Knight Rider 357

Mom's 2003 CL will not start anymore. For a year and a half it would sporadically not start, always cranks but would not turn over but then would eventually turn over after waiting or trying more times, then would start fine and drive fine for months, then for the past 2 or 3 months it would not start anymore again but then start if you waited, no real pattern, always cranks. One time it did conk out on her on the road when stopped but she got it started again. After a 2 week vacation it started fine but now it won't start at all no matter what, still cranks. Lights come on when key goes in, battery fully charged and new. We replaced the Fuel relay sensor under the steering wheel and it made no difference, solder points were good on old one. Spark plugs are bone dry, no smell of fuel, does not appear to be any spark when we check when cranking but not sure if I am doing it right. Any ideas?

thoiboi

could just be a bad starter too.

do you hear the fuel pump prime when you turn key to accessory?

no smell of fuel is odd though if you keep cranking surely the engine gets flooded with fuel and you'll DEFINITELY smell it.. if not, maybe the fuel pump isn't priming at all

Knight Rider 357

I don't hear the fuel pump when I try to listen.

thoiboi

Then its likely a bad main relay, very common on these cars .

Knight Rider 357

I replaced the Fuel relay sensor under the steering wheel, it made no difference.

Skillz89

I would see if you can loosen the fuel rail or line to see if fuel is going to your fuel injectors. That way you will know if it's the pump. You will need an extra set of hands and a rag or bucket to catch the gas. I did this to find out it was my main fuel relay that was bad.

whitetiger5

There's an safer / easier way to see if you have fuel pressure, connect a pressure gauge to the fuel line just before the fuel rail. the procedure is documented in the service manual.

You'll want to look at that part of the manual anyhow since it's highly likely to be a fuel pump.

smcafee

Had the same experience on my 2003 CL; Replaced the Main Relay with Wells Brand and it sometimes started.

Replaced with OEM Honda; Now works 100% of the time.

Knight Rider 357

Any DIY's or personal experiences trying to test fuel pressure pump. Since the relay sensor made no difference I am leaning to the pump. If it turns out to be pump is there a preferred one to choose, any surprises I should look for when DIY?

thoiboi

what's this "relay sensor" you keep referring to?

Knight Rider 357

This one under the steering wheel, was a popular part that failed and gave similar symptoms.

https://www.partsgeek.com/ld12hsv-ac...rm=Acura+Relay

Knight Rider 357

The fuel pump seems to work when I test it running power from the battery through jumper cables and touching a pin, I can hear it, when I turn the key but don't crank I get a pretty weak reading on a multimeter of 1/10 volt.

thoiboi

Yeah.. that's just a relay, no sensor.


Replace with with a new OEM one and try again

Knight Rider 357

Why would the OEM make a difference? There was zero difference trying to start with the old OEM and the new one we got from Autozone.

I tried starting it while also running the fuel pump with spark plugs/leads quickly and nothing, plugs are still bone dry. Smells like rubbing alcohol, not gasoline/fuel after when I tried starting it. Is there anything between the fuel pump and cylinders that could be stopping it from starting?

thoiboi

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-cl-p...roblem-495108/


Because it's cheap insurance and better than the alternative of pulling your fuel rails and seeing if fuel comes out.

Knight Rider 357

Problem solved. Right before we were about to have it towed to the dealership because everything we tried was not working, checked fuses one more time and the fuel relay was blown. Fuses were checked before hand but somewhere along the line the fuse was blown before the new sensor was put in. Put a new fuse in, tried the old fuel relay, nothing, still just cranking, put the new relay in, checked fuse again and as soon as key was turned I heard the fuel pump in the engine and it started right up. Glad I saved a lot of money for the dealership to replace the fuse.

dond123

I had intermittent stalling issues with my 2001 CL. The engine would just die. After I coasted to the shoulder I could get it to restart after cranking for a while. The problems began when the weather in the northeast became hot.

I skipped over aftermarket and went right to the OEM Acura fuel pump relay, and I have not had any problems since. This is evidently a very common problem, especially in hot weather.

Daskal

Is this true even if you're running with the A/C in hot weather? You would think the A/C would mitigate temperature having any effect.

dond123

Yes, true. The AC is on only when you are in the car. The interior gets extremely hot when the car sits in the sun. Mine only started giving me trouble in June when it got hot here in the northeast.

Maybe it is years of temperature swings the cause the problems?

Daskal

Understood, makes sense - thanks.