Car dies right after I start it....?!

[88WhiteLX-i]

It's been happneing lately, not sure if it's due to to the cold weather or what because it NEVER did this before. Lately I go to crank my car over, and I hear the engine crank over so I let go of the key, but the car just completely dies. After it dies if I leave the car in the ignition 2 position and try to re-crank it from their the starter grinds. So Iam like WTF?!?! Any of you guys know what the fuck could be causing this? Is it possibly the starter? But, it doesn't do it all the time, it's intermitting. Sometimes it'll do it when I first start it up when it's cold, and then some days when I first start it up it won't do it at all. Any ideas guys?? PLEASE HELP!!!!!

[3G Jester]

bring it to a car place. 60 bucks for a diagnostic run. they check everything....then jsut get it homwe and DIY instead of having them rip you off

[BoredRec]

Sounds like the ignition pigtail is taking a crap on you. Try finding the "sweet spot" between ON and START, and see if yer car stays running. If it does, and then you release it to ON and it dies, most likely the pigtail. The solder melts off, losing the contact. They're not too fun on the 3gee, so only replace it if you are confident in your skills. And make sure you UNPLUG the switch FIRST before unscrewing it from the lock cylinder, otherwise you take the chance of blowing the main 80 amp fuse.

[Jareds 89 LX-i]

Mine does that every once in awile too, and only when it's cold. I know it's the ignition switch because my alarm is set up to automatically lock the doors when you turn the car on, and unlock when you turn it off. I'll turn the key, doors will lock, start it up and it will run for a sec then die, and without even touching the key the doors will unlock and then lock again. Try it again and everythings fine. I got a can of electrical parts cleaner I'm going to try, hopefully it's just dirty or something

[StUpiD8000]

my car did that too...but mine did worm...like after 30min of driving around and when I go to restart it it starts and dies. I had to dump the clutch to start it. It has not done it at all in the cold.

[88WhiteLX-i]

How hard and costly is it to replace this part? I mean will all mechanics try that if I bring it to my mechanic? Or if it definitely is the pigtail should I just let a locksmith do it????

[AccordEpicenter]

make sure your distributor and main relay are ok too

[njpeter]

you talk about two problems....first your car won't stay running after a cold crank up..second, after the car stalls, the starter won't fully engage..unrelated issues I'm afraid.

honda starters are pretty tough..you seldomly read about a failure do you?, I'm not qualified to give FI advice outside of the usual check all vac hoses and ecu codes (if flashing).

I'd check the starter bolts..just for grins..if they look original and not hacked up, you should be ok.

[88WhiteLX-i]

uhh they're aren't unrelated issues. I crank my car up, it completely dies. It's in the 2nd ignition position when it dies, I don't bring it back to ignition position 1, I just try to re-crank it, but the starter grinds. Iam thinking that the flywheel is still turning from the first try to get it turned over and I just tried to re-crank it to quickly. So if you don't actually have something constructive to say then Fuck Off.

[MrBen]

Njpeter no need to be quite so hasty.

[88WhiteLX-i]

so anyone have any ideas on what exactly this could be?? If it is the ignition switch, how do you get at it and how much would it cost to replace? thanks...

[Whitehonda]

Sounds like the electric part of the ignition (it's a plug in type switch). I had that problem about 3 or 4 months ago. When I did get it started, I could sometimes run for awhile, but then it would eventually die. It was about $60 to fix (that was a Honda dealership looking at it, figuring it out and then replacing the part) they told me it was pretty commen for it to go on our cars after 14-15 years.

Cameron

[88WhiteLX-i]

SO you had the Honda dealer replace it and it only cost you $60 bucks??? What exactly was the part or part number?? Thanks for the help!!

[BoredRec]

Originally posted by 88WhiteLX-i
SO you had the Honda dealer replace it and it only cost you $60 bucks??? What exactly was the part or part number?? Thanks for the help!!

No way they would do that job for $60. The part was probably $60, and an hour and a half labor to install it. Or something along those lines. Just do it yourself and save yourself money.

[88WhiteLX-i]

So what part # is it?? And how hard of a job is it to replace? Show me some pictures on what the hell you guys are talking about. I have no idea what part you are talking about and I also need to know how I can get at it to replace it. THANKS!!!

[Slamed89Accord]

my car did that i would start it up the rpms would go up and just drop and car would die and i just had to adjust the idle screw somehow it got knocked lose or soemthing it did it the first time i evr drove with teh lid flipped.

[88WhiteLX-i]

well my car is fuel injected. But can anyone tell me the exact part number or even where the hell the ignition switch, since that's what most of you say it is, actually is located?????

[SMITHACCORD*&]

How about this one. yesterday i went to start my car. it tried to crank. then that mother FKKKKK. just started making this winding noise. so i pop the hood. touch the starter. and one of the bolts for the starter broke off. i mean rite under the bold where the starter is connected at. just snapped. so i went out today and got a new starter. i installed it. then my dad wanted to take the thermo out. and he snapped both of the bolts connected to it so i am screwed i have to try to get them out. we tried everything and they dont' come out they are sunk inside the thing.

[Slamed89Accord]

same thing happened to mine tryin to change the thermostat. We just drilled them out. and since the bolts screw into teh metal because its already tapped we used a nut n bolt for it and it works like it should. Just a thought!

Adam

[Brents88Accord]

Lately I've been experiencing a similar problem. If I was to shut off my car, after reaching normal operating temp, and then start it up again, the car would go to it's normal 1500 RPM and then drop all the way until it stalled. Every restart after that and the car would stop at its 800 RPM idle. I have no idea whats causing this problem. If anyone has any ideas, please feel free to help out.


I have a 88 fuel injected accord (model EXI).