QuestionHello! I have a Honda Accord 07 with 25,000K miles on it. Last saturday in the park (on a hot day) it wouldn't start. I had it towed to the dealer who called me and said for me to bring a second set of keys because everything else seemed fine. He said sometimes the keys malfunction. When I got there about two hours later the other key was working. So there was no way to tell if the new key would work while the old key didn't since they now both worked. (and the car was sitting in the garage.)
I looked online and thought maybe it was the Main Relay. We had another hot day (actually hotter than Saturday) and both keys worked fine.
My dealer said maybe it was just "a fluke."
My question is - what should I do now? Ironically, I had the cars for 61 days when it happened and my contract with the dealer was for 60 days (!). Should I just drive around and wait for it to happen (and hope i don't get stuck somewhere with my two year old daughter) or should I contact the dealer or a Honda dealer (the dealer I bought the car from is not a Honda dealer.) and make them do some kind of tests? Are there tests possible? I still have the 36,000K Warranty - but I'd rather not get stuck anywhere.
Any advice?
AnswerHi Jason,
I have had the same problems before with an Acura Legend sedan. I do know that Hondas do not have chips in their keys like most American cars and yes, mine also occured during Hot weather.
I never had key problems, but out of curiosity one day, I found myself pumping the gas (which I knew I should not do, its an electric pump for crying out loud) so I decided to get out of my car and open my gas cap, then tightened it back again (closed it). Weird and has no scientific explanation to it, the car started right up! I cannot explain the phenomena but it worked for me, repeatedly!
As for a Relays (magnetic switch), thats pretty easy to tell most of the time..it either works or it does not. If the car turns over (starter is engaging) its not an Ignition Relay...I don't think there is a Main Relay but there is a Main Fuse.
Its really sad knowing the car is only 2 years old and it is by no means typical of Hondas, I know the dealers will Try to (key word) "Try to" diagnose the problem but I have yet to run into someone who can come up with an answer for this one. A "phantom" fluke is the worst kind of problem to have because it is so intermitent.
When a car does not start, look at it from a sequential/systematic approach - Fuel, Electrical, Mechanical. Is fuel getting to the engine? Is the ignition system activating/firing (coil, plugs)? and mechanical/electrical - is the starter activating?
In any event, I don't have a definitive for you, I have had success with the gas cap thing and I appologize that I cannot fully diagnose your problem.
