minxfinx

My car: 98 Honda Civic LX, Automatic Transmission

A few weeks ago I was driving with little fuel in the tank, just above the white line. I was coming up to my turn so I began slowing down when the car starting bogging down and killed the engine while I was driving. It felt just like it did when my old Chevy Uplander ran out of gas, so naturally I thought I ran out of gas. Tried turning it over and it wouldn't start.

I noticed that I have driven it below the white line just above the red line previously without running out of gas, so I thought I had enough to get to a gas station....

1. I added almost a half a tank of gas and it wouldn't start still. So I towed it to my friend's shop.

2. We could hear the fuel pump coming on so that's working fine.

3. We replaced the fuel filter in case it was clogged, and the air filter cause it was dirty. Still no luck.

4. Made sure the engine was getting fuel, which it was...

5. Found out it wasn't getting spark, so we replaced the spark plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor... wouldn't start with everything hooked up.

6. Tested the compression to see if the timing was off, everything checked out good.

7. Took the 4th plug wire out and put a screwdriver in it to test the spark against a grounded wire. When it sparked the car started up for some reason. Put the plug wire back in, turned off the car, back on and off several times and thought it was fixed.

8. Drove it home, went to the grocery store, and when we started it back up it had trouble starting. Had to push the gas pedal to the floor to get it to start. Drove it back home. Felt like the engine was flooding.

9. The next day it wouldn't start again. Tried unflooding it, no luck.

10. Tested for spark again and again no spark. Tested the ICM (Ignition Control Module) and found out it had a problem. Replaced it and got spark back.

11. Started car and it turned over. Idled for about 5 minutes and started wanting to die when it was idling. Revved up engine to 2k RPM and it ran smoothly again. Let it go and it wanted to die again. Tried it a few times and it only wanted to die while idling.

12. Next day it wouldn't start again. Removed throttle body and IACV (Idle Air Control Valve), cleaned with carb cleaner and put it back together. Still no luck starting. Tried to unflood it again, no luck.

13. Tested fuel pressure and it was reading 47 psi. Haynes book specifies 38-46 is what it should be with vacuum hose disconnected.

14. Replaced the fuel pressure regulator, retested it at 42 psi. Good, but still no start.

15. Tried unflooding it again, no luck yet again. Which is where I am right now..... It's a damn paperweight in my driveway and it's my only vehicle right now!

I cannot figure this thing out for the life of me... PLEASE HELP!!! Any advice or suggestions???

Mike

Damanzi

ignition coil maybe? test a distributor on it that you know is in working condition if you can access one..

91crx-jace

Try switching the main relay with one you know is good. When mine went out it made my my car do all sorts of wierd things lol

turbod16y8

Ignition coil!

mmcd

x3

fleabag

clean/repair all electrical grounds.Measure electrical grounds, should be able to have 0.2ohms or less (0 is preferable).

B1llgat3s95

Replace the ingnition coil and main relay and check your grounds

ktsciv93

x2

habanerored06si

Had this same problem on my Talon which came down to an Electrical problem.

Do yourself a favor and try the Ignition coil suggested by everyone here.

Damanzi

if op ever visits this forum again, please follow up at least i know it drives me crazy when i am researching through old threads of people with similar problems to what i am having and the person never posts after finding their solution..

Mike Arellano

Where are all the grounds located?

Former User

Create your own thread.