1999 Accord Starting Issue

Question

Hi Scotty, hope you and everyone else at your new location are doing well.

I have a 1999 Accord V6 (automatic) with 116,000 miles ... I inherited it when my mom passed away in 2016. About 2 weeks ago I went out to start the car in my driveway and all it did was crank. (The battery is a solid Odyssey AGM.) I checked for spark, of which there was good indication, checked to see that the cams were turning through the inspection hole and heard the fuel pump going for a few seconds prior to cranking. I scanned the OBD II and found no codes ... it read clean. My suspicion is what Honda calls a Neutral Safety Switch on the transmission. I heard these go bad from time to time. (I even tried starting in neutral.) Your thoughts on that being the issue? If so, is there a way to confirm it prior to getting a new switch? Thank you and stay well. (We auto enthusiasts need you.)

MrRangerZr1 · Answer

Check for fuel issues. If it was the transmission neutral switch, it wouldn't do anything when you turn the key.

TheCarMan · Answer

Hi Ranger,

Thank you for your input. Well, I actually did change the fuel pump and filter (I figured while I'm in the tank to do both) just recently. And the pump does run, so I don't think it's a fuel pressure issue. I can't seem to locate just where to check for pressure at the engine ... but wouldn't such a condition throw a code?

TheCarMan · Answer

Up-Date:

Issue resolved. In my case it seems to have been a failing Fuel Injector relay (AKA Main Relay or PGM-FI Relay or Starter Relay). I removed the original one (located next to the steering column) by disassembling it, exposing the two inner relays. (It was too hard to remove the outer casing.) I then plugged it back into the multi-pin plug and tried starting the car while tapping on the relays. It started right up. Obviously one of them was sticking or loosely connected, so I ordered a new one and will replace it once it arrives. Since it's very difficult to remove the casing, I'll remove the guts from the new one and slide it into the old casing.

Trust me, this is not an obvious fix as it showed no codes on the scanner. And it's not located with the other main relays or fuses. And to top it off it's a royal pain to get at.