On 6 Oct 2003 04:48:10 -0700, garyhgaryh@yahoo.com (Gary H) wrote:

>I write:
>|around town, however, the car will start when jumpe started. Car is towed home
>
>OPPS. This should say the car will **NOT** start when jumped started.
>
>
>
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>|The details (long):
>|In the last few weeks, the car has died on multiple occasions around town
>|and on a long road trip. The car would just lose power. Pull off the road and
>|am not able to start it. In all cases it was a drained battery. Charge
>|it up or jump start it and we're good to go. Same thing happens recently
>|around town, however, the car will start when jumpe started. Car is towed home
>|and we charge battery fully. The car cranks vigoriously, but will not start!
>|This is now the second alternator so I no longer think this is the cause (at
>|least not directly). As mentioned above, I've eliminated a few possibilities
>|and figure it might be (in order of likelyhood) - ECU (computer), main relay,
>|or injectors.

Before suspecting the ECU you should check sensors like the TW sensor and
MAP sensor - a simple check of resistance can tell if they're way off.
The main relay is easy to check - listen for the fuel pump running for
2secs when you turn on the ignition. There has to be a reason for the
battery discharging so often and could also be the final cause of your
non-start - check for shorts with the car turned off and then with the
ignition on... and of course check grounding and wire harnesses.

IIRC if you crank for 30secs you should get a check engine code. Was that
a Honda OEM alternator? There have been reports of aftermarket rebuilds
failing fairly quickly.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??