I just bought a 92 accord, manual trans and 200,000 miles. The car runs great but every once and a while it just doesn't want to start. It always seems to happen when the engine is warm. It usually won't start for about 5-30 minutes, then after that it starts fine. The starter sounds different when it won't start then when it will. Someone help please.

 

Does it only do it when the wether is warm (the inside of the car is warm)? If so, the main PGM-FI fuel relay is famous for causing that problem. When the interior of the car gets hot the solder connections in the relay won't make contact, but when the interior cools down the joints will make contact again and allow the car to start.

 

Well its usually only after I turn it off for a minute, and yeah its usually warm but it only gets warmer in the car as it sits, and it always starts later after it sits for a minute.

 

Check your coolant temp sensor. These sensors frequently cause the "won't re-start when warm" problem.

The sensor's tend to die "cold." When the engine's cold, the sensor reports "cold engine" to the ECU and the ECU sets up the injectors to start a cold engine. As the engine warms up, the sensor reports this to the ECU, and the ECU leans out the mixture accordingly. So far, so good.

But then, the sensor dies and "goes cold" on us -- ie., it tells the ECU that the engine is now cold. You can continue driving and you'll never notice the difference, cuz the O2 sensor has command now, and it tells the ECU to lean out the mixture. But when you stop the engine, and try to re-start it, the sensor is still telling the ECU that the engine's cold. So the ECU starts dumping fuel into the combustion chamber and floods the engine.

Wait a few minutes for the engine to cool down, and it'll start right up. If this sounds like what's happening to your car, check that sensor.

 

Alright thanks, that makes sense. But you will have to kind of guide me through checking that sensor if you don't mind, this is my first Honda. Plus im not the best when it comes to cars.

 

Here's an article about sensors. I wrote it about the Acura Vigor, but all Honda/Acura engines use the same PGM-FI engine management system.

Yours will probably have different wire colors than the ones described in the article. Vigors use YEL/GRN for (+) and GRN/WHT for (-). I believe yours may use RED/WHT for (+) and GRN/BLK for (-) in this circuit. But check to be sure.

 

Well I really think you are right, i found the sensor, and its cheap enough that I am just going to buy a new one instead of testing it. But i got another question, probably a stupid one, but you have to drain the coolant first before you take the sensor out right?

 

My guess is that it may leak some, but you could let it leak, then go abouts checking and refilling the radiator till its full.

 

Right. As mycb7com said, a little might come out, but not much. Put a rag around it to catch what comes out. It won't be very much.

 

Alright, thats what I figured but wanted to make sure. New problem though, I think its related to the main relay from what I have read on other websites. I went to go start it for the first time, that day, and it didn't start at all. Waited about 30 minutes still didn't start. It had to be at least a 100 degrees in the car. I didn't have time to let it cool down to see if it would work. But it started fine the next day, it was cold and rainy.

Just wanted to Add, Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all your help!
I will make sure and post if this solves the problem, nobody else seems to say if replacing anything fixed it.