'90 Honda Accord starts, then doesn't, then does, etc...

Hey there! I have a '90 Honda Accord with 217,000 miles on it.
Recently, the car will start, but just a few minutes later, after
turning it off and trying to re-start it, it will turn over but not
catch. Then, after a couple hours pass, it will start right up, but
after I turn it off, the same pattern repeats. Something in the
ignition system, or the fuel pump maybe? Any help or suggestions would
be appreciated. Thanks.

 

http://www3.telus.net/public/johnings/faq.html#MainRelay

 

See the below post as most likely it is the main relay. It's fairly
common. Read the posts from the bottom up and see if the symptoms
are similar to yours..


The main relay would also have the same symptoms and it's fairly
common on the '91 year. The relay is a double relay. The first relay
supply's a only couple of seconds of power to the fuel pump to get the
engine started. After it starts a second relay feed power to the fuel
pump. I believe it was done this way for safety reasons. If the
engine stops the second relay is not energized, no power to the fuel
pump.

A more definitive symptom for the relay would be that the problem
occurs mostly during very warm (sitting in the sun for a while) or
very cold days. The temperature swing causes one or more bad solder
joints in the relay to open a little, breaking contact. It seems that
many people actually have the problem while refueling at the gas
station. The car was fine when they pulled in but started and died
when trying to leave. After a couple of minutes (maybe a little
longer) it will usually start and run fine as the relay has cooled off
a little.

The relay can be replaced or the soldier joints can be re-soldered
to correct the problem.

Here's a link to a great site to identify and fix the main relay
problem. It helped me tremendously when I had the problem with
my '91 Accord. The cracked soldier joint was very hard to spot. Even
knowing exactly what to look for. Mine was just a little mark on one
post (didn't even look like a crack). When un-soldiering this joint
the soldier melted differently than the other joints.

http://www.markl.f9.co.uk/howto/electrical/main-relay/main-relay.htm

 

My '91 Accord had the main relay symptom. Turned out it was the ignition
switch on the steering column. So if the main relay doesn't fix it (and
you can resolder it yourself), then try a new igniton switch.

Todd K.

 

Next is a Starter. The starter has same symton as Main relay except
that when cold enough, the starter does not start. My starter
does not start right away in the morning and it does not when it hot
enough. Sometimes I have to wait 30 minuts to start. Usually it starts
right away after I turn off the car.