2008fijibluesi

Last night I was on my way home from a car meet. I dropped my buddy off at his car, and headed toward my house. I was stopped at a red light, and my car stalled out. I thought "wow, that was strange" and tried to restart my car. It turned over fine but would not fire. It sounded to me (and a police officer that showed up) like it wasn't getting gas. I didn't have time to diagnose the problem in the middle of the street, so my buddy (luckily right behind me) helped me push it into a used car lot.

I tried several things and nothing worked. I was relunctant to push on the accelerator to start it because you shouldn't need to in a fuel injected car, but I was getting desperate. It was late (after 1 am), and I never like having a car towed. So I gave it gas when I attempted to start it, and it started up, but was idling terribly and sputtering. I cleared it out by revving it a little. It cleared out, and idled okay, but not as good as usual. Then it died again. I got it started, but giving it gas again, and it idled out just fine, although idling at 700 rpm, when it usually idles at 900 rpm. I drove the car home, and it ran okay, but had more rev hang than usual.

I let the car sit overnight, and went out to tackle this problem this morning. At first attempt, it started fine without a problem. It idled fine (although low) and turned it off. I popped the hood to check the air filter/throttle body/ intake pipe. I cleaned the pipe and throttle body thoroughly. There was a little bit of carbon inside of the throttle body, and the pipe was pretty clean already. The filter was dirty, but not horribly. I put it all back together and decided I was going to get a new filter, because I didn't feel like waiting while cleaning/drying mine.

I headed toward town and when I left a stop sign the car started sputtering, and check engine light blinked so I coasted into a parking lot. I turned the car off and restarted it, having to give it gas. The car idled out and I left. I had to stop at the bank before I went to Advance so I waited before I turned the car off, to see if it would idle correctly after driving it. After sitting for about 15 seconds, the engine was idling low and it stalled again. I turned off the ignition and did what I had to do in the bank. I came out, and had to give it gas to start it. I drove to Advance and got a new filter. While I was uninstalling the old one and installing the new one, I had disconnected the battery, hoping to reset the ECU. I finished and hooked the battery back up and started the car, without needing to give it gas. It was still idling low, but it did not stall while it sat for ten minutes. I drove the car home, and the excessive rev hang was still there. I let it sit running when I parked it at my house, to see it would stall after driving again, but it did not. It still idled low, but it did not stall.

*A little back story*- Last week, the CEL came on one night while I was sitting with the car idling (at the normal 900rpm) talking to some friends. I didn't drive the car with it on, and let it sit where it was. The light was off when I started it again, and it hasn't come back on, except for when the car was sputtering. I figured my SRI caused a AFR problem but that it fixed itself. Everytime the CEL came on when the car was sputtering, it went right off, once the engine cleared out.

FYI- I did hit VTEC quite a few times on the way home, but it was nothing I haven't done before. I didn't bounch off the rev limiter or misshift at all. I know the motor is fine, because it runs great (except for the low idle) when it clears out. The car was running at it's normal operating temperature (right below halfway) and the oil is clean and full, along with the coolant.

I have a few guesses as to what the problem could be;

1) My Fujita SRI is causing a problem with the AFR, not allowing the car to get fuel. But, I've never had a problem with it since I installed. Never a rough idle, or a CEL, until the one I described above.

2) I got bad fuel last night before I went to the meet. I always fill up with V-Power at the same Shell station everytime I need gas, and have never had a problem.

3) I've noticed my belt/pullies seem to have a very light clicking and whining sign coming from them. I don't know which one or if the sound was even there before.

I am setting up an appointment with Honda, but I was hoping someone might be able to shed some light on the problem. Maybe you've experienced the same/similar problems.

Sorry for making this a novel, but I wanted to describe my situation as best as possible for someone that might be able to help. Thanks in advance!

phazedd

hmm... thats weird for a new si how many miles do u have on it already
you check if your lines are all secured?

2008fijibluesi

It's an '08 with just under 27k miles on it. Oil was changed 1800 miles ago, and is still clean. I've never had a problem with my baby lol.

Jas9848

iTrader: (2)

take it to the dealer. warranty

2008fijibluesi

Please...no one else tell me to take it to the dealer. If you read my OP, you'd know that is being arranged.

ChargedSI

I doubt it is your SRI, or bad gas. Shell has good gas, good quaility control.

I had a similar problem with my BMW and it ended up being the O2 sensor (front sensor, before the CAT) and MAF sensor. To be honest, it sounds like one of your sensors are not reading correctly and restricting your fuel flow.

Just my 2 cents.

i-VTEC_DOHC

at first it sounds like an injector problem, or u got a clogged fuel rail.
but also it might be an ignition problem, like the spark plugs or something.
you shoulda got the obd2 reader and check the code(s) your car was throwing.

xkrntamax

I had similar problem on my Integra, and the problem was the SRI.
Check your SRI ..

07SIcpe

Well since you have an SRI i would say switch back to the stock one and see how that works. That way you will know whether or not the problem is with the intake AFR. If the problem continues I would say take it to the dealer with the stock one on because you don't want them being picky about something like that.

jimmytmach

Yeah put the stock intake back on. They might say stuff.

jewjew bean

NOTE TO EVERYONE: if you have a cel, get the codes! All auto part chain stores will let you use thier code reader for free of go buy one for $20 at harbor frieght.

If you got your codes, we would be able to tell you what the problem is right away. since you don't have any codes, we can only guess.

It sounds like you have dirty injectors or bad gas

dirtySOHC's

is there no way to do the ECU "paper clip trick" on the 06+ civic?

jewjew bean

not sure

i-VTEC_DOHC

i dont think u can do that. but if so, im pretty sure the reason nobody has done it is cuz most of us still have warranty.

dirtySOHC's

why would warranty persuade you not to check your CEL codes using the old paper clip trick. (if we were able to do it).

at least then you'd have an idea of what is wrong before you take it to the dealer for warranty work. You'd also know if the dealership was trying to play you.

2008fijibluesi

I'm not farmiliar with the paper clip trick. What does that entail?

Like I said, the first time (a week or so ago) my CEL came on, I turned the car off and left it where it was. When I came back to get it, the CEL was off upon startup. When it was on during sputtering, it would go right off when it would clear up. It hasn't been on for an extended period of time.

Also, I'm not going to try to trick the dealership into anything. If my SRI is throwing codes, I wanna know that it is the reason. If it's not the reason, then I have absolutely nothing to worry about.

I am nearly certain it's not my SRI anyway. I've cleaned it entirely, along with the MAF sensor (with MAF sensor cleaner of course) and that hasn't fixed anything. Not to mention, it has never caused a problem before.

will_rex

So a week ago your check engine light came on and you still don't even know what the code was? And you're still trying to drive it? Who knows what damage you may or not have caused just because you don't know what it came on for!

I suggest checking the codes first. Like previously stated all part stores will check it for free or you can buy your own code checker. I bought mine for $40 and it stays in my car.

i-spit-hotfire

The paperclip trick is an old school way to read CEL codes for OBD1 cars over 14 years ago in 1995 and older cars. Any car newer than that can have problems diagnosed by connecting an OBD scanner, which is what I suggest anyone do if they have a CEL. I believe if you diagnosed your car now it may still have the CEL code logged, but I'm not entirely sure of this.

dirtySOHC's

works on OBD II cars also....not sure up to what year.

jewjew bean

I doubt the grounding out the service connector in these will cause the cel to flash a code. I'm not even sure if they have a service connector and if they do I bet it's more than two wires. lol

vladd

why do you doubt it? the airbag light is reset the exact same way on both a 99 integra and a 08 civic, i don't see why checking the cel has to be different. it wouldn't hurt to check for the connector.

cuzzybubba1

Sound's like a problem with SRI vac. hoses. Your car will go bonkers due to the sensor's if you have a leak and it will stall. As a poster up top mentioned, switch out the intake (which you should do anyways before going to the dealer) and see if it clear's the problem up.

2008fijibluesi

*UPDATE*

Just got a call from the dealer.

The service manager said they tested the car and the ECU did not store a "hard code" which he said only occurs when something that needs serious attention happens.

*Unrelated but still interesting*- A couple weeks ago, I had them reset my TPMS light. I had one crack off at the valve stem in 2 degree weather, and had it replaced when I got my new tires. So, I brought it to the dealer, but it came back on, on the way home. So, the service manager tells me today that it was cracked. Seems the idiots as STS cracked it when they installed it. The service manager is gonna give me the cracked one, so I can go to STS and raise hell. I'm furious.

RICO_

So your car is sputtering, spitting and basically having a stroke as you're driving it. Sounds like something worthy of "serious attention" to me!.

2008fijibluesi

Me too! It isn't any better now either, it stalled out leaving the dealership. They said to put the intake back to stock and see if that fixes it, and before I bring it back to them. So I did that last night. I don't think it's really fixed anything. The car didn't stall out, but it was still idling low and had major rev hang.

When they ran the tests, and took it for a drive (ten miles worth) they of course experienced no problems. But my luck it does leaving their lot.

I keep praying for a CEL to come on and stay on long enough to get it to a code reader lol. I'm driving to Harbor Freight today to buy one, so maybe I'll get lucky and get a code! LOL.

What shitty timing for this. First day of drag season is Friday. I've really been itching to go. Looks like I'll have to wait another week if this isn't cleared up by then.