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Thread: 86 DX Accord Hatch: Fuel pump issues? Dying while driving

  1. #1
    DX User
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    Feb 2024
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    1986 Accord Hatchback
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    86 DX Accord Hatch: Fuel pump issues? Dying while driving

    Hey everyone, new here and this is my first post. I'm having some suspected fuel pump issues but I'll start with a brief history.
    Last winter I bought a 1986 DX Hatchback (love the look of these cars) and up until two days ago it ran amazing.
    The car only has 130,000km on it, has a few issues but it ran fairly well. It struggled to idle until warm but would run fine after that. The previous owner deleted all the smog stuff but kept the original Carb so I wasn't very confident in my ability to tune it up any better before I started driving it daily.

    On my way to work the other day I pulled onto the highway and all of sudden my rpms would drop off and I had to pump the pedal to the keep the car running. Even with pumping the pedal the car would struggle to build any speed and eventually died out.
    On my way back from work I was able to get the car back to the city but it died once more before I could get home.
    I found this thread where Guerrero mentioned having nearly identical symptoms and sounded confident it was a fuel pump issue.

    https://www.3geez.com/forum/showthre...oogle_vignette


    I tested the fuel pump yesterday and got steady flow until the car would die from lack of fuel, filters appear fine but will likely be changed out anyways.

    I plan on replacing the fuel pump anyways to see if that solves my issue but I just wanted to see if anyone wanted to give me some advice on what to check before I start spending time and money it.
    Having the full vacuum delete has made me less confident playing with the carb but my ears are open and would love to hear some ideas on trouble shooting this.
    Thanks in advance



  2. #2

    ShiRen's Avatar
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    MO
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    Re: 86 DX Accord Hatch: Fuel pump issues? Dying while driving

    Is the float bowl emptying out before it dies? Look at the sight glass.

    The previous owner did you a favor with the vacuum delete. There is basically nothing to adjust or go wrong now. Check the vacuum delete thread and make sure it was done right though.

    Also, make sure it has a full tank of gas...

  3. #3
    DX User
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    Feb 2024
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    1986 Accord Hatchback
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    Re: 86 DX Accord Hatch: Fuel pump issues? Dying while driving

    Seems like after running through the fuel lines vacuum lines and fuel pump (I dodnt actually swap anything just made sure everything was tight and not leaking) the car hasn't died, It only seems to die when running for a long time so I haven't been able to check the float bowl but I'll keep it in mind if it happens again.

    I definitely put some gas in it to make sure haha. But when doing so I did notice quite a bit of negative pressure had built up in the tank (there was a string vacuum on the gas cap), since then I have left my gas cap half unscrewed maybe that solved the issue.
    Think the fuel tank not breathing may of choked out the fuel pump?

  4. #4


    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Vehicle
    88 LXi
    Location
    Knoxville TN
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    5,279

    Re: 86 DX Accord Hatch: Fuel pump issues? Dying while driving

    Yes gas cap not venting can be an issue.
    1988 Lxi owner since August 1995
    336k miles running strong!
    Now running E85.

    Oldblueaccord <<< MY YOUTUBE PAGE!

  5. #5

    ShiRen's Avatar
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    Re: 86 DX Accord Hatch: Fuel pump issues? Dying while driving

    My fuel tank didn't vent for a long time and it didn't cause an issue. It's definitely a problem if you have a gravity fed fuel tank, but this isn't a motorcycle. I would still suggest fixing it, even if it means removing the vent line

  6. #6

    Dr_Snooz's Avatar
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    Re: 86 DX Accord Hatch: Fuel pump issues? Dying while driving

    You can install a fuel pressure gauge and monitor it.
    Dr_Snooz

    "I like to take hammers, and just break stuff, just break stuff." - Beavis


    1989 Honda Accord LX-i Coupe, 240k miles, MT swap, rear disc swap

    Shop manual downloads available here: CLICK TO VIEW

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