car won't start when check engine light on

[matrix_136]

Alright guys i hope you can help me. I have a 1992 honda accord lx just replace the tcm in it and fixed the problem of the tranny slipping, but i have another problem which i thought would have been fixed by replacing the tcm also. At certain times when i try to start the car, the check engine light comes on and stays on and will not allow the car to start, it will try to turn over but it won`t start at all, its like the check engine light is disabling the car from starting. As i said sometimes it does it and sometimes it don`t come on and allows me to start and drive the car without no problems. I hope someone can help on it and give me some advice. Thank you

[Igovert500]

I doubt the check engine light is preventing hte car from starting...it is probably signaling that a part needed to start the car is having a problem...go to Autozone, get them to check the ECU for codes...when you get a CEL, the ECU records a certain code number which specifies what the exact problem is.
Autozone can check these codes(provided you didn't disconnect the battery and clear the ECU).
They will do it for free. When you find out what the exact problem is from them, then return here and tell us what it is, so that we can better assist you.

[1glsr]

Most likely it is the o2 sensor is bad. I would check that out first cause that probably the problem.

[Igovert500]

I've never heard of a bad o2 sensor preventing you from starting the car completely...it'll make you run bad, and waste gas, but I've never heard of it preventing startup...have you?

[1glsr]

i had a 90 accord with a bad o2 sensor. It would run great, but sometimes when i would try to start it and the only thing it would do was turn over and not start. So i had to to the car on and off and push the gas a couple of times to get it to start. I checked the o2 sensor and it was bad, but i didnt feel like spending the money for a new one since it ran great most of the time

[matrix_136]

alright i understand what you are saying igovert500 but i was wondering if anyone knew what it could be that is making the check engine light to come on and make the car not start, something is triggering the check engine light to come on and which is making it not to start. what i have to do everyday is to put the key in and turn the key to the on position (just before you try to start the car) and wait to see if it goes out after 5 seconds or not. sometimes it does go off after 5 seconds which will allow me to start the car and it will run perfect and then sometimes it will stay on and will not allow me to start, it will turn over but not start. I was wondering if anyone has had this same problem and what it could be. there is only a handful of things that is triggering that check engine light to come on and not abling me to start the car. thats why i put when check engine light stays on, the car won`t start.the wierdest thing is that i seached all of this board and haven`t heard anyone having this same problem.

To 1grsl, I`m curious was the check engine light on when you tried to start it and it wouldn`t start? because if so then i will try replacing it and see what happens.

[1glsr]

Yes, the check engine light was on when i couldnt start my car. I would definitly check that first. You could check it yourself, or just do what Igovert500 said and bring it to autozone to have them check the codes.

[AccordCodger]

there is only a handful of things that is triggering that check engine light to come on and not abling me to start the car

What makes you think that? I'd be willing to bet that there's more than a "handful."

But, what it comes down to is that pulling the ECU code is the CORRECT way to diagnose the problem, not just "another way."

Come back and tell us after you do that.