I have a 2004 Acura 3.2 TL V6. about 160k miles on it now. Since the day Ive owned it, its performed perfectly with no issues other than needing new brake pads, rotors and regular oil/filter change. So, yesterday, I was really low on gas and started the car to take it to the gas station about 1.5 miles up the street. It started up fine, then as I was exiting our neighborhood it began idling super low then died. Of course my first thought was I had ran the tank empty. It started back up and I rushed the car to the gas station. I turned it off, filled it up (premium of course) then started it backk up and went to the grocery store about another mile away. It drove fine as usual but when I got into the parking space it it started idling low again and died. It would not restart and I had to get it towed home. It cranks and cranks but doesnt start.
After a lot of research I went out and removed the cover to the fuel pump and had my son turn the key to 'ON' I could hear the fuel pump prime for about 2 seconds. Then he turned the key to start and the engine cranked and cranked but wouldnt start. While it was cranking, the fuel pump made no noise. It only made noise during initial prime. So, if it primes, but doesnt pump during cranking, I thought maybe the relay is faulty?
So, after reading a lot about Honda/Acura fuel pump relays I began my search to my no start issue. I keep reading and seeing videos about a large fuel pump relay that owners take apart and re-solder. My fuel pump relay is small, blue, epoxy sealed and is located about an inch above the main fuse panel along with the IG COIL relay, and the FI MAIN relay (both are a red color). I took all 3 of them out and performed the same tests on all 3. Fed the relay 12v, heard the click, then continuity tested the 2 remaining tabs on the relay. All 3 relays passed the test multiple times. I put them back in, tried to start and same thing crank crank crank no start. So, maybe the fuel pump is bad? I tap on it softly with a dead blow hammer (to break loose any possible binding) and again try to start, no dice.
So, with my relays seemingly working fine, I took off my air filter housing and manually opened the butterfly valve. it smelled faintly of gas but not as strong as you'd think from cranking so many times and not starting.. So, Im stumped. I want to check the coil packs for spark, to eliminate any issues with ignition, but I dont know how. I have also checked the fuel pump fuse and it has perfect continuity.
Since the pump makes noise in the key on position, and then no noise during cranking, am I having a fuel issue? Or does this sound more like ignition?
After a lot of research I went out and removed the cover to the fuel pump and had my son turn the key to 'ON' I could hear the fuel pump prime for about 2 seconds. Then he turned the key to start and the engine cranked and cranked but wouldnt start. While it was cranking, the fuel pump made no noise. It only made noise during initial prime. So, if it primes, but doesnt pump during cranking, I thought maybe the relay is faulty?
So, after reading a lot about Honda/Acura fuel pump relays I began my search to my no start issue. I keep reading and seeing videos about a large fuel pump relay that owners take apart and re-solder. My fuel pump relay is small, blue, epoxy sealed and is located about an inch above the main fuse panel along with the IG COIL relay, and the FI MAIN relay (both are a red color). I took all 3 of them out and performed the same tests on all 3. Fed the relay 12v, heard the click, then continuity tested the 2 remaining tabs on the relay. All 3 relays passed the test multiple times. I put them back in, tried to start and same thing crank crank crank no start. So, maybe the fuel pump is bad? I tap on it softly with a dead blow hammer (to break loose any possible binding) and again try to start, no dice.
So, with my relays seemingly working fine, I took off my air filter housing and manually opened the butterfly valve. it smelled faintly of gas but not as strong as you'd think from cranking so many times and not starting.. So, Im stumped. I want to check the coil packs for spark, to eliminate any issues with ignition, but I dont know how. I have also checked the fuel pump fuse and it has perfect continuity.
Since the pump makes noise in the key on position, and then no noise during cranking, am I having a fuel issue? Or does this sound more like ignition?