# Accord '98 not starting sporadically

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/accord-98-not-starting-sporadically/3244>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [August 17, 2007, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/accord-98-not-starting-sporadically/3244 "2007-08-17T20:22:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dimon37](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@dimon37](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dimon37)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/accord-98-not-starting-sporadically/3244/1 "2007-08-17T20:22:44Z")

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I have Honda Accord '98.  
  
 Suddenly it refused to start. Even with a boost from another car it woudl not start. But after standing for about 2 days, the car started just fine. Then a couple of days later - same situation, woudl not start. Again, a few days later started just fine and has been starting since.  
  
  
  
 Does anybody have any ideas?

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/accord-98-not-starting-sporadically/3244/2 "2007-08-17T22:25:38Z")

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“did not start” does not tell us much. Could you provide a little more detail?

Did it turn over (that is did the starter sound like it was moving the engine? Did it fire at all? Did it turn over slowly?

Just off hand I would start with checking the battery cables Try removing both ends of the battery cables (both of them) and cleaning both the cable and where it goes very well and reattaching making sure they are secure.

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2007, 10:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/accord-98-not-starting-sporadically/3244/3 "2007-08-17T22:53:59Z")

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Is this problem temperature related? If the car starts when it’s cool, such as early in the morning, but doesn’t start when it’s warm, such as mid-afternoon, the problem may be the main fuel injection relay, which is mounted under the dashboard.

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2007, 1:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/accord-98-not-starting-sporadically/3244/4 "2007-08-18T01:49:33Z")

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This is the first thing you should have done if it has not been remedied already. This problem will cause the symptoms you suffer. Look at the second one down - the ignition switch recall.

[http://www.alldata.com/TSB/24/982423av.html](http://www.alldata.com/TSB/24/982423av.html)

The best thing about it is that this repair is absolutely free.