sicc_soul916

So my 01 TL with 58K miles ocassionally has a hard time starting. It's not everytime (about 50%), but it does happen everyday. It cranks for a while then finally starts. I know its not the battery or sparkplugs becasue I replaced those within the past 5k. No check engine light or stalling. Could it be the fule pump or relay?? Thanks

Diva 4 Life

I would say most easy fix is to change the fuel filter, then the relay, and last pump. Always least expensive to most.

01tl4tl

diva- please learn more about the TL before dispensing advice

We dont have a replaceable fuel filter, its a `sock` on the pickup inside tank
the pump rarely fails,,running the tank dry several times would do that

Sicc-
First- exactly what spark plugs did you use? If not NGK Iridium or NGK Platinum at 8 dollars each,,they are the wrong plug (denso allowed but cost more)
if you used some 2 buck each plugs- thats your problem
Our engine calls for fancy plugs because of the hi energy ignition which eats normal plugs

Even a brand new battery can fail- parts stores will test the system for free
Could even be old battery cables!

but what plugs is the starting point
if those are correct then do the egr port and passage cleaning of the intake manifold
You are about right on miles for needing it, and guessing that car got driven a lot of short trips, which loads up everything with crud

Diva 4 Life

I'm sorry 01tl4tl, I didn't know we didn't have one. i thought all cars had a changeable fuel filter.

01tl4tl

just dont want noobs searching the car for a filter thats not there!
didnt mean it as attack on you in any way if I came across wrong there,,bad morning~

It is possible to clog the sock- if you buy gas filled with dirt~
otherwise, your choice of fuel injection system cleaner run thru the gas will keep it in shape..bg redline seafoam all good products- read and use at max allowed dose for most effect for your money

vale76

Checklist sequence >>>> first >> battery >> plugs >> coils >> egr port cleaning >> starter.

my.daily'tl'

OP...do you hear the pump prime when you turn the key on??
Used to have a similiar problem here.
Not start once in a while. Turned out to be main relay. Bad solder joints. Worse when the car was parked in the sun.

sicc_soul916

thanks guys for the input. I got the fancy dancy $10 NKG plugs, I was thinking the relay but if it was the relay would it not happen everytime?.....I do live just north of hell (phoenix, AZ) and it has been over 110 the past 2 weeks

01tl4tl

time to look at the intake manifold egr ports
most can expect them to clog by 75kmiles and need cleaning with carb cleaner and wire rod

my.daily'tl'

Solder joints can open or close with temperature. Sometimes when my car is extremely hot inside it might not start. I pull out the main relay to blow it off n cool it down and it starts!

my.daily'tl'

This explains it in further detail.

http://techauto.tripod.com/

There are others that can be found on google. "honda main relay"

Karanx7

iTrader: (2)

He has an 01 TL. If I remember correctly, only the 99 TL had the issue with the main relay. Even then, it was an all or none type of deal.

That solder connection will crack and disconnect/reconnect as the temperature changes accordingly. However, I am pretty sure it would just prevent the car from starting, even with a shoddy connection.

I would rule out the main relay. Check your battery cables and clean them if dirty. From what I've read, getting a grounding kit makes the car start up instantly. Using that logic, maybe one of your cables has developed too much resistance.

TLer trash

^ I disagree. I've found main/efi relays to be so intermittent and unpredictable that I often recommend replacement to customers just based on symptoms. This is assuming no real problem is found during diagnosis. I've yet to eat one of the ones I've guessed on.

01tl4tl

a grounding kit with 4 wires to a central point will overcome 1 bad wire
but not the main battery to ground cable..others are bonus ground points

but in this case I wouldnt be surprised if the batt cables are shot inside
If you get ongoing crud buildup on the terminals, thats a battery vent location issue -allows it to eat the terminals
and may indicate low fluid level in batt also (guess how I know) stupid non-refillable battery!!
my new battery has vents on the side, not top- so no prob with that anymore~

Notice the trends that run here, and techs can verify it happens:
problems seem to run in sets, it will be a week or month of water pump failures, or wheel bearings on almost every car etc,,then it changes to something else and you wont see that first problem for months

this last week on here its been battery cable- slow/no start issues, low batt voltage to trans selenoids etc..a theme is running here
Summer is hard on the electrical system- get a free ck at parts stores everywhere
10 years is good lifespan on these cables

sicc_soul916

cables are clean and like new, battery was actually replaced by Acura (and Acura loves to suggest anything and everything to be replaced if it has any wear). Im gonna go pick up a new relay and see, will repost with results

01tl4tl

they may not test the cables,,they can look good on the end and be crudded inside

sicc_soul916

Got new relay, still wont start right up
It seems to be doing it more and more now. I do hear the sound of the fuel pump. I can always get it to start, it just takes 2, sometimes 3 trys. Any other ideas before I take it to Acura?

Karanx7

iTrader: (2)

Called it like a boss. You don't have to take it to Acura for a diagnosis. They will prob charge you $100. A good local mechanic can also diagnose it for cheaper.

01tl4tl

see other thread on hard start- solution was battery cables!!

new batt didnt fix it, 2nd new battery didnt fix it
severe crud growth on terminals in short time...inside of cable ends looked ok

didnt want to believe ME ,,,,cut one open and guess whats inside!
CRUD!!! causes loss of juice thru pos cable and weak ground for that cable

the other possible is the ignition switch--does wiggling the key make any differance starting or once running and move leys- what does it do?

sicc_soul916

should I replace all batt cables, power and ground, or just one?....wiggling the key makes no difference

01tl4tl

definetly the ground/Negative cable and the Positive cable that attach to the battery
both will have that crud

There are a few small ground wires running from body to engine, you can remove and sand clean the contact area for those and reinstall--

01tl4tl

if possible ie: 2nd car/buddy available

remove both cables and take in to the parts store
they can match by length and purpose, or some places can custom make them from a spool of wire and a box of cable ends,,larger wire for amp if needed..still less the 135!!

sicc_soul916

gonna be a weekend project, cant thank you enough for the info/tips, will update with what happens next

01tl4tl

get some pics if able,,help the rest of us out
This is something all of us will need at some point- wires dont last forever
and electricity at the right voltage and amps is important

sicc_soul916

Holy sheet, it looks much worse in person. It looks like if i even touched it, that it would crumble to pieces (This is the ground wire at the block)

01tl4tl

I dont know--sounds like a bad fuel pump to me

sicc_soul916

Seriously?

01tl4tl

the red ink means sarcasm
not to be taken as advice,,was punning earlier post and multi thoughts without looking at the real prob- batt cables

sicc_soul916

ooooohhhh, I was like WTF?

sicc_soul916

Old vs. New.

sicc_soul916

01tl4tl.....YOU ARE THE MUTHAF***IN' MAN!!! Starts right up now, THANK YOU!!!!!

01tl4tl

did you do just the grounds?
main ground from battery, and whatever other small ones you found?

cables- DIY or ??? cost?

we should all inspect these wires!

sicc_soul916

Power wire was ok. Got the complete ground assembly from Acura for $22 (main ground wire to block and small to body and all connections). Did it myself in about 15 minutes. Very easy just had to squeeze my arm/hand through the radiator hoses to get to the ground on the block.

Karanx7

iTrader: (2)

It's almost as if I logic tends to lead toward correct diagnosis...

slstse

http://lolrpoints.com/index.php?id=383796