The ignition coil is not that hard to change and can be the problem. Also, the Plug wire running from the Ignition Coil to the distributor. Make sure they are tight.

 

how would i check it (distributor)...what do you mean...what am i looking for?

 

check to see if the coil spring is corroded(sp?)

 

When does your car generally not start? After its been running? Is the interior HOT when it wont start?

Honda F22 and F23 starting problems are generally 1 of 3 things in *my* experience:

1. Igniter (inside distributor)
2. Coil (inside distributor)
3. Master Relay (***** to get to up by the fuses)

Tell me when it generally doesnt start and I can try to help you more. I have fixed a million non-starting Accords and its usually the coil or ignighter. I keep spares around i took from a junkyard Accord so I can easily troubleshoot .. too bad you're not close!

It could be the fuel pump, is your fuel pump abnormally noisy? (loud whine) .. that is useually the tell tale sign its going out.

 

ok, i just went outside and did some resistance checks on my coil since i cant seem to get a good look at the coil itself (or can you? i dont know..i took it out and didnt really see any way in the box). all the tests checked out to spec's except for the primary resistance. it tested about 0.2ohms where the book says it should be between 0.6 and 0.8. i'm not sure if that means anything at all. ok, and I havent really been keeping track of when it doesnt start, but as i think about it, its usually during the daytime so i guess the interior is hot, so maybe its that master relay...wasnt there a recall on those or something? thought i read that somewhere. the fuel pump is not abnormally noisy.

 

not sure if there is a recall or not (due to my car being old) but yes the master relay is known to cause starting problems if its HOT inside the car.

Far as the coil goes: when mine went bad it was testing to spec too except for a small variance. It could be the coil.. these are expensive parts to just 'swap' though trying unless you work for a dealer!!! Unfortunatly they dont take returns on electrical stuff.

 

Probably not a fuel pump. That's usually an "all or nothing" sort of thing. Either it works or it doesn't.

 

yeah, i'd say you're right. i'm pretty sure its somewhere in the ignition.

 

If this happens on hot days, I'd say master relay. Known issue for many Hondas.