8.5

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$110
Average Mileage:
146,150 miles
Total Complaints:
4 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (3 reports)
  2. it has started every time ever since main relay was ins (1 reports)
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problem #4

Apr 172018

Accord 2.2L

  • Manual transmission
  • 190,140 miles

The temp drops a bit and then the car takes 2 min to start. We thought it was the fuel pump but you can hear it turn on and off so my next guess it TPS or IACV because the idle revs seem to be high and don't really seem to be dropping.

- Colin W., Calgary, AB, Canada

problem #3

Jun 122002

Accord LX 2.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 185,000 miles

I could not find which part you were referring to. Thank you for clarifying that it was a Main Relay. Unfortunately I have tried changing the Main Relay previously and continue to have intermittent problems. It is possible my replacement relay was bad from the start but since you can't return electrical parts, and I don't want to spend another $60 on a wild goose chase, I'm left to be frustrated. I have put hundreds of dollars in to the car and need to draw the line and cut my losses. I have just been reluctant to sell it for a dime and see someone put a $2 part in it that takes care of the issue. In it's day it was a great car but my neighbors are sick of seeing it sit in my driveway. I think it's time to take it out back and put it out of it's misery.

Thanks again

Joe

- Joe M., Dublin, CA, US

problem #2

Jun 142009

Accord LX 4 cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 81,000 miles

For 2 yrs I've had the ONGOING problem of my 1991 Honda Accord LX not starting everytime the temperature OUTSIDE gets WARM (In other words most of the summer. I have had 2 new batteries, a new starter, everthing that could possibly be wrong with it checked by an authorized dealer and by a "normal" garage. They all look at me like I'm some kind of "NUT" when I tell them this. It will start with the aid of the hook on starters from someone else's engine. I love this old car with 81,000 miles on it, but I'm just about at my wit's end and feel like pushing it over a cliff, as it's the same old thing, no expert garage mechanic can find out what's wrong with it and it has become extremely unreliable for me to go anywhere anymore (unless it's COOL OUTSIDE) Is there anyone else on this planet who has EVER heard of this. I know it sounds CRAZY, but it's true. Please someone, help me.

Update from Jun 21, 2009: Thanks to ALL of you who have replied. I was really at my wit's end. Took it to an independent garage (NOT A DEALERSHIP), where I had "diagnostic testing" to the tune of $250, and they "had never heard of the problem", and after a call to Honda Mfg. in Torrence CA, who also said the same thing. Never, ever heard of THIS complaint, not on the books. So, thanks to this wonderful website, the independent garage man (who happens to be Chinese) told me that he's replaced AT LEAST a dozen or more in Honda Accords OLDER than the year 2000. Cost: Part $68.00, labor $40.00 and then, of course, dear old Pennsylvania TAX. If this doesn't work, I think I'll just "throw in the towel" and do as my sister tells me "Buy a Subura Outback" ,even though I don't want to get rid of of "dear old friend", whom I've had since brand new in 1991. Thanks to all of you!

Update from May 23, 2010: Hello, I'm back. I have had emails in regard to my post about having this problem corrected. The part is MAIN RELAY, it's located up under the dash, but I wasn't able to watch where, as I usually fix the car myself second time around by watching them the first time. Any person who knows where this "main relay" is located, I'm sure could install it him/her self. The repairman told me that it can also be remedied for free by leaving BOTH doors open, park in the shade, and be sure overhead light is OUT, so battery won't run down. Remember, this happens when it is hot, the car is closed up for a number of hours, and the Main Relay simply gets too hot for the car to start.

- bmet, Lancaster, PA, US

problem #1

Jun 212008

Accord DX 2.0L

  • Manual transmission
  • 128,432 miles

This POS won't start half the time.I jiggle the wires around under the dash with the key on and the check engine light comes on and the car will start then, but halfway to where I'm going the damn thing dies.after "jiggling" the wires again it will start again. What the *%&^ is the problem?

- jasper, Dayton, OH, US