1990 Honda Accord Stumbling / Stalling

DBOAZ

MEMBER
1990 HONDA ACCORD

I have a 1990 Accord EX 2.2 L with an automatic transmission and 234,000 miles. It would not start after sitting for about 30 minutes or so. After repeated tries it finally started but was extremely rough. Stepping on the gas made it die. I tried it again and it seemed to run ok this time. While driving it would threaten to die as I came to a stop. Feathering the gas with the car in neutral kept it running. I suspected the ignition module so I replaced it. I also went ahead and replaced the fuel filter too since it had been a while. It still does not run right. It starts ok, but will die if I try to accelerate hard. If I goose it in park I get the throaty sound, but then it just dies. Any suggestions what this might be?

3 Replies

2CARPRO JACK

MECHANIC
11,533 POSTS

Check the fuel pressure first. Does it have good hot spark, Hondas dont have too many problems beyond the distributor. But you have quite a few miles on it. Any check engine light? If so have it scanned for trouble codes

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Sunday, April 8th, 2007 AT 7:39 AM

DBOAZ

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Thanks Jack. I did not get a chance to check the fuel pressure - don't have the right adapters - but I tested and replaced the ignition coil. The impedence readings were off. I also replaced the cap and rotor. That seemed to do the trick. I guess she was starving for spark. Just out of curiosity, if the fuel pressure were low, would that indicate a defective fuel pump? And if so, is that something that could crop up intermittently? That is, the pressure is fine one day, and then low the next?

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Wednesday, April 11th, 2007 AT 12:08 PM

BRUCE HUNT

MECHANIC
3,753 POSTS

It could crop up with failures and then work well. Electrical components don't always just drop dead.

Other causes could be crud in the tank plugging it, a plugged fuel filter, fuel pressure regulator, etc

Good job on the diagnosis and fix. Hopefully you can drive trouble-free!

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Wednesday, April 11th, 2007 AT 2:07 PM