"||" <sl@npspam.com> wrote in message
news:xrOxd.28627$Yh2.13043179@twister.nyc.rr.com.. .
>I have a 1987 Honda Accord, manual transmission and a carburetor engine.
> Yesterday I drove off from my home and in less than 50 feet the car
> started
> to jerk, jerk and jerk. Then it came to a stop. The engine turns over
> but
> it does not start. What do you think might be the problem? What should I
> check?
>
>
>
> Lex
>
>
First question: has the timing belt been changed in the last 100K miles or
so? I suffered a timing belt failure on the road in Mercury Capri once, and
that is a good description of the symptoms: a couple surges and I coasted to
the side.

Otherwise, I'd suspect ignition. Fuel problems tend to be a "softer" death
than ignition, which feels like turning a switch off (or on and off). But if
the timing belt isn't a suspect because it has been changed, a spray of
starting fluid into the carburetor - be sure to put the air cleaner back on
to ward off a fire - will tell you if the problem is fuel or ignition. If
the engine runs on the starting fluid, I'd look at the fuel pump (does the
'87 have the notorious main relay, which would be a strong suspect?). If
not, look at the spark.

Mike