1991 Honda Accord Suddently stall & can't start any mor

STN888

MEMBER
1991 HONDA ACCORD
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
156,000 MILES

Was driving about 2km from home, suddently it stalled & couln't start any more. Engine turning strongly but wouldn't start at all, even tried to jump start but still no luck. Brought it home, next day it started again & ran fine for about a llittle more than 2 weeks, then it talled & died again. Tested, top up the fluid & charged the battery fully, replaced the fuel filter (new). It has been sitting there for two days now but still no luck at all. Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks

5 Replies

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi stn888,

Seems you are having a problem with the PGM-FI main relay which is known to fail intermittently. If you can do soldering,remove the relay and resolder the circuit board and it should work as good as new.

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 AT 2:16 PM

STN888

MEMBER
7 POSTS

Hi KHLow2008 !
Thanks a lot for your help ! Just for clarification: you mean remove & throw away the existing PGM-FI main relay, then get a new one & solder it back again?
Thanks again & appreciate your help very much !

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 AT 4:54 PM

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi stn888,

No, resolder the old unit and it should work as good as new, maybe better. It would not fail you again.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 AT 6:33 AM

STN888

MEMBER
7 POSTS

Hi KHLow2008

Since I'm not very good with soldering, I replaced the relay with a brand new one bought from Honda dealer (cost me $125 CAD).
Still no luck at all. Tried several times, engine turn strongly but wouldn't start. Please help !

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Saturday, December 6th, 2008 AT 4:50 PM

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi stn888,

Sorry that the relay did not solve the problem.

I would like you to do the following test.
1. When you turn the ignition switch ON, does the CHECK ENGINE LAMP shows brightly for 2 seconds before going off? If no, you have a problem with the ECU or its grounding circuit. Check the grounding attached to the lower part of the thermostat housing.
2. Remove a spark plug wire and attach a spark plug to it and ground it to the engine, (DO NOT ground to battery terminals). Get some one to crank and see if there are any sparks. If none, with a test lamp, check for power supply to the distributor Black/Yellow wire with ignition switch ON and while cranking.
3. On top of fuel hose at fuel rail, from filter, there is a 12 mm hex bolt, release it and check for for fuel pressure. Turn ignition switch ON and pressure show shoot out without any signs of bubbles. If not, the fuel pump or its wiring circuit is faulty.

Let me know what you find.