Another_Si_Guy

So I'm brand new to this forum and I just bought my first car. It's a 1999 Civic Si. I try to take really good care of my car, but the previous owner was a liar and an idiot. He completely neglected the car and it's been giving me a ton of problems. Anyway, I'm having this really weird issue where my car will intermittently stall while driving down the road. I've owned the car since May of 2014 and since then, its only completely stalled 4 times. And when it stalls the gauges drop to zero but I still have electrical power. Sometimes it starts back up immediately and other times, it takes 2-5 minutes to start back up. Again this has only ever happened 4 Times. Every other time it's "stalled" it just kinda bucks while driving. Basically I hear one electrical click and simultaneously the check engine light turns off and turns back on and the gauges kinda flutter. This all happens within a split second. Like the engine is turning off and turning back on really fast in like a split second. This happens AT LEAST twice a day or once per drive. And the CEL code is p0420. It does have an after market catback exhaust that the previous owner had installed. My mechanic told me he doesn't think the code is related to my problem. Anyways I have replaced the ignition switch (because there was a recall but my car didn't have it), I replaced the fuel filter then all the plugs and wires with NGK blue and NGK G-power. And yesterday, (Saturday, January 31st 2015), I replaced the entire distrubutor with a brand new unit and the day after I installed it, the engine did that bucking thing twice while driving. If anyone has any ideas, please comment. I called honda and they're clueless. I really like my car and I'm trying to put as much care into it as I can. Please comment. Thank you.

turbohatch96y7

iTrader: (15)

Sounds like a loose power cable somewhere

If this was my civic i would take off all the plastic panels and with the motor running move around the engine harness by the ecu and see if the car turns off

If not then i would go over to connector c131 ( driver side fire wall connector) and check for loose connections there and then go back to the under dash fuse box and move wiring around back there and see if the car stalls

Youre for sure loosing power to the ecu

Do you know how to use a multimeter?

Another_Si_Guy

I'm only 16. I can't exactly picture what you're saying. And I've never used a multimeter. What should I move around and where? I don't quite follow.

turbohatch96y7

iTrader: (15)

Only 16 eyy?

Whars most likely happening is; the wire harness for your car is really old. Like 15 years old. If the prev owner was in there messing with **** chances are a wire is loose and not making a proper contact and thats why your car is stalling.

It could also be a dirty ground/ loose ground cable somewhere. There are so many in your car it will be hard to know which one. Since your gauges are dropping out also that means its most likely a voltage problem also.

Your vss gets voltage from the connector on the driver side firewall connector. Even tho the motor is stalling that would keep working if the car is coasting. But since its not im thinking a voltage or ground problem.

YouTube how to use a multimeter. Youre going to need one for the rest of your life if you plan on working on your own cars. If those cars happen to have any electronics youre going to want to know how to use one

Another_Si_Guy

Well I know the previous owner installed an aftermarket head unit, and wired up a subwoofer. When I bought the car there was some wiring problem where when the headlights are on the reverse lights came on also. I got that all sorted out though. I don't know if it has any type of relation, but the intermittent setting on my windshield wipers only work unless my headlights are on. And that just happened after I got the ignition switch installed.

joey1320

If you are having these electrical issues, I would suggest finding the service manual and double checking all your electrical connections. Although time consuming and a pita, it will probably fix a lot of your intermittent issues.

Another_Si_Guy

Thanks for the I put.

Another_Si_Guy

Also the wire for the sub is just kinda hanging there. It's a red wire with the copper bit hanging from the engine bay all the way to the trunk. There was a fuse I found in it and I pulled it because I read something about a loose ground so I wanted to be sure. Does that have anything to do with it? There is no sub currently installed. Where would I check for a loose or dirty ground? Rather what should I check first and how would I go about fixing it? Honda told me the problem was the ignition switch. That didn't fix my problem. Then I did the dizzy and the problem persists. Honda told me that the igniter often goes bad and my mechanic told me it was the ignition module because when it heats up it loses connection which is why I need to let it sit for a few minutes to cool off before it actually starts again. He said he would recommend I just replace the entire unit which I did along with plugs wires And a fuel filter. I am completely baffled. I love my car to death but I don't know what else to do.

Another_Si_Guy

Also forgot to mention I lose power steering as well.

Another_Si_Guy

Update: My car stalled again while driving down the road. It clicked on and clicked off twice, then it turned completely off after about 5 minutes. I noticed that when I immediately try to turn they key again I CANNOT hear the fuel pump prime. But after I took the key out and cycled it a couple of times, I heard the fuel pump prime. Also the couple of times the pump didn't prime the engine light turned off. But when it did prime it was on again. Any ideas? I'm thinking main relay.

Another_Si_Guy

Basically I've got a buddy who has and knows how to use one and we're gonna try to disgnose it this week. But I don't know what to check. What should I check and if I find the problem how do I fix it?

turbohatch96y7

iTrader: (15)

Ohm out your key switch i think thats your problem.

Check voltage coming in and out of your keyswitch

Another_Si_Guy

Do I have to remove it to do so? And I replaced the ignition switch but not the actual cylinder itself. I feel like if it were my problem, it would stall if I wiggled my key around. At least that's what I've read online. Is that true?

turbohatch96y7

iTrader: (15)

No not true

Just remove the covers for it and follow the wire

Another_Si_Guy

Alright. And if it isn't the problem what else would I check? I've read about the main relay.

Another_Si_Guy

Bump

Any ideas?

Another_Si_Guy

Fixed the problem guys. Dry solder joints on the main relay. Five minute repair, and it's fixed. I'm glad I changed the ignition switch and dizzy though.