# Honda Accord **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** starting\ **Created:** [July 9, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord/1496 "2007-07-09T21:47:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![shane\_vaughn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@shane\_vaughn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shane_vaughn)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord/1496/1 "2007-07-09T21:47:09Z")
I have a 1999 Honda Accord with @ 135xxx miles on it. The only problem, it won’t start when it’s hot! When it starts to cool down in the evening and in the spring, summer, and winter it starts without hesitation and runs with no problems. Does anyone know what could be causing this? ---
**Author:** ![shane\_vaughn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@shane\_vaughn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shane_vaughn)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 9:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord/1496/2 "2007-07-09T21:48:05Z")
Excuse me, I meant spring, fall, and winter. ---
**Author:** ![lprocter](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/lprocter/32/40_2.png) [@lprocter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lprocter)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord/1496/3 "2007-07-09T22:18:54Z")
Well, clearly the Accord is a Canadian car… 🙂 Seriously, though, I don’t know. Vapour lock somewhere maybe? ---
**Author:** ![americar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/americar/32/42_2.png) [@americar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/americar)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 10:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord/1496/4 "2007-07-09T22:21:46Z")
Does the engine even turn over? if not possible defective starter. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 10:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord/1496/5 "2007-07-09T22:28:28Z")
This is the classic electrical relay problem that Hondas and Acuras of that era are subject to. Since the relay is in the car’s interior (under the dashboard, near the steering column if I recall correctly) the super-heating of the car’s interior on a hot day will cause it to fail temporarily. Since this relay is connected to the circuit for the electric fuel pump, you are not going anywhere in 90s vintage Honda on a hot day! Any good parts store should be familiar with this problem relay, and should be able to sell you the right one without any problem. Once you have the replacement in hand, it should be pretty easy to spot the old one under the dashboard and swap it with the new relay. VDCdriver–as usual, logged out again by this problem-ridden new site! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 10:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord/1496/6 "2007-07-09T22:37:25Z")
I concur with VDC. This problem has been posted here many times, and there have been techs highly experienced with Hondas that have all immediately pointed to that relay for those symptoms. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 10:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord/1496/7 "2007-07-09T22:38:17Z")
Oh, yeah, I’m mountainbike. I’ve given up the struggle to stay registered. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 11:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord/1496/8 "2007-07-09T23:13:51Z")
I agree that the problem is the main relay and also that this site needs some work. Currently logged in, but that’s subject to change in a heartbeat. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 11:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord/1496/9 "2007-07-09T23:52:54Z")
The main relay problem was beyond common in older 89-91 Civic/Accords. However it could be one of many possibilities. I am not convinced. ---
**Author:** ![galant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/77aa72/32.png) [@galant](https://community.cartalk.com/u/galant)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord/1496/10 "2007-07-10T00:14:38Z")
I thought by '99 they fixed that problem. I guess we need more info on what the car does when it won’t start. ---
**Author:** ![shane\_vaughn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@shane\_vaughn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shane_vaughn)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2007, 7:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord/1496/11 "2007-07-10T19:50:41Z")
It will turn over, kinda sounds like it’s flooded just won’t start. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2007, 8:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord/1496/12 "2007-07-10T20:07:10Z")
I agree with the main fuel pump relay theory. This is a classic case. Replace the fuel pump relay, also known and the PGM-FI main relay, under the dashboard. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 2:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord/1496/13 "2007-07-11T02:20:53Z")
> I agree that the problem is the main relay and also that this site needs some work. Perhaps the site needs a main relay? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![me\_art12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@me\_art12](https://community.cartalk.com/u/me_art12)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 3:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord/1496/14 "2007-07-11T03:01:22Z")
For anyone who has a start problem on a Honda (or any car), you can go to [www.tegger.com/hondafaq/startproblems.html](http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/startproblems.html). This site has some good info if you care to click and read. ---
**Author:** ![Pontiacura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pontiacura](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Pontiacura)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2007, 12:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/honda-accord/1496/15 "2007-07-11T12:13:03Z")
Sadly the problem persists past '99. My '00 Acura had the same problem, the relay was replaced twice over the last year. I’ve found it advisable to park in the shade with the car level or facing down an incline. Doing that, the problem hasn’t reappeared.