish you luck. I wish to hear from you the good news that the problem was pinpointed.

Sam

P.S. And new distributor may be at fault as well.
P.P.S. Since we have exhausted our knowledge, try to post your question at http://groups.google.com/group/rec.a...a/topics?hl=en
These guys are experts…

[rajateli]

Hi, updates for you.
I ordered a new distributor ($300) and also a new relay ($60) - both new and original parts from HONDA dealer.
I got them today so I took the parts to the local mechanic and when the guy came out to check the car and parts, the car failed to start. Now this workshop/garage is hardly half a mile from my home and since I was not using the car from past few days and the tempreture in MA has already dropped to 50, I am sure the car was NOT HOT.
It was perfect timing for the car to stall, the mechanic quickly changed the relay and the car started immediately, just to make sure he put back the old relay again and the car failed to start. Again put in the new one the car started right back up.
So fortunately, the distributor was not put in....I am going to return the same and get back my $300.
So it was the main relay after all.
Conclusion: Main relay can cause not only hot starting problem but also stalling of car while running in cold conditions.
Thanks you all for your quick replies and all the information you provided.
I will again seek your help in case the problem reoccurs.

[somick]

Glad you finaly found your problem!

Sadly enough this is again a MAIN RELAY!

Sam

[rajateli]

Can you please tell me that when the main relay fails, does it stop the spark too? Strangely when the main relay was failing (please see my posting above), there was no spark. My understanding was that main relay controls fuel pump, so how come there was no spark when main relay failed?

[somick]

Originally Posted by rajateli

Can you please tell me that when the main relay fails, does it stop the spark too? Strangely when the main relay was failing (please see my posting above), there was no spark. My understanding was that main relay controls fuel pump, so how come there was no spark when main relay failed?

That is a good point. We need to look at electrical diagram.

Could it still be your aftermarket distributor?

I am in a process of putting one in my son's 95. I am still in doubts whether to buy an aftermarket one or a new one from Honda.

Sam

[rajateli]

I doubt if it was the distributor as the car started immediately back up when we replaced the faulty relay with the new one and when we again put back the faulty relay, the car failed to start. And once again putting the new relay made the car start. All of this heppened within an interval of 3-5 mins.

Everytime the car failed to start there was no spark.
You can look at following link for more info on relays.
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/mainr...ion/index.html

Please let me know if you find anything. By the way I bought a genuine Distributor (HITACHI) from HONDA.... just in case.