# Car won't start until I take it to the garage... then it starts

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-until-i-take-it-to-the-garage-then-it-starts/16138>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [July 2, 2008, 2:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-until-i-take-it-to-the-garage-then-it-starts/16138 "2008-07-02T14:27:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Afallon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Afallon](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Afallon)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 2:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-until-i-take-it-to-the-garage-then-it-starts/16138/1 "2008-07-02T14:27:51Z")

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I came home yesterday, got in my car and turned the key. It started at first and whithin seconds it died. I tried again and the engine wouldn’t turn over. I waited a while and tried it again - still nothing. I don’t think it is the battery - it cranks at a normal pace (and will keep cranking) but just won’t turn over. I had it towed to the garage and they called me to tell me that it started right up. It happened about 2 months ago - but by the time AAA got there it started. I gave it some fuel injector cleaner, and it was doing ok until now. It is a 99 Honda Accord. Anyone have any idea what might be causing this?

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**Author:** ![researcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/edb3f5/32.png) [@researcher](https://community.cartalk.com/u/researcher)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start-until-i-take-it-to-the-garage-then-it-starts/16138/2 "2008-07-02T17:48:19Z")

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If the car was parked outside in the sun with the windows up, the problem might be the fuel pump relay. They seem to have a heat related nonoperation problem with these relays. At least it is a simple part replacement that might cure your intermittant problem.

Hope that helps.