Something I heard from my mechanic is that he's seen fuel pumps on older
cars going recently, and he thinks it's due to too much ethanol in the gas.
He tested the gas in some of the cars with bad pumps and found 19% ethanol
which he says is too much for our cars to handle. Apparently un-ethanol'd
gas puts a lubricating varnish on the fuel pump, over time, and too much
ethanol eats that away, screwing up the pump.

Don't know how true that all may be, but he thinks the "cheaper"
(non-branded?) gas may have that problem which may also result in poorer
performance. I thought ethanol was a pretty expensive additive, but these
days it may be cheaper than the petrol.

Anyway, FWIW.


"jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in message
news:qu6dnftmSYDMkevVnZ2dnUVZ_rPinZ2d@speakeasy.ne t...
> Jim Yanik wrote:
>> motsco_ <motsco_@interbaun.com> wrote in
>> news:HP6dnVzCvLKRB-jVnZ2dnUVZ_tTinZ2d@posted.uniservecommunications:
>>> Steve wrote:
>>>> 98 Accord coupe EX V6 120,000 miles auto.
>>>> Went out to lunch yesterday and the car would not start.
>>>> Turned over strong but not firing..
>>>> Called AAA, he banged on the gas tank and it started. ran for a few
>>>> minutes and I shut it off. it would not start again.
>>>> Towed to garage .
>>>> The next day the car started everytime they tried it.
>>>> They told me about $500 for a fuel pump installed.
>>>> I'm going to wait and see what happens.
>>>> I picked the car up and I'll make sure I have my cellphone at all
>>>> times.
>>>> Any Ideas what might cause this?
>>>> It was HOT, in the 90s, The car had sit for 11 days and was 1st day
>>>> back to work after vacation.
>>> ==========================
>>> When the main relay starts to fail, it prevents the fuel pump from
>>> priming the engine when you turn the key to position II. Turn off you
>>> radio and LISTEN when you get in your car. Listen to the fuel pump run
>>> for two seconds. If you don't hear it, your car isn't going to start
>>> unless you smack the dash with your left fist (and the relay runs)
>>> then it will start. This problem usually happens when the car gets HOT
>>> inside. That's why it will start OK after you cool the car down, or
>>> put it in a shady place at the dealership.
>>>
>>> Google 'honda main relay' and find a geek who can remove / resolder
>>> yours.
>>> 'Curly'
>>>
>>
>> you'd think that garages would know about the Honda/Acura main relay by
>> now.....
>>
>
> c'mon dude, why sell a $50 repair when you can sell a $500 repair instead?
>