# Honda Accord 2004 not starting **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** noises, accord-sdn, engines, honda\ **Created:** [August 1, 2023, 3:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025 "2023-08-01T03:32:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![owend379](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6f9a4e/32.png) [@owend379](https://community.cartalk.com/u/owend379)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 3:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/1 "2023-08-01T03:32:33Z")
So I have a Honda Accord 2004 4 cylinder EX that wouldn’t start up in the Missouri heat the other day. Took a 5-hour road trip the night before. Came home at 3:30 a.m. was working fine for the trip. Even took a pit stop. The next morning I got up around 9:00 a.m. and went out to start the car to go somewhere and it started up then died immediately. I’ve tried diagnosing everything I can but it doesn’t seem to be turning over, I’ve changed the fuel injectors, the spark plugs, the starter has been bench tested and replaced, I’ve also changed the alternator and the battery with no luck. The car seems to be making a whirring noise like a drill when I try to turn it over and the starter is engaging properly and the flywheel is okay. I’m completely out of ideas and would rather not pay for it tow and a mechanic at this point, was hoping someone on here could help! ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 4:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/2 "2023-08-01T04:52:12Z")
Sounds like the timing chain broke. Check if the camshafts are rotating, inspect through the oil cap or remove the valve cover. ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/3 "2023-08-01T15:03:54Z")
It sounds like either your timing belt or timing chain (whichever your car has) may be broken. You need to take off the oil cap and look into the hole while someone cranks the engine to see if the camshaft is turning. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 3:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/4 "2023-08-01T15:25:53Z")
True. Should b able to tell if cranking sounds normal. ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 7:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/5 "2023-08-01T19:57:39Z")
[Defective Timing Belt Tensioner May Cause Premature Timing Belt Failure : Honda Accord Engine (repairpal.com)](https://repairpal.com/defective-timing-belt-tensioner-may-cause-premature-timing-belt-failure-718#) ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 8:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/6 "2023-08-01T20:25:55Z")
If the problem is a broken timing chain/belt, that may have also resulted in piston/valve interference, & damaged the valves. With some luck, they may not be damaged — yet. Suggest to discontinue trying to crank the engine until you know the condition of the timing chain/belt for certain. My guess, the timing chain/belt will check out ok, and the noise is due to some sort of fault with the starter motor. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/7 "2023-08-01T20:49:36Z")
RE timing belt tensioner failure: Is 19 years of life a premature failure? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 8:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/8 "2023-08-01T20:53:37Z")
The 4 cylinder Accord has timing chains. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/a/7/a76783f8ad724ead6f5a173a09af2b5b8b12599d.jpeg) Tester ---
**Author:** ![owend379](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6f9a4e/32.png) [@owend379](https://community.cartalk.com/u/owend379)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2023, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/9 "2023-08-01T22:49:05Z")
Okay so I tested the timing belt without removing the valve head cover and the intake camshaft shaft is turning an be the exhaust camshaft like it’s rocking, not sure what to do with this now as it would seem like the timing chain is connected. Would a defective tensioner cause this to happen? Edit: I should probably add that it looks like the timing chain cover is in fact covered in some fluid like maybe leaky oil Edit 2: is it possible the camshaft position sensor died? ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 12:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/10 "2023-08-02T00:17:04Z")
> [@owend379](#): > > and the front crank shaft is turning The crankshaft turning is a given… You need to see if the Camshaft is turning… The cam(s) are under the valve cover… ---
**Author:** ![owend379](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6f9a4e/32.png) [@owend379](https://community.cartalk.com/u/owend379)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 12:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/11 "2023-08-02T00:28:47Z")
I’m sorry, you’re right, the intake camshaft is turning, the exhaust camshaft is rocking. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 12:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/12 "2023-08-02T00:31:50Z")
Both camshafts should be turning. Tester ---
**Author:** ![owend379](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6f9a4e/32.png) [@owend379](https://community.cartalk.com/u/owend379)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 1:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/13 "2023-08-02T01:36:47Z")
Took the valve head cover off and both camshafts are turning, looks like the timing chain is intact. ![PXL_20230802_012141407](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/2/7/271b4de4422a65c2ed875d5fecfd1e7195e55bcb.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 1:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/14 "2023-08-02T01:40:11Z")
It’s a timing chain. Not a belt. Tester ---
**Author:** ![owend379](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6f9a4e/32.png) [@owend379](https://community.cartalk.com/u/owend379)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/15 "2023-08-02T01:55:03Z")
Yep, looks like it’s all intact. So is it possible the camshaft sensors went bad? ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 12:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/16 "2023-08-02T12:58:49Z")
I recommend doing a compression test next, if that test good then see of you have spark and fuel… Probably have a bad crank sensor… But while a part, now would be a good time to do some more testing just incase… ---
**Author:** ![owend379](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6f9a4e/32.png) [@owend379](https://community.cartalk.com/u/owend379)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/17 "2023-08-02T19:28:19Z")
Yeah I think I’m outside what I can do now from here so I had a tow drop it at the mechanic and I’ll post the results. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 10:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/18 "2023-08-02T22:37:46Z")
I replaced the starter motor on my Corolla some years ago with a parts-store replacement. It failed right out of the box, made a whirring noise w/key in “start” but didn’t crank the engine. A Denso-branded starter motor is what did the trick. ---
**Author:** ![owend379](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6f9a4e/32.png) [@owend379](https://community.cartalk.com/u/owend379)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2023, 11:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/19 "2023-08-02T23:57:47Z")
Well looks like a mechanic did diagnosed that the timing chain did go bad and the valves were in fact bent so unfortunately it’s out of commission, thanks for the help guys. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2023, 8:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025/20 "2023-08-03T20:55:42Z")
Once you get everything repaired, good idea to error on the side of replacing the engine oil and filter too frequently than not frequently enough. Timing chain mechanisms, esp if variable vavle timing is used, are very sensitive to oil level and oil cleanliness. Suggest to use Honda oil filters, and of course use whatever oil spec Honda recommends for your car. Oil changes are very cheap insurance against this sort of problem. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-2004-not-starting/192025.md?page=2)