83' with fuel problems

[RustyHo88]

I used to frequent the site, but I have long since lost my '84 and '88 accords. My dad has an '83 accord with some problems, here's the scoop:

1) The car is impossible to start in cold weather, but starts fine when its above freezing. The batter was recently replaced and tests out fine. Is this a carburetor problem or something else?

2) When you are driving the car, it will completely die on you sometimes, it seems like the engine is not getting any fuel. Carburetor or fuel pump?

3) If you give the car too much gas at once (try to accelerate too quickly; try to keep it running when it starts) it will die. Carburetor or fuel pump?

4) When you hit the brakes, the right front wheel does not do a good job of stopping. The brakes are not engaging properly. Depressing the brake pedal over and over does not help, and the pedal does not increase in resistance. Is this a brake in the fuel line or bad calipers?

Thanks for the help guys.

[2ndGenGuy]

1) First off what is happening when you try to start it? Is the starter actually working? Is it turning the engine over, or just clicking, or are you getting nothing?

2) Also what do you mean completely dying? Is it just the engine dying or do you lose all your electrical as well?

3) I would guess carbureator. Actually after reading the top two, it almost sounds like your choke isn't working properly or something. It's entirely possible that your fuel pump isn't working either...

Do a quick check on your fuel pump, when you are seeing these problems, pop the fuel line off of the fuel filter and try to start it... you should get a good amount of fuel coming out.

Also, have you replaced the fuel filters recently? Could be they are plugged too.

4) I would say to take your brakes off and clean the sliders with a wire wheel and relube them. At least in my experience it's the main reason that brakes stick or don't work. They get corroded and dirty and won't slide anymore. They can either get stuck open or stuck closed, in which case your brakes heat up and rotors warp. I would take them apart and do that first, since it's cheap, all you need is the wire wheel and some brake caliper lube. It's about a $5 fix, and you can look and see what else might be wrong in there at the same time.

If that doesn't fix it, it's possible that you have a frozen piston in the caliper, which means you can either attempt to rebuild them or just buy a new one. A new one is the fastest and easiest thing to do, but rebuilding them yourself is much cheaper. But theres also a good chance that the brake cylinders are screwed if its frozen and you won't be able to rebuild anyways...

[RustyHo88]

1) It tries to turn over, I actually replaced the starter for my dad a few months back. It just won’t turn over when it tries to start.
2) It’s just the engine that dies.
3) I’ll give that fuel pump idea a try. Yes, we replaced the fuel filters as well.
4) We tried relubing the sliders after cleaning them up. I guess the next step is to replace the caliper (I don’t want to even try to rebuild it). Hopefully the cylinders are still ok.

Thanks for the help.

[2ndGenGuy]

Yeah, my first inclination is that most of these problems are being caused by the fuel pump. The fuel pump has been going out in my 84 for a while, and I'll be just driving and the engine will die... I get those same long startups where the car will decide not to start. My problem was just the fuel pump.

I would also say replace the caliper if you're having problems with the brakes on a specific wheel. Sounds like the right way to go.

Let us know how it all works out.

[xvok]

unless its the stock carb then there about a bejilloin vacume lines that could be disconnected lol but try the pupm first thats a bit cheeper and easier to fix