Hello,
I wanted to see if I could a get a little advice about my honda accord. We have been have many problems over the past few months with it. It started out as overheating issues. We replaced radiator cap, thermostat, hoses, etc. It stopped overheating and even passed smog but then stopped starting all together. We then took it to our mechanic who replaced the ignition coil distributor cap and was able to get it to start. We took it home and then noticed the rough start.

Basically, you turn the key and it turns over, but it will stumble and choke. Sometimes it will just die and other times the idle will turn to normal and it will drive fine. We took it back to the mechanic and he tried a new distibutor, he replaced coolant temp sensors, and checked the timing to see if it had been thrown off from overheating. It passed a compression test and fuel pressure test. He said timing was off and adjusted it, but was unable to figure out what the problem was. We kind of gave up on him for the time being and since we got it back the second time, it has been even worse.

Now it seems as if the whole engine is going to jump out of the car. It stumbles still and now there is this high pitched whirring sound. Last time we tried to start it, it finally came up trouble codes: P0301 P0302 P1300

I was thinking about trying to take it to some sort of specialist for Hondas but I really just want to talk to someone about it because it is extremely frustrating for me and I just need some new ideas. I'm even wondering if it could be something that we could do ourselves and save a little bit of money. Thanks to anyone that can help!

 

I would never take your car back to the mechanic that worked on it.

The first place I would start is the timing belt, since it was moved. How many miles/years are on the current timing belt? What kind of tools do you have available?

When you said the car was not starting after the overheating was fixed, what was happening when you turned the key to start the engine? Did the starter not spin the engine? Or would the engine not run on its own, this is the point where the car is running on its own and you release the key.

 

We only have about 2500 miles on the current timing belt. We recently got it replaced when it blew a head gasket. It has a brand new head in it and of course the timing belt was changed along with that.

We don't really have many tools at our disposal so we usually have to take it into the shop for most major things. Right now, we just do simple maintenance like oil changes and whatnot. I say "we" but it's actually my boyfriend that does that stuff.

After the overheating issues we were having, I guess it would technically start but then die immediately. The starter was turning the engine but the engine would not run on its own.

 

I just had another development with my Honda today while I was driving the kids to school. I noticed a coolant leak coming from somewhere that is yet to be determined and the car did start to overheat while idling. Also the upper hose appears to be bulging and I'm not sure if it is supposed to look like that. See images...

When our Honda was overheating last time, it did blow a radiator hose and we replaced that. I guess my question is, why are we blowing all these hoses?

 

Need to find the source of the leak. I'd also see if the shop that did the headgasket can test for a gasket leak.