Fellows, need help here,

Car cranks, but won't start. I know we all had starter problem (clicking but no crank is the sympton), but this car cranks and the starter was replaced 20K miles ago.

I am thinking clogged fuel filter? bad fuel pump? or ignition....

Any ideas?

Oh yeah, location of the fuel filter for the 3.2 pleaseeee.

 

hmm battery might be dead....

 

I am pretty sure by now it is the fuel system. I need to know where the fuel pump is for the 3.2, anyone?

 

I am only guessing, but if it's like everuy other Honda I've owned, it's an in-tank fuel pump. Take off the back seat, and you should see a round plastic or metal piece in the middle of the floor where the lower rear seat was. That is the fuel pump. On some cars you have to drop the gas tank, but I don't think so with this one. Should be there under the seat. Fuel filter should be somewhere on the firewall, cylindrical shape, follow the fuel rail if you take off the vanity cover on the motor.

 

Thanks alot Cornflake, I really appreciated.

I listened to the car with the key in ignition, and i heard the humming of the fuel pump, so i guess thats ok.

Anyone with bright ideas? Injectors?

arrff, i guess gotta tow it...

 

if your headlights and radio work but the car wont start the its your starter. if the radio and headlight dont work as well as your engine..its your battery

 

i thought the fuel pump was in the trunk....but that's my guess

 

The starters on both the 2.5 and 3.2 are a little unreliable. Mine does that occasionally. I just leave the ignition in ACC (accessory, turns on the fans, lights, radio etc) for about 5 or 10 seconds and then turn it on. It runs just fine.

 

double check the battery terminals, 100% positive that "clicking and no starting" has to do with insufficient amperage. Either take your battery to go get replaced or, tighten those terminals, or double check to see if the contacts are clean of any debris etc.

 

Thanks alot guys for all ur inputs.

I am sure its not the battery, and most likely its not the starter. Cuz the car cranks healthy, sometimes catches but fails to maintain idle.

 

I would definately try the fuel filter first then, should be pretty cheap and can definately cause that problem. Have you cleaned/changed air filter lately? That could also cause problems if it's really bad, honestly. If not, could be an ignition problem. Problem with 3.2 tl is no cap/rotor, all coil-packs. You're over my head there man, have you done a full tune-up recently? Plugs, air filter, fuel filter, cleaned throttle body, etc.

 

what a coincidence.
my 96 2.5tl isn't starting today either. 1st time this happened.
it does crank but doesn't catch.
and the radio works (which yesterday was wierd, suddenly had a glitch of some sort, press the 'next track' button, it powers off then back on again....really wierd, 1st time it happend, have a alpine hu, anyway).

going to check lights and try the 5-10 sec thing ken1997tl said.

any other ideas???


fyi. i have a sound system and 4 neons. 2 amps hooked up directly to the battery w/ 4 ga. wire. (1 farad capacitor to the sub amp.) neons are directly hooked up to battery also. SHOULD I DISCONNECT ALL THAT. WILL IT DO ANYTHING?

thanks guys.

ps. haven't posted here in such a long time. looking for the advice from wiser ppl!

 

As long as the stereo and neons are off, the shouldn't have an effect on starting as power gets cut to them anyways. BUT they may have already done damage to both your alternator and battery. I've already had to change the battery in mine, and all I have is two amps (two BIG amps, but still). Alternator has been ok so far, but we'll see. Honda's are known for having small alternators that don't take to stereos too well.

 

Well, it is warmer now in New York. As i expected, the car starts again. My guess, sth with the fuel system

 

I did what what ken1997tl suggested. leave it in acc for little bit then start. worked. don't know what the problem was or if that will always work but anyway car start now and means I CAN get over to urbana for the third eye blind show!

thanks for the help guys.

 

Thats good to hear, I'm getting the emission recall done to my car soon, maybe that will help things out. I only have problems starting the car after it hasnt been running for more than 12 hours. I just leave the key in ACC for about 10 seconds and pretend to look around if I have passengers (its all about image! )

 

hehe, yea me too. hard time starting after its been sitting for a long time. >1 day.

got a car wash yesterday at this place where you get towed through the wash, at the end of the wash, I put it in drive and the engine died right then.. first time ever happend. i was like wtf! anyway, I think I might get a new alternator anyway.

what you think could have cause the stall?

 

If you have a 2.5, check your wires.

 

GTspecNYC: did you get my pm?

 

GTspecNYC, it might be ur battery. that just happened to me. the radio worked, i think the lights worked a little, and it made the noise u described. I thought it was a fuel system problem when i heard it too, but a new battery fixed it all.

 

I know this thread is old, but am wondering if GTspecNYC got his TL fix... hoping so. I had the same problem whenever it was humid or had been raining for a few days straight. Turned out to be a cracked distributor cap. Replaced both Cap and Rotor and no problems with the car in the rain or on humid days. Just like you said, when it was warmer out no problems starting. Anyway, hope you got your ride fixed!

 

It snowed in KC today and I left my 2.5 TL outside overnight. I dusted the snow off (several inches) and tried to start it. It cranked, but wouldn't turn over. During the summer, I had the same issue after a very heavy rain. I had it towed, but by the time it got to the garage, it must have dried out because it started and they couldn't find anything wrong.

Any ideas on how to get this started today? I'm assuming a jump won't help since the lights and radio work. Would it help if I get it pushed into my garage and let it dry out and warm up? Would it help if I turn the key to ACC for a few seconds?

I appreciate your help. I'm by myself and don't know squat about cars. I hate to pay for a tow if I don't have to.

Thanks.

 

the same thing happened to my car...twice! after a hard rain and also, after snowing. i will try leaving the key in the ACC position for 10 seconds as recommended by one of you guys. hopefully, it'll do the trick.

 

how can you tell if the starter is dead? when i try to start the car, it sounds like it's choking