I have a 1989 Honda Accord LX, manual transmission, that will not start. The car has basically sat for 7 or 8 months since I got a new car... What happened was that in November 2012, a steering rack was installed and I drove it to get it inspected and parked it for about two to three weeks. I tried to start it at that point and the engine would turn, but would not start. I left it there for several months and recently decided to sell it.

I've confirmed the battery is completely dead. Took a good battery from another car, made sure it read 12 volts, put it in the Honda. Opened the air filter cover and sprayed starting fluid down to the carb. I've also confirmed there is spark from the spark plugs and the timing belt is good. I've even hooked up jumper cables from my other car to the good battery in the Honda and tried starting it with the gas pedal mashed down, but will not start... I am not sure what else I can try to do to get this car running. Any suggestions?

 

No start w/ starter fluid suggests spark is too weak, spark plugs shorted w/ carbon, or spark plug wires shorting to ground. You should get a brief start on starter fluid if throttle plate was open slightly.

good luck

 

You said the car was a manual transmission right? place the car in 2nd gear holding the clutch all the way to the floor, then try starting the car and quickly releasing the clutch.
Hope it works for you.

 

Totally with TX on this one......be sure that when you spray the carb/starter fluid thru the screen over the throat of the carb that the throttle is wide open. Don't over do the spray but a 2~3 second blast with the wide open throttle (both sides of the carb throat), then as soon as you can, try to start....any signs of life?

 

I did see spark from the spark plug, but it was a bit smaller than I expected... I thought the new battery and jumper cables might solve that, but I will try looking a bit closer.

Thanks for the rest of the comments! I don't have time this week to try out the suggestions, but will do so this weekend.