# Honda Accord--occasionally won't start **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 10, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-occasionally-wont-start/13850 "2008-05-10T18:35:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hdquemada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85f322/32.png) [@hdquemada](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hdquemada)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-occasionally-wont-start/13850/1 "2008-05-10T18:35:14Z")
Our 1992 Honda Accord runs great, except that once in a while, particularly when the weather is warm and the car has been sitting out, it doesn’t start. We’ve taken it to a mechanic who of course hasn’t had any problem starting the car regardless of weather. He’s replace the fuel pump but that hasn’t fixed the problem. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Xebadaih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d07c76/32.png) [@Xebadaih](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Xebadaih)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 6:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-occasionally-wont-start/13850/2 "2008-05-10T18:44:22Z")
I suggest you don’t go back to a mechanic who has never experienced any symptoms but replaced your fuel pump anyway. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-occasionally-wont-start/13850/3 "2008-05-10T19:04:53Z")
Replace the main fuel pump relay, which is located under the dashboard. Poor starting in warm weather is a common problem with older Hondas, and the cause is almost always the relay. Your mechanic must not work on many Hondas. Too bad you paid for a fuel pump you probably didn’t need. The relay will be much less expensive than the pump was. ---
**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-occasionally-wont-start/13850/4 "2008-05-10T19:07:26Z")
Isn’t this one of those Honda years which has chronic problems with the main fuel relay? See here for details: [http://autorepair.about.com/cs/troubleshooting/l/aa010301b.htm](http://autorepair.about.com/cs/troubleshooting/l/aa010301b.htm). We get this question so often, and so many people are familiar with the cause and solution, that I am totally astounded that professional mechanics always seem stumped. ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-occasionally-wont-start/13850/5 "2008-05-10T19:32:56Z")
This is a familiar problem with Honda. When the cabin gets warm, and it doesn’t start, it’s usually a problem with the PGM-FI relay under the dash. If you open the doors and windows for a while, the interior will cool, the relay will cool, and the the engine will, probably, start. The PGM-FI relay can be repaired, or, more usually, replaced. Here is a Honda website which give some troubleshooting guidelines on various problems: [http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/faq.html](http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/faq.html) Then, click on the problem of interest. ---
**Author:** ![hdquemada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85f322/32.png) [@hdquemada](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hdquemada)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-occasionally-wont-start/13850/6 "2008-05-25T02:58:02Z")
Thanks for the advice. We had the fuel pump relay replaced and we’ve had no starting problems since. ---
**Author:** ![crankwalk5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@crankwalk5](https://community.cartalk.com/u/crankwalk5)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord-occasionally-wont-start/13850/7 "2008-05-25T03:22:28Z")
cool you guys are catching on.