2000 Accord V6. I have the issue where if my car has been running for a while then it runs fine. However, once I turn it off it won't start. I have to wait for something to cool down for like 20 mins before it starts up again. And when it starts up it feels weak.

I changed the relay recently because the car wouldn't start at all even when cold, but that didn't fix the problem of the hot start.

Then yesterday the issue came up when I was out for only 20 minutes. I waited like 40 minutes this time and it worked. Then I left to get a haircut which took about 30 minutes. The car wouldn't start. However, I heard a single click and no turnover from the engine. My mechanic passed by and tried hammering the starter to no avail. He thought for sure the starter took a crap and also that it was hot. I towed the car home.

Then at 1am, hours later, the car starts no problem. Turned it off and started it back up again. Hes going to pass by tomorrow to check the volts on the starter for both occasions to see if it varies. Whats the answer to this mystery?
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Bump for the Monday crew

 

Have the battery load-tested to see what kind of voltage it is putting out.

 

As gat said, have the battery load tested. Also check all battery connections and the ground cable. All must be clean with good contact. A weak battery can cause the starter to overheat, thereby increasing it's resistance.

If this checks out good, then most likely it's your starter. If the windings are poor, and the starter hot, then it's resistance will be high and it definitely won't crank as it's supposed to.


Terry

 

Allow me to clarify something. When the car has the problems starting when hot, the car will crank but then immediately shut off. I'd have to hold down the gas to keep it on but once released it will die.

 

That to me spells a fuel pump problem.

 

Also when it does finally crank up, the car drives really rough for a few minutes, then runs fine after that. If it's the fuel pump how much are we talking?

 

I had a similar situation with my old 98 Accord. When it was hot outside, it would not start. I read it could be the fuel pump relay under the drivers side dash. I had it replaced and it was fine after that.

BTW, I believe it is also called the main relay switch. I paid about $50 for the part online. It seems to be common with 6th gen Accords.

 

edit: looks like you changed the relay already. My bad.

Maybe the fuel pump then. Could it be the Top Dead Sensor?

 

I triggered a check engine light so I'm going to borrow the scanning tool from Advance.

 

Can a starter trigger a CEL? I had a single click on Saturday which is very atypical of the previous bad starts. Then it happened again this morning. I plan on changing the starter but also running the code obviously.

 

Still have the battery load-tested and then have the codes read. If replacing the fuel pump is not that hard (it's in the trunk), then you might want to do a remove-and-replace.

 

What a mission. I changed the starter and it cranks beautifully. Of course doing it with hand tools after 10 years of crap and water splashing into the connections sure made it tough. Plus it rained all 3 hours when I did it. Thank God my neighbor was there to hold the light and umbrella. I haven't had the car get really hot since it was cold today (for Miami). Last night I sat in Taco Bell drive thru for 15 mins and it started up fine. Plus the CEL disappeared. We'll see before we crack the champagne open.

 

Had the same problem with my 2001 Acura TL. My solution? I unscrewed the positive end leading to spark the starter and then cleaned it and screwed it back on very hard and evenly. Since then my starter never failed, well idk cus i sold the car 2 weeks later lol. (I hope the first part made sense, idk the proper terms for the parts.)

 

Well after an hour and a half in traffic (slower than usual), I got home, turned it off, and it started back up. So I'm happy right. But then I had to leave 20 mins later and no go. The crank is powerful thanks to the starter but the car doesn't want to stay on. No CEL neither. If it's a fuel pump, how can I test? Same for FPR? Funds are light since the wife got laid off. FUCK YOU RECESSION!!!!