Hey guys,

Well thanksgiving morning was a disaster for my acura tl.
I work night shift and got off work thanksgiving morning. I went out to my car and tried to start it. It would just keep cranking and would not start.
I checked battery terminals and all spark plug wires and everything checked out good.
I also noticed tht when i turn the ignition on the fuel pump doesnt sound. Anyways after trying over and over I couldnt get it to start. I even had my friend hook jumper cables for the hell of it and it still would just crank over but no start.
So, im thinking fuel pump relay or fuel pump.
We cracked the fuel filter top bolt loose and turned ignition to ON, no fuel shot out so I know its not getting pressure.
Anyways, about 5 hours later I return to work and try to start the car again. This time i hear the fuel pump turn on and it fires right up! It stays running for maybe 3 minutes then all of a sudden it dies. I try to start it again and still only cranks but no start. I tried tapping the main relay and it did nothing.
Anyways, its stuck at the work parking lot.
I am going to buy both the main fuel relay and new fuel pump. First I will try replacing the main relay if that does nothing then I will try to change the fuel pump in the parking lot. Hopefully its just the main relay, that way I can just return the fuel pump to advance auto.
My question is can I change the fuel pump through the trunk?
I noticed from inside the trunk I can see the top of the fuel pump. Also, I have a full tank of gas in the tank, would I have to drain it?
Please help guys! THanks.

 

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_is_t...96_acura_2.5TL
Google is your friend

 

Ok thanks, i did search google but must of missed that link.
I sure hope its just the relay and not the pump. Cause if its the pump Im going to have to get it towed to a shop and pay for labor.
What do you think the chances are its just the relay and not the pump? Do you usually get warning signs that a fuel pump is going bad? Because this is the first time that ive ever had this problem where it just cranks and doesnt start. The car has never died while driving it either.
It used to always just start up instantly on the first crank. Anyways, i called advance auto and they have a main fuel pump relay for 56 bucks. Im going to go pick it up today.

Just to be sure its the correct one can someone take a look at this link.
Here is the link to it, does this look like the correct one?

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Relay-BWD-Intermotor_3039242-P_2427_R|GRPRELAAMS_____

 

Seems like it would be the right one, by your description it really could be either one but this is the obvious place to start, hopefully this will be the fix, Id hate to have to pull the tank and do the pump. BTW you can DIY if you have a few friends and a weekend and have some mechanical ability.

 

Well guys I thought i would give you an update on the status of my TL.
Last sunday I went back to work with the new fuel main relay thinking it would solve my problem.
I plugged it in and it didnt start the first time. After another try the car fired right up. It ran perfect, then about 3 mins later the car just died.
I tried again a few more times and still just cranking and no start.
Anyways after about an hour i decided i had to get the car towed to a local shop. Unfortunately, I work about 3 hours away from my home. I stay at hotels during my work week then go back home. Otherwise, i would of taken it my garage.

The truck came and towed it to their shop. So now im thinking if the main relay didnt work it would most likely be the fuel pump is bad.
Anyways, I dont get a call from the mechanic till about a day later. He tells me they had been working on it all day and that they were able to get it to run for about half an hour, and just as they were about to test drive it, the car died again.

Finally after being in the shop for 4 days I finally get a call from them saying that they tested the fuel pump and it tests out good. They also, put a new OEM honda relay in just to test it and it still wouldnt work.
They finally did some electronic testing and found that the ECU is causing the problem and that it is definetly bad. They said something about it not turning on the fuel injectors with the PGMI system.

He said honda charges 1100 bucks for one! I told him if it was going to cost that much then i cant afford it. Anyways, he said he can get a used one for $350 with a 6 month warranty. Which i agreed to, cause at this time I have no choice unless i take it back home 150 miles away, and i need this car to get to work.
Anyways, he said he should have the new ECU tommorow and it should fix the problem. But he could not guarantee it, because there could also be a problem with something shorting out the computer. But he did confirm that the ECU was bad.

Anyways, guy have any of you had bad ecus in these TL's or any other hondas? And does this mechanic sound correct?

It sucks having to bum rides everyday to work, lol.

 

It sounds feasible, but Honda Ecu's, especially older ones like ours, tend to be pretty good. I hope this solves your problems

 

IIRC one other member had ECU problem on a 2.5TL years ago. Good Luck!

 

ok guys its been about 4 days since i got my car back from the shop. Turns out the computer was what was bad and now it starts up. I just drove 150 miles and so far so good, knock on wood. He showed me the old ecu and opened it up. I could see about 3 of the little blue capacitors that had burn marks around them.

So i dont know whether the ecu just gave up due to age or that something shorted out. I sure hope its just due to age