Honda Repair: 1991 Honda Accord - slow starting problem, degrees celcius, platinum plugs

Question
Hi,

I bought a 1991 Honda Accord EXR (automatic) last Spring.  

Once in a while back then I would have trouble starting it.  It would start fine, but it would just take a few seconds to start.  

I tried to keep track of anything different on those days - weather, amount of gas in the tank, etc.  I didn't find anything similar on the days I had trouble with it.  There were a few days in a row where I really had trouble.  I checked the spark plugs, which were pretty bad.  I put new platinum plugs in, and that seemed to make a huge difference.  I thought my problem was solved.

Then when it started to get cold, I've been having the same problem pretty much every day. The coldest it's been so far this winter was  minus 22 degrees Celcius (minus 8 degrees Farenheit).  It had the same amount of trouble on that day as on others, but it did start after a few seconds.

I've tried turning everything off (lights, radio, heater, etc.) so nothing's on when I start the car.  I've also tried turning the key to the "on" position for a few seconds first.  Neither seems to help.  I've tried to listen for a sound when I turn the key to "on", and I'm not sure if I'm hearing anything.

I haven't had my battery tested, but a mechanic told me a few months ago that he thought it was just a year or two old.

After a few seconds (some days maybe 2-3 seconds, other days it's more like 5-6 and I'm afraid to do it that long), it has always started.  The problem is usually after it's been sitting overnight or at least many hours.  

If I start it, let it run for just a few seconds or a minute or whatever and then shut it off and re-start it, it starts quickly and perfectly the second time.  I don't know very much about cars, but it seems as though that would mean it's not the battery, because that few seconds isn't enough for the battery to re-charge.

A couple more things - sometimes when it takes longer than about 2-3 seconds to start, the engine really kind of sputters and does this big chugging thing before it finally starts.

I tried putting a bottle of gas line antifreeze or water removal stuff or whatever into the gas tank, and that didn't seem to help either.

Also, I've never had trouble with the car stalling, even in the very cold weather.  Once it's started, it runs fine.  The only thing is that sometimes from a stop it seems to take a long time to get it going (pick up speed).  But it's not like it's a race car or anything, so I'm not sure if that's normal.  It's not horrible, just not as fast as I'd like from a stop.  (It also changes gears a little roughly and sometimes a bit late, once the dial is at or just past the "3", but I think that's just the transmission, probably normal for an older automatic transmission Honda, and completely unrelated to this starting problem).

I've done some research on the internet, and it seems as though it may be the fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator, or something like that.  If so, would the weather and temperature have anything to do with that?

Do you know how easy it is to check the fuel pump, etc. for pressure, leaks, etc. and how much I should expect to pay just to find the problem?

Thank you very, very much in advance, I really appreciate it!

Monica

Answer
TO CHECK THE FUEL PUMP TAKES FIVE MINS JUST GET A FUEL PRESSSURE CHECK AND STOCK ACCORDS SHOULD BE USING ABOUT 37-40PSI FOR FUEL. IF IT IS THE FUEL PUMP ITS ABOUT $150-200 FROM A DEALERSHIP. CHECK THE FUEL FILTER AND THE FUEL INJECTORS FOR CLOGS IT CAN BE SOMETHING REAL CHEAP AND SIMPLE LIKE THE FUEL FILTER WHICH IS ABOUT $12 SO CHECK ON THOSE.