Car engine not starting up?

check for spark
most common is the coil and or distributor

It is quite common for the main relay to have intermittent failure. When the engine won't start, check the fuel pressure when turning the ignition on (pump will only operate for 2 seconds on) or try cranking the engine.

Transmission problem
1994 Honda Accord 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 180m miles
----------------------------------------------------------------
Happens only on occasion, mainly after the car has been driven a short while. Starts up okay when engine cold but after 10 or 20 minutes of driving and you turn off the engine for a few minutes the d4 light blinks and the engine turns over but won't start up. If you wait 5 to 10 minutes, the d4 light stops blinking and it starts up normally. Is there a specific problem here? All the repair shops say to bring the car in and they will do a diagnostic on it. But if the problem is not occuring, can they tell what's wrong?

Hi rhstort,

Seems you are having a problem with the main relay. Repair or replace it and your problem should be over.

Turns out it was the distributor.

Thank you for the input, it is much apreciated.

I was driving 65 on the freeway and suddenly the engine went dead so I have to maneuver it to the right side of the road. When I restart the engine in about 15 minutes, it was ok. I want want to know what causes the problem.

It will probably get more frequent. Of course it is not easy to diagnose these. What ofter is the best is to check the spark to the plug when it fails to start. That is assuming the vehicle does not start for about 15 minutes. Good chance it is the EFI module up under the dash on the driver side. But it could be another sensor. No check engine light?

Electrical problem
1994 Honda Accord 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

took to honda dealer said my pgm-fi relay was bad . replaced it still not cranking. took back to honda said fuel pump was bad . replaced it ,still not starting .. will start sometimes when has been really dry out side ,but will not start 1 day after it rains... floorboard is wet on drivers side... any answers.....

Hi Brinden,

When it could not start, you need to check what is missing, fule, ignition etc.

Here is link for you to check out.

https://www.2carpros.com/kpages/first_things.htm

You need to check if the water is causing any damage or contaminations to wire connectors and relays etc.

i put a new gas pump and relay on my honda accord 1994 and it does not want to start ...what's is the problem?

Do you hear the fuel pump come On when you turn key on? If not check fuel pump fuse and fuel pump relay if so, check the fuel pressure to rule out the fuel filter/fuel pump/pressure regulator and listen to the injector/s are they pulsing or hook up a noid light.

I do hear the fuel pump working but it still does not want to start?

The igniter could be bad.

Electrical problem
1994 Honda Accord 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive 180000 miles

Hi I have a 1994 honda accord. The car runs great except for the occasional refusal to start. The engine will turn over but no ignition. This is the exception to the rule. When this happens I wait a couple of minutes and it fires up no problem. Is this an easy fix?

Hi davidabb1, Quite often the problem is caused by an intermittently failing PGM-FI main relay. Resoldering the relay joints would solve the problem.

Engine Mechanical problem
1994 Honda Accord 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic
----------------------------------------------------------------
I had the head for my 94 accord replaced and the guy who did it put everything back together and then the car would not start.
I had another person check it and he re did the timing and said he narrowed the problem down to the distributor. He's getting power from the distributor but it's still not firing , so he said he thinks it's the distributor cap and now i'm hearing something about an igniter. I've already spent alot of money over the last 3 months trying to get this thing fixed and I don't want to spend more if it's not needed (buying more part)
can you please help

Hi magoo,

If the distributor is getting power but the coil is not providing sparks, it is either a bad coil, ICM (ignitor) or a snapped timing belt.

Test the ignition coil resistance.

when i got in it it would not start. note; i do not have a fob bought from friend who bought at action. well once in a while i would try to start and it would not start then a day later it would start, then not again. so i sprayed starting fluid down throttle body and it would start for a second, so i checked fuel pump and installed a new one as well as the relay so it still would not start. However, a week later it would start. i would hear fuel pump. after dropping tank twice thinking i installed bad fuel pump that was not problem, i unlocked drivers door and it would start then lock door with key try again and no start. so my question is, is the alarm messed up keep in mind no fob is that the problem? i am trying to make it a reliable car since low miles, but i cannot trust it to start to get it inspected. what do you suggest can i disarm security? please help!

i doubt it is the security system. A 1994 Accord likely did not have a fob. I have never seen one for one of those cars, and I have had more than a couple of them. I would think maybe there is no fuel injector pulses going on. First off check it for trouble codes by following the instructions in this guide: https://www.2carpros.com/articles/honda-car-1990-1995-obd1-code-retrieval-procedure-and-definition-table

If there are no codes, then I would suggest borrowing a "know it light" set from the local AutoZone. This is a set of small lights that you can plug into the fuel injectors to see if they are getting power pulses. No power pulses suggests maybe a failed camshaft position sensor or something along those lines.

Do that and let us know what you find.

I put a new gas pump and relay on my Honda accord 1994 and it does not start?

Are you getting fuel? Is the fuel pump running? Will it start with starting fluid?

yes i get fuel ...before it started with the starting fluid, but now with the new pump it starts but when i brake the car will go off? I also put a new relay ..

Cranks car but will not start when cold. may offer. Prime the engine through intake with carburetor cleaner and starts. has to keep rpm up until warms up or will stall. When engine idles properly, did a fuel rail pressure test. idle pressure 42 psi and 48 psi when remove vacuum line from regulator. cleaned injector valves and did a bench test. spray was good. took car to Honda and did not have an adapter to do a diagnosis. tried a temperature sensor but did not fix. figured pulse to injector needed to be longer to apply more fuel. Are there any other sensors to increase injector pulse length or increase fuel to head?

Have the main relay checked. Quite often this relay fails intermittently and when it occurs, the fuel pump is not activated.

Hello, my car will crank, but will not start. Last year I replaced the starter because It was not cranking at all. After the new starter It started fine, until a few months ago. It stopped starting and would only start if I jumped it. Then I took the battery to Autozone to be checked and they said its just fine. Then I checked the oil and noticed it was pretty low and put some more in it started back on its own for about a week. Now It will not start at all, even if I jump it. Just wondering what the issue could be?

Cars need five things to start and run. (1) Gas (2) sparks (3) air (4) compression and (5) all of those being on time. Being that you were able to jump it to start it for a while, I would bet that your fuel pump is the cause of your problems. It was just a little too weak to start, but was able to get enough of a boost when it received a little extra power. But we will check several things.

First, I would check the fuses. I would buy some starting fluid from the parts store or convenience store. Just open the hood, open up the air filter duct, spray some in there (maybe one or two seconds), and then turn the key and see if it starts for a second or 2. try it several times if it does not start the first time. If it starts, or gets close to starting, then that indicates that you have a fuel delivery problem. Basically, you are not getting enough gas, if any.

If that is the case, then I would have someone turn the key on and get under the rear of the car, by the fuel tank, and listen for a humming sound for two or three seconds after turning the key on. If you hear the sound, then the pump is getting power and running. If you hear that, then borrow a fuel pressure tester from AutoZone and run a test. Here is a descriptive how to guide: https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

Start at step 4, in your case.

If, however, you never were able to get it to start with the fluid, then you need to check for sparks. Get a spark tester This is the one that I have: https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-20610-Inline-Spark-Tester/dp/B0002STSC6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1501325755&sr=8-3&keywords=spark+tester. Similar ones are available at the local parts store. Checking sparks is fairly straightforward on your car. Simply unhook the spark plug wire from the distributor and hook up your tester. Then have someone turn the key and see if there are sparks in there. be sure to check all four cylinders.

So check all that and let us know. Of course, if you need clarification, please let us know about that as well.

Thank you for the reply. I have a mechanic here right now working on it and he says it is the fuel pump. so it is being replaced as I type.

Yeah that is not surprising given the mileage on it. Feel free to come back here if you need anything else.

My engine will not start. It turns over so the battery and starter are good.
I have spark at the spark plugs. I believe it is the fuel system.
How can I be sure? how do I check the filter and/or the fule pump?

You need to purchase a fuel pressure gauge with a honda adapter in order to properly test fuel pressure.

Do you hear the fuel pump priming when you turn the key to RUNII?

i was driving the car an it over heated on me but i made it home.i put water in it 2 make it home after that i let it cool off started it again it made it around the block an shut off can u tell me what i should do?? can it be the headgasket if so can i use a seal??

Start by making sure the engine has sufficient coolant. With the engine cool after setting for a couple of hours, remove the radiator cap and fill with coolant. Replace and fill resevoir. Now see what happens. Does it start and then shut off again?

my honda is a automatic if when I turn on the ignition the sports mode indicator light on the dash flashes the engine will not start, but if it when I turn the ignition on the light go's out it will start but you never know if its going to start or not.

The PGM-FI main relay is the most common cause of this. Remove the relay and resoldering the circuit board should solve the problem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F2OsgXmshI

Check out the link.

first i must keep pumpimg on the gas pedal in order 2 start my car well today i didnt have muck gas in my car about 2.00 worth of gas so i figured i needed more gas so i placed gas in the car and tried to start it i heard a loud pop sounded like a balloon pop and now my car wont even crank iam sure i think it may have flooded not sure wats wrong

Hi renell,

Unless your model is equipped with carburettors, otherwise pumping the accelerator does not do much.

You have caused a big misfire and now there are many things that you need to check.

Spark plugs, Distributor, fuel pressure. Isolate the cause then only we can get to solving the problem.

Hi my Honda accord is giving me a problem when I started runs until warms up and than shutdown won't start up until cool down what can be wrong?

The first thing is to read and record any diagnostic fault codes. If there are none in memory, you'll need a scanner to view live data while driving to see if a sensor signal drops out just before the stalling occurs.

The most likely suspects are the crankshaft position sensor and the camshaft position sensor. They often fail intermittently by becoming heat-sensitive, then they work again after they cool down for about an hour.

Contacts on fuel relay under dash is opening and closing. removed test plug for fuel, no fuel. Rapped on gas tank with two by four while cranking engine, it started. Replaced fuel pump, it started. A day later same problem, no fuel to engine. Have not put a gauge on fuel line yet or replaced filter. But after cranking the engine and pumping gas pedal it started. Any idea besides filter?Thank you