# Acura Legend Fickle starting in Summer Heat

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-legend-fickle-starting-in-summer-heat/3609>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** starting, heating, start, engines, acura\
**Created:** [August 25, 2007, 12:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-legend-fickle-starting-in-summer-heat/3609 "2007-08-25T00:32:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![squaresuika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@squaresuika](https://community.cartalk.com/u/squaresuika)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2007, 12:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-legend-fickle-starting-in-summer-heat/3609/1 "2007-08-25T00:32:53Z")

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I have a 1990 Acura Legend that often will not start, or takes about 15 minutes to start when left in the hot sun of my office parking lot all day.  
  
  
  
 I have no problem starting in the morning, or when I park in the shaded parking lots of other places. However when the temperature hits 85+, my car will turn over, but not start, or it will catch momentarily and then die. All the engine lights still light up.  
  
  
  
 This has happened 6 or 7 times so far, always with increasing frecuency.  
  
  
  
 I have just had my mechanic check it over, and he couldnt find anything/get it to act up.  
  
  
  
 Any suggestions?

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**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2007, 1:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-legend-fickle-starting-in-summer-heat/3609/2 "2007-08-25T01:43:20Z")

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This one is easy. Its a standard Honda/Acura problem of that era. The main relays fail intermittently with heat. A simple replacement of this part should be in order.

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2007, 10:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/acura-legend-fickle-starting-in-summer-heat/3609/3 "2007-08-25T10:24:36Z")

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Andrew is correct.

This is a known problem with Hondas and Acuras of that era. Simply replacing the main relay (located under the dashboard, near the steering column, if I recall correctly) will correct the problem.

If your mechanic is not familiar with this well-known problem with your make of car, then I am not impressed with him!