IN2VTEC

I've been having this problem for over a year now after my '00 R swap in my 97 civic ex coupe (which used to be automatic). I hope someone here can help me...I feel like I'm running out of ideas.

Let me start out by saying I have intermittent issues with starting up my car. Let's say about 1 out of 6 times, the car will not start up immediately when i turn the key...it's random and you can never tell... It's been going on for a year now...

Solutions I already tried: (1) changing out starter 3 times (used ones),
(2) bought brand new battery

Recent problems in the past 6 months: Most recently...about 6 months ago..while just driving..my motor would just DIE out of nowhere while crusing normally with constant throttle depressed around 40mph...and all of a sudden my status lights on my instrument cluster light up (as if your car would stall from releasing the clutch fully at a dead stop)...and I would figure my car engine turned off...on the street it's not as scary...and it hasn't happened since....until

TONIGHT! on the highway..I was driving 60mph at constant throttle..no changing of throttle on the pedal...just 60mph..and that's it...all of a sudden I felt my car hesitate as if it was going to throw a CEL code...usually from the carsound cat (piece of ****)..but instead..all of a sudden the engine shut off again in the middle of the highway with tons of cars going 70+ mph around me..(the same lights came on the cluster as if the car was stalled or cutting the engine as a new stickshift driver would usually do)...I had nowhere to coast to...there was no area to pull over...and I was running out of momentum..but an exit came up with a striped border area where I luckily pulled in...and I put the tranny back in neutral and started the motor back up again with no problem.

I am scared this will happen again..but I feel like I don't know how to fix this problem...I hope you guys can help or help me locate someone that can help. My only hunches right now is any wiring that STARTING THE CAR highly depends on..because that can highly explain why the car won't start every single time..(it has issues about 1 out of 6 times starting..the starter just clicks but engine does not come on)---I feel that it may be something loose because maybe sometimes it's knocked out of place/loose depending on driving condition/road bumpiness and when parking the car.

I also think it might be battery connection? What about grounding?

Does anyone know what is needed for the car to start up every single time reliably? like the components/connections of starter/battery/etc???

And does anyone know what is needed to keep the motor from turning off (most dependent connection/wire/or whatever)??? I know little about how ignition/starter systems work...


I hope someone can help me...

Thanks in advance...sorry for the long post..just wanted to make sure all info was available in diagnosing this problem.

P.S. also, would a loose ecu connection affect it? i don't think my ecu/ecu wiring is loosely connected..but just trying to cover all bases...


[Modified by IN2VTEC, 9:57 AM 2/15/2003]

vtec.dc2

what ecu are you running this motor with? have changed plugs/rotor?

IN2VTEC

2000 itr motor

running 98 ITR ecu to bypass the immobilizer/security issue on the 2000 cars

have not change plugs

what do you mean by "rotors"?

Thanks...

IN2VTEC

pls help...UP

vtec.dc2

distributor rotor, these 2 things are not expensive..

andrewasf77

maybe an ignitor

eg6turbo

hello i would check ur charging system maybe bad alternator...sumtimes it will charge then not werk without throwing a battery light then u run on just ur battery for a bit...it all depends also what alarm do u have?

IN2VTEC

i've gone through 2 alarms...they both suck...crimestopper high end..1st alarm...now carbine..i'm having alarm problems 2....basically my remote won't arm/disarm somedays and depending on weather/temperature....unless I hover the remote right up to the car over the driver's side window or passenger side window...only then and waiting a few seconds will the car arm/disarm.....

benmasters

When you say it dont start properly, do u mean u have to leave it and try again later or is it something else?

Just on my dc2 in the last 3 months its become funny starting like 1 out of 6 times like you, what it does is I turn the key and it sparks/fires then coughs and dies for a fraction of a second then fires, it only does it sometimes.

People on here told me to make sure you give it a sec for the fuel system to prime, which I do now and I thought that helped but it didnt really.

Its weird like the starter motor stops then starts again.

Mine hasnt cut out driving thou.

IN2VTEC

No, I mainly mean..you hear the starter click but engine does not go on.... surely, someone has the answer???

b19coupe

First, inspect the positive and negative battery cables carefully. Turn the headlights on with the vehicle not started and wiggle/twist on the cables and see if the lights dim or go out. A quick test of the alternator would be to disconnect a battery cable with the engine running, if it dies, the alternator is shot. Pull your PGM-FI main relay, remove the plastic cover and resolder all of the solder joints. Basically just reheat the solder until it melts. If you have a little cash, buy an igniter and throw it in there just for insurance, it never hurts.

IN2VTEC

Much thanks for the information..I will try the diagnosing techniques in a few days...hope we can get an answer....