1996 Accord Won't start when weather is cold and damp

"tvandy" wrote in
79g2000cws.googlegroups.com:

> I have a 1996 Accord that has the same problem every year at this time.
> When the weather gets cold and damp the car will not start. The
> battery and starter appear to be strong. It acts as if no gas is
> getting through, or if moisture is in the fuel. After several minutes
> and many attemps the car will finally start. This has been going on
> for the past 3 years. No one seems to have any ideas. Any help hear
> would be greatly appreciated. Again, this only occurs at this time of
> year.
>


How old are the plug wires?

--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/
 >> Stay informed about: 1996 Accord Won't start when weather is cold and damp 

Cracked distributor cap or old wires would be my first
suspicion.

When was the last time this car had a tuneup (new plugs,
wires, distributor cap and rotor, timing check, air filter,
fuel filter, maybe a bottle of Chevron Techron dumped in the
fuel tank, all ignition parts OEM)?

See http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/faq.html#startrun for
more discussion.

"tvandy" wrote
>I have a 1996 Accord that has the same problem every year
>at this time.
> When the weather gets cold and damp the car will not
> start. The
> battery and starter appear to be strong. It acts as if no
> gas is
> getting through, or if moisture is in the fuel. After
> several minutes
> and many attemps the car will finally start. This has
> been going on
> for the past 3 years. No one seems to have any ideas.
> Any help hear
> would be greatly appreciated. Again, this only occurs at
> this time of
> year.
>
 >> Stay informed about: 1996 Accord Won't start when weather is cold and damp 

This almost always happens after sitting overnight.
motsco_ wrote:
> tvandy wrote:
> > I have a 1996 Accord that has the same problem every year at this time.
> > When the weather gets cold and damp the car will not start. The
> > battery and starter appear to be strong. It acts as if no gas is
> > getting through, or if moisture is in the fuel. After several minutes
> > and many attemps the car will finally start. This has been going on
> > for the past 3 years. No one seems to have any ideas. Any help hear
> > would be greatly appreciated. Again, this only occurs at this time of
> > year.
> >
> ====================================
>
> WHEN does it always happen? Only after sitting overnight, or in the
> middle of the day / evening after it's been driven recently ? ?
>
> 'Curly'
 >> Stay informed about: 1996 Accord Won't start when weather is cold and damp 

I am having the same problem with my 1996 accord. What was the recommendation?

I have changed my wires, distributor cap, spark plugs, main relay switch, computer, starter, fuel filter, and it still will not start when temperature drops below 60 degrees. It takes me about 10 mins. or more to get it started in the mornings. When it finally does start after cranking on it for a while, it runs rough for a minute then straightens itself out.

What else do I need to check?

Please help. Thank you.

Susan W.
 >> Stay informed about: 1996 Accord Won't start when weather is cold and damp 

Susan_W wrote:
> I am having the same problem with my 1996 accord. What was the
> recommendation?
>
> I have changed my wires, distributor cap, spark plugs, main relay
> switch, computer, starter, fuel filter, and it still will not start
> when temperature drops below 60 degrees. It takes me about 10 mins.
> or more to get it started in the mornings. When it finally does start
> after cranking on it for a while, it runs rough for a minute then
> straightens itself out.
>
> What else do I need to check?
>
> Please help. Thank you.
>
> Susan W.

=====================================

Sounds like you've had some bad advice in the past. _If it only happens
after the vehicle has been sitting several hours_ (overnight), it may
just be flooding. Your manual tells you how to start a flooded Honda.
Fuel injector cleaner three or four times a year will usually make that
problem (dripping injector) go away.

My Honda starts at -40 degrees, but I have to do like the manual says,
holding the pedal half-way to the floor.

'Curly'
 >> Stay informed about: 1996 Accord Won't start when weather is cold and damp 

Bad Coolant temperature sensor will cause hard starting when cold.

The fuel enrichment mode uses coolant temp to raise the idle speed as well
as the air/fuel ratio.

"Susan_W" wrote in message

>I am having the same problem with my 1996 accord. What was the
> recommendation?
>
> I have changed my wires, distributor cap, spark plugs, main relay
> switch, computer, starter, fuel filter, and it still will not start
> when temperature drops below 60 degrees. It takes me about 10 mins.
> or more to get it started in the mornings. When it finally does start
> after cranking on it for a while, it runs rough for a minute then
> straightens itself out.
>
> What else do I need to check?
>
> Please help. Thank you.
>
> Susan W.
>
> "tvandy" wrote:
> > I have a 1996 Accord that has the same problem every year at
> > this time.
> > When the weather gets cold and damp the car will not start.
> > The
> > battery and starter appear to be strong. It acts as if no gas
> > is
> > getting through, or if moisture is in the fuel. After several
> > minutes
> > and many attemps the car will finally start. This has been
> > going on
> > for the past 3 years. No one seems to have any ideas. Any
> > help hear
> > would be greatly appreciated. Again, this only occurs at this
> > time of
> > year.
>
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 >> Stay informed about: 1996 Accord Won't start when weather is cold and damp 

90% of the time it's caused by a bad distributor cap or rotor, or bad plug wires. If there's even the slightest crack in the cap you'll get moisture (condensation) in the cap and it won't start. Same with old/bad plug wires, when it sits - mostly overnight you'll get some condensation on the wires and they short out. I've seen it happen to quite a few cars in the past.
The best way to check it is to go out very late at night or very early in the morning (while it's DARK) and open the hood. Have someone else crank it over and look for sparks "dancing" around under the hood - sometimes it's quite the impressive light show even!!

short answer - replace cap/rotor and plug wires, and that should take care of it...at least in 90% of the cases that is.
 >> Stay informed about: 1996 Accord Won't start when weather is cold and damp