:  hgoldste@mpcs.com (Howard Goldstein) wrote in
:  news:1197931832.3508@news.queue.to:
:
: > On Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:10:57 +0000 (UTC), Tegger <tegger@tegger.c0m>
: > wrote:
: > :  hgoldste@mpcs.com (Howard Goldstein) wrote in news:1197906337.39292
: > :  @news.queue.to:
: > :
: > : > I have a 94 Accord EX with an intermittent fuel pump not running
: > : > condition when trying to start the car.  I can crank it forever it
: > : > won't catch.
: > : >
: > : > When the condition occurs the check engine light remains on and
: > : > the fuel pump doesn't run.
: > :
: > :
: > :
: > :  The Check Engine light stays ON all the time when the key is turned
: > :  to "II"? That's one /possible/ sign of a bad ECU...
: >
: > Not all the time, it goes out when the relay finally clicks the second
: > time and the fuel pump starts right up at that point.  When the
: > problem is expressing itself it'll stay on for as long as I sit there
: > and wait for it, sometimes 3-4 minutes after turning the key to on,
: > and extinguishes two seconds after the pump comes on (I think II is
: > the on position, 'll tkae a look at the key when I check the grounds)
:
:
:
:  If the problem is intermittent and the Main Relay's been checked out OK,
:  I'd certainly be checking for ground problems. Correct Main Relay, ECU
:  and ignition operation is heavily dependent on proper grounding.
:
:  When did the issue surface? Did it happen all of a sudden? Any rust on
:  the car? Any recent collision damage?
:

It started happening suddenly.  The only thing done was the radiator
hose change and the timing belt/oil pump.  No rust, no collissions.

:
: >
: > :
: > :  Check the ECU ground at the thermostat housing. Check engine to
: > :  body ground strap. How are they?
: >
: > Not sure. The engine to body ground is the same thick strap that
: > carries the battery negative to the engine or is this a different
: > strap
:
:
:
:  Different. The engine-to-body ground goes from the valve cover to the
:  rad support. It's usally a wire about 3/16" diameter, a lot smaller than
:  the battery negative cable. On much older cars it's often frayed, broken
:  or missing entirely. That's part of the reason some people have such
:  trouble with older cars: Missing/bad grounds.
:
:  Besides, battery negative goes to the body, not the engine! Battery
:  positive goes to the starter, which is on the engine. Don't mix them up,
:  whatever you do!
:

Oh from the valve cover to the rad support?  I don't remember seeing
one there.  There's about three grounds brought together somewhat
beneath the valve cover on the engine front/passenger side, those are
nice and tight and I cleaned them up.  I'll look for the spot for htis
other one.  It should be shown in the Honda service manual so you
shouldn't need to point me to this one (wishful thinking I think!
This one has me stymied).

:
:
: > (I'm stupid)?  I had the timing belt and the radiator
: > hoses changed a few months ago, are either of those attachments the
: > sort that'd have beend disconnected for those services?  
: >
:
:
:
:  If the thermostat housing was opened up, that's when somebody often
:  misses the little wire going to that third bolt. Leaving the ECU ground
:  undone can cause some pretty strange problems.

Ahhhh cool I'll hunt this down and report back this eve.  Thank you
for the great info and quick response