Questions and Answers

Honda Accord Engine Is Flooding Q. I've got a good one for you. The car is a 1990 Honda Accord EX, automatic transmission with 245,000 miles. Compression in all 4 cylinders within 90% of specs, fuel pressure normal, had the cylinder head rebuilt approximately 30,000 miles ago, new distributer and igniter, good coil, spark plugs and wires. NO CODES. Passed smog one month ago with flying colors.

I did change the oxygen sensor with an after market product before I had the car smogged, I was getting a code for a bad oxygen sensor.

The problem is when the car is cold, such as first thing in the morning, the engine will crank with no firing of cylinders, then number four will fire as I'm cranking the engine, then another cylinder will fire then finally I can turn ignition to run and the engine will chug along then clear up and run fine after that.

After a particularly hard time starting the car, I pulled the plugs and found them to be fuel soaked. I blew them off with air, reinstalled and the car started right up. It seems to be over fueling because there is a very strong smell of fuel from the exhaust. I have a factory manual, and have checked the items suggested. I am at a loss,

Eventually I'll burn out the starter because sometimes it takes five minutes of cranking before the engine will start.

Thanks for any suggestions.
Bill

A. It sounds like the engine is flooding. What you need to do is install your fuel pressure gauge, start the engine and let it warm up. Keep an eye on the gauge and make sure the fuel pressure is normal.

FUEL PRESSURE
Regulated [1]	Unregulated [2]
29 - 35 psi	35 - 41 psi
[1] Measured with vacuum hose connected to pressure regulator.
[2] Measured with vacuum hose disconnected from pressure regulator.

Now shut the engine off and immediately clamp of the fuel inlet and return lines. Now watch the fuel pressure. If it goes down you have a leaking injector(s) and they will need to be replaced.

If the fuel pressure should hold steady, then the most likely culprit is the Coolant Temperature sensor. It is common for them to go bad and tell the engine it is cold when it's not and flood the engine.