Honda Car Forum

I bought it new. She'll be 17 years old next month with 315,000 km!
The problem started one morning - engine cold - when she would turn over
just fine but would not start. Towed to a garage, they changed the
distributor cap and rotor, the plugs and cables, and the air filter. It ran
fine for a few days. Then, out on the highway - engine warm - it started
sputtering, choking, but it never died. Pulled over to the side, killed it,
but it started back up on the next try and ran fine for a few days. Same
thing happened yesterday but this time, it didn't restart. Tried for an
hour before giving up. It was towed for the second time in its life. At
the garage, it started on the third try, with an ignition tester between a
plug and its cable. It ran fine for the hour long drive back home.
Humidity/rain doesn't seem to be a factor.

I know she'll leave me for the great scrapyard in the sky someday, but I'm
just not ready to let go yet. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks,

André

Stop being a cheap bastard and get a new car!

--
www.unclet.netfirms.com
"André Boisvert" <aboisvert001@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:LSnKe.3799$yH2.238466@news20.bellglobal.com.. .
>I bought it new. She'll be 17 years old next month with 315,000 km!
> The problem started one morning - engine cold - when she would turn over
> just fine but would not start. Towed to a garage, they changed the
> distributor cap and rotor, the plugs and cables, and the air filter. It
> ran fine for a few days. Then, out on the highway - engine warm - it
> started sputtering, choking, but it never died. Pulled over to the side,
> killed it, but it started back up on the next try and ran fine for a few
> days. Same thing happened yesterday but this time, it didn't restart.
> Tried for an hour before giving up. It was towed for the second time in
> its life. At the garage, it started on the third try, with an ignition
> tester between a plug and its cable. It ran fine for the hour long drive
> back home. Humidity/rain doesn't seem to be a factor.
>
> I know she'll leave me for the great scrapyard in the sky someday, but I'm
> just not ready to let go yet. Any suggestions would be greatly
> appreciated. Many thanks,
>
> André
>

"André Boisvert" <aboisvert001@sympatico.ca> wrote in
news:LSnKe.3799$yH2.238466@news20.bellglobal.com:

> I bought it new. She'll be 17 years old next month with 315,000 km!
> The problem started one morning - engine cold - when she would turn
> over just fine but would not start. Towed to a garage, they changed
> the distributor cap and rotor, the plugs and cables, and the air
> filter. It ran fine for a few days. Then, out on the highway -
> engine warm - it started sputtering, choking, but it never died.
> Pulled over to the side, killed it, but it started back up on the next
> try and ran fine for a few days. Same thing happened yesterday but
> this time, it didn't restart. Tried for an hour before giving up. It
> was towed for the second time in its life. At the garage, it started
> on the third try, with an ignition tester between a plug and its
> cable. It ran fine for the hour long drive back home. Humidity/rain
> doesn't seem to be a factor.
>
> I know she'll leave me for the great scrapyard in the sky someday, but
> I'm just not ready to let go yet. Any suggestions would be greatly
> appreciated. Many thanks,
>
> André
>
>
>

Google for " honda main relay";they get bad solder joints,and the fuel pump
does not always run,and the car starts,but does not have enough fuel
pressure to keep running.There are a few websites with instructions how to
find the MainRelay and how to resolder it.(easy task)
A new relay will cost at least $50 USD.

This is a VERY common Honda/Acura problem.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

In article <Xns96AE7395AAFB6jyanikkuanet@129.250.170.85>, Jim Yanik
<jyanik@abuse.gov.> wrote:

> "André Boisvert" <aboisvert001@sympatico.ca> wrote in
> news:LSnKe.3799$yH2.238466@news20.bellglobal.com:
>
> > I bought it new. She'll be 17 years old next month with 315,000 km!
> > The problem started one morning - engine cold - when she would turn
> > over just fine but would not start. Towed to a garage, they changed
> > the distributor cap and rotor, the plugs and cables, and the air
> > filter. It ran fine for a few days. Then, out on the highway -
> > engine warm - it started sputtering, choking, but it never died.
> > Pulled over to the side, killed it, but it started back up on the next
> > try and ran fine for a few days. Same thing happened yesterday but
> > this time, it didn't restart. Tried for an hour before giving up. It
> > was towed for the second time in its life. At the garage, it started
> > on the third try, with an ignition tester between a plug and its
> > cable. It ran fine for the hour long drive back home. Humidity/rain
> > doesn't seem to be a factor.
> >
> > I know she'll leave me for the great scrapyard in the sky someday, but
> > I'm just not ready to let go yet. Any suggestions would be greatly
> > appreciated. Many thanks,
> >
> > André
> >
> >
> >
>
> Google for " honda main relay";they get bad solder joints,and the fuel pump
> does not always run,and the car starts,but does not have enough fuel
> pressure to keep running.There are a few websites with instructions how to
> find the MainRelay and how to resolder it.(easy task)
> A new relay will cost at least $50 USD.
>
> This is a VERY common Honda/Acura problem.


Jim
Great post.
Jason

--
NEWSGROUP SUBSCRIBERS MOTTO
We respect those subscribers that ask for advice or provide advice.
We do NOT respect the subscribers that enjoy criticizing people.

Shall do. I'm very happy with the idea that it might that simple.
Thank you for taking the time, Jim.

André
"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov.> a écrit dans le message de news:
Xns96AE7395AAFB6jyanikkuanet@129.250.170.85...
> "André Boisvert" <aboisvert001@sympatico.ca> wrote in
> news:LSnKe.3799$yH2.238466@news20.bellglobal.com:
>
>> I bought it new. She'll be 17 years old next month with 315,000 km!
>> The problem started one morning - engine cold - when she would turn
>> over just fine but would not start. Towed to a garage, they changed
>> the distributor cap and rotor, the plugs and cables, and the air
>> filter. It ran fine for a few days. Then, out on the highway -
>> engine warm - it started sputtering, choking, but it never died.
>> Pulled over to the side, killed it, but it started back up on the next
>> try and ran fine for a few days. Same thing happened yesterday but
>> this time, it didn't restart. Tried for an hour before giving up. It
>> was towed for the second time in its life. At the garage, it started
>> on the third try, with an ignition tester between a plug and its
>> cable. It ran fine for the hour long drive back home. Humidity/rain
>> doesn't seem to be a factor.
>>
>> I know she'll leave me for the great scrapyard in the sky someday, but
>> I'm just not ready to let go yet. Any suggestions would be greatly
>> appreciated. Many thanks,
>>
>> André
>>
>>
>>
>
> Google for " honda main relay";they get bad solder joints,and the fuel
> pump
> does not always run,and the car starts,but does not have enough fuel
> pressure to keep running.There are a few websites with instructions how to
> find the MainRelay and how to resolder it.(easy task)
> A new relay will cost at least $50 USD.
>
> This is a VERY common Honda/Acura problem.
>
> --
> Jim Yanik
> jyanik
> at
> kua.net

"André Boisvert" <aboisvert001@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:LSnKe.3799$yH2.238466@news20.bellglobal.com.. .
>I bought it new. She'll be 17 years old next month with 315,000 km!
> The problem started one morning - engine cold - when she would turn over
> just fine but would not start. Towed to a garage, they changed the
> distributor cap and rotor, the plugs and cables, and the air filter. It
> ran fine for a few days. Then, out on the highway - engine warm - it
> started sputtering, choking, but it never died. Pulled over to the side,
> killed it, but it started back up on the next try and ran fine for a few
> days. Same thing happened yesterday but this time, it didn't restart.
> Tried for an hour before giving up. It was towed for the second time in
> its life. At the garage, it started on the third try, with an ignition
> tester between a plug and its cable. It ran fine for the hour long drive
> back home. Humidity/rain doesn't seem to be a factor.
>
> I know she'll leave me for the great scrapyard in the sky someday, but I'm
> just not ready to let go yet. Any suggestions would be greatly
> appreciated. Many thanks,
>
> André
>
Besides the main relay, if the fuel filter hasn't been changed recently this
would be a good time for that. In any event, the symptoms sound like a fuel
delivery problem and the main relay and fuel filter are at the top of that
list. The part that sounds more like the relay than the filter is the
failure to start in the morning.

Mike

In article <xbqKe.7955$yH2.256626@news20.bellglobal.com>, "André Boisvert" <aboisvert001@sympatico.ca> wrote:

>>> I bought it new. She'll be 17 years old next month with 315,000 km!
>>> The problem started one morning - engine cold - when she would turn
>>> over just fine but would not start. Towed to a garage, they changed
>>> the distributor cap and rotor, the plugs and cables, and the air
>>> filter. It ran fine for a few days. Then, out on the highway -
>>> engine warm - it started sputtering, choking, but it never died.
>>> Pulled over to the side, killed it, but it started back up on the next
>>> try and ran fine for a few days. Same thing happened yesterday but
>>> this time, it didn't restart. Tried for an hour before giving up. It
>>> was towed for the second time in its life. At the garage, it started
>>> on the third try, with an ignition tester between a plug and its
>>> cable. It ran fine for the hour long drive back home. Humidity/rain
>>> doesn't seem to be a factor.
>>>
>>> I know she'll leave me for the great scrapyard in the sky someday, but
>>> I'm just not ready to let go yet. Any suggestions would be greatly
>>> appreciated. Many thanks,
>>>
>>> André

My '88 HB is the same vintage (225,000 kms), when my
main relay failed, the car wouldn't start only when it was warm
(or hot of course). In fact, it started to act up one fall and I drove
the entire winter without a problem, come the spring when things
warmed up, the car would crank forever without firing. So I bought
a new relay. So, when you say it won't start when it's cold,
I'm thinking it *might* not be the relay, if I'm wrong, I'm sure
someone will verify this. In any event, let 'us' know the
outcome.

Mike / Toronto

michaelhum@sympatico.ca (F1 FAN) wrote in
news:CKuKe.8152$yH2.291376@news20.bellglobal.com:

> In article <xbqKe.7955$yH2.256626@news20.bellglobal.com>, "André
> Boisvert" <aboisvert001@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
>>>> I bought it new. She'll be 17 years old next month with 315,000
>>>> km! The problem started one morning - engine cold - when she would
>>>> turn over just fine but would not start. Towed to a garage, they
>>>> changed the distributor cap and rotor, the plugs and cables, and
>>>> the air filter. It ran fine for a few days. Then, out on the
>>>> highway - engine warm - it started sputtering, choking, but it
>>>> never died. Pulled over to the side, killed it, but it started back
>>>> up on the next try and ran fine for a few days. Same thing
>>>> happened yesterday but this time, it didn't restart. Tried for an
>>>> hour before giving up. It was towed for the second time in its
>>>> life. At the garage, it started on the third try, with an ignition
>>>> tester between a plug and its cable. It ran fine for the hour long
>>>> drive back home. Humidity/rain doesn't seem to be a factor.
>>>>
>>>> I know she'll leave me for the great scrapyard in the sky someday,
>>>> but I'm just not ready to let go yet. Any suggestions would be
>>>> greatly appreciated. Many thanks,
>>>>
>>>> André
>
> My '88 HB is the same vintage (225,000 kms), when my
> main relay failed, the car wouldn't start only when it was warm
> (or hot of course). In fact, it started to act up one fall and I
> drove the entire winter without a problem, come the spring when things
> warmed up, the car would crank forever without firing. So I bought
> a new relay. So, when you say it won't start when it's cold,
> I'm thinking it *might* not be the relay, if I'm wrong, I'm sure
> someone will verify this. In any event, let 'us' know the
> outcome.
>
> Mike / Toronto
>

I imagine that eventually,any cracked solder joints could become bad enough
to fail even when 'cold'.
And 'cold' may only mean here that his motor had sat all night,not that the
outside temp was "cold".

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov.> a écrit dans le message de news:
Xns96AE7395AAFB6jyanikkuanet@129.250.170.85...
> "André Boisvert" <aboisvert001@sympatico.ca> wrote in
> news:LSnKe.3799$yH2.238466@news20.bellglobal.com:
>
>> I bought it new. She'll be 17 years old next month with 315,000 km!
>> The problem started one morning - engine cold - when she would turn
>> over just fine but would not start. Towed to a garage, they changed
>> the distributor cap and rotor, the plugs and cables, and the air
>> filter. It ran fine for a few days. Then, out on the highway -
>> engine warm - it started sputtering, choking, but it never died.
>> Pulled over to the side, killed it, but it started back up on the next
>> try and ran fine for a few days. Same thing happened yesterday but
>> this time, it didn't restart. Tried for an hour before giving up. It
>> was towed for the second time in its life. At the garage, it started
>> on the third try, with an ignition tester between a plug and its
>> cable. It ran fine for the hour long drive back home. Humidity/rain
>> doesn't seem to be a factor.
>>
>> I know she'll leave me for the great scrapyard in the sky someday, but
>> I'm just not ready to let go yet. Any suggestions would be greatly
>> appreciated. Many thanks,
>>
>> André
>>
>>
>>
>
> Google for " honda main relay";they get bad solder joints,and the fuel
> pump
> does not always run,and the car starts,but does not have enough fuel
> pressure to keep running.There are a few websites with instructions how to
> find the MainRelay and how to resolder it.(easy task)
> A new relay will cost at least $50 USD.
>
> This is a VERY common Honda/Acura problem.
>
> --
> Jim Yanik
> jyanik
> at
> kua.net


It's been over 3 weeks since I changed my main relay and I haven't had a
single problem. Because the part was 17 years old, I decided to replace it
instead of resoldering it. $68 CAD. Not bad.
Unfortunately, a cracking sound that was coming from the front end got
exponentially worse in frequency and amplitude. I brought it in to my
garage; 3 ball joints and a tie rod. "With the amount of rust you've got
under there...", said my mechanic, with a not-worth-it-time-to-get-a-new-car
look.

Ahhh...Crap. I really liked that car.

Many thanks again, Jim. I'm still blown away by the idea of troubleshooting
a car problem on the internet.

André
Montréal

"André Boisvert" <aboisvert001@sympatico.ca> wrote
> > "André Boisvert" <aboisvert001@sympatico.ca> wrote
> >> I bought it new. She'll be 17 years old next month with 315,000 km!

> It's been over 3 weeks since I changed my main relay and I haven't had a
> single problem. Because the part was 17 years old, I decided to replace
it
> instead of resoldering it. $68 CAD. Not bad.
> Unfortunately, a cracking sound that was coming from the front end got
> exponentially worse in frequency and amplitude. I brought it in to my
> garage; 3 ball joints and a tie rod. "With the amount of rust you've got
> under there...", said my mechanic, with a
not-worth-it-time-to-get-a-new-car
> look.
>
> Ahhh...Crap. I really liked that car.
>
> Many thanks again, Jim. I'm still blown away by the idea of
troubleshooting
> a car problem on the internet.


Good post. It's particularly helpful as I contemplate my 14-year-old Civic
(bought new, like yours). Fortunately only about half its life has been
spent in really snowy long winters. It has 274k kilometers ( = ~ 170k miles)
on it. So using your numbers and Canadian locale, I figure she's good for at
least three more years. The only major repair/maintenance is the timing
belt, for which I happen to already have the new belt and tensioner. So I am
calculating whether to actually replace these when they're due in summer,
2007... Guess I'll see how everything else looks.

At least the Honda Fit/Jazz should be available by then!