91 accord SE, cranks but won't start

hi, have a 91 accord SE 2.2L with 150K....still doing well but few days ago, stopped starting.... it cranks and when i hold the ignition on, it seems to continue to fire but as soon as i let the key go, it stops....
where should i start? fuel pump fuse? batt is good.....the car has no other major issues so far... haven't even changed the crank seal yet...
 
pls help,
 
jim R
so calif,
'91 accord SE 2.2L 150K miles

A good place to start is a "fuel or fire" check. Spray starter fluid or throttle body cleaner into the throttle body intake (remove intake duct) while cranking the engine. Does engine fire briefly? If yes, fuel delivery is the problem; fuel filter, fuel pump, main fuel relay. If no, spark is problem; coil, ignitor, rotor, cap, wires, plugs.
 
Note, you don't replace all these parts, but must perform further diagnostics, once the problem is parsed to either fuel or spark.
 
good luck

quote:

ORIGINAL: jjrho

.. it cranks and when i hold the ignition on, it seems to continue to fire but as soon as i let the key go, it stops....

are you saying that if you hold the key on, it fires ( starts, runs)  but as you let the key go it dies ?? .. If so  you got a bad electrical portion of the ignition switch

quote:

ORIGINAL: deserthonda

... If so  you got a bad electrical portion of the ignition switch

Yeah, that's my guess too.  See if you can keep it running by releasing the key partway.  Or wiggling the key around.