Hey guys,
A few weeks ago I replaced all 4 fuel injectors on my sons 99 Accord with remanufactured units.The replacement units looked different than what was in there. I asked the parts guy if they were the wrong ones and he told me there were 2 styles of injectors for this car. He said replacements were "early style" injectors while the ones I removed were the "improved" style. He said either one would work in my car.
I installed the injectors and car ran great. Previously car was misfiring in 2 cylinders but had plenty of spark and compression. Changing the injectors solved that problem. Now once the car sits for a few hours, it is hard to start like it is having a fuel delivery problem. It does eventually start and will start again just fine when warm.
Last evening, car would not start at all. I smelled a heavy odor of fuel and removed the spark plugs. All were wet with fuel (flooding). I had another set of plugs on hand and installed them. Car immediately started but was missing and running poorly. The map sensor then started making a wierd clicking sound and I could see sparks coming from it. I replaced the map sensor this morning and car started right up and idled better although I could still detect a misfire. Cel came on and indicated #3 cyl. misfire. I replaced just that one plug and car now runs normal. When my son went to leave for work, it did the hard start thing again but then ran fine. I'm stumped as to what is causing this cold hard start problem. I also should tell you there has been a history of #3 cylinder misfire in this car. I have replaced the distributor (used) wires, cap and rotor (all new) as well as the plugs several times. The problem clears up for some time but later returns. #3 was also one of the 2 cylinders misfiring when I replaced the injectors (could be a coincidence or maybe not?) I have cleared codes and there are currently no cels.
Sorry for being so long winded, but I am just trying to get all information out there to see if there may be a common cause.
If anyone has any ideas of what to look at please let me know.
Thanks,
Paul

 

So at this point there are no codes present but you/he is still having an issue with cold starts...correct? Just trying to be sure of where we are with the car right now.

 

Yes, that is correct. Presently no codes but hard starting cold. I was thinking of checking fuel pressure. Not sure where else to go at this point.
Thanks for your help,
Paul

 

My tiny head tells me to test the ECT and be sure it is within spec.

Next, not trying to alarm you, would be a possible issue with a head gasket....sits over time and cools. A simple $35 test can confirm exhaust gases in the coolant...to prove me wrong. I think autozone sells the test kit for $25 and the fluid for $7....block test/check I think is how they have is listed.

 

Thanks for the help Poorman. Unfortunately, head gasket was my guess too. What would the temperature sensor (ECT) have to do with the problem?
Paul

 

If the ECT gives an incorrect reading, the PCM would think the engine is already hot so it won't give the fuel enrichment needed for a cold engine.

Fuel pressure is one thing that isn't directly measured, so it can't throw an error code.

ECT might not throw a code either, if the incorrect signal is within the proper range of the sensor. Say the sensor signal is 180 deg when the engine is cold, that's not automatically "too high".

 

What were the compression readings?

 

Thanks for explaining that to me. It now makes sense.

 

Compression readings were 145 in cyl 1 150 in other 3.

 

What did the #3 plug look like when you pulled it out? Something's fouling that plug since a new plug clears the misfire. Typically plugs last for 100K miles. Can you post picture of the bad #3 plug?