My '93 accord with 115k miles has developed a problem recently. It
began gradually, one morning I went to start it and it turned over but
would not continue to run. This has been an extremely dependable car,
so I was surprised.
I managed to get it to start after multiple attempts, and it died at a
stoplight 20 minutes later. It restarted successfully and I got it home
fine.
Since then I've noticed the following. The clock on the dash now
flickers on and off. (It has started a couple times since the initial
problem, but it's dead now)

With the key in the ON position:
- the fuel pump buzzes (i.e. works normally) for a few seconds and
stops.
- I have no "test run" of my dash lights. Normally they're supposed to
come on for a few seconds and go off, except for oil pressure
obviously.
- When I put my foot on the brake, the shift lock solenoid doesn't
click. I can't take it out of park unless I use the backup key thingy
next to the gear shift.

However, when I turn the key just past ON, towards START, I get all the
dashboard lights.

I'm pretty sure it's not a fuel problem. My wife noticed white smoke
after I pumped the crap out of it just to see if fuel was an issue.

I have a Haynes repair manual and have been through the electrical
section, I think I may have a bad ground, or some sort of power control
module. I need to get this thing running SOON and I can't afford to
drop $50 - $200 only to find out my assumptions were wrong.