dephtone

Hey everyone, my car is a 94 DX Sedan with the stock D15 non vtec engine 5 speed etc.

About 2 weeks ago I was driving on the highway and it sputtered, I noticed the Check Engine Light came on and I heard what I believe was the Main relay click a couple of times as the check engine light flickered, then it picked back up fine and didn't happen again.

Fast forward to this week, was driving home on the highway again, it did it again but ended up losing all power car just died on the highway. Got the CEL code, showing Code 8.

Checked ECU and distributor pins for resistance, it's around 350 Ohms, within spec according to the manual. Reading is the same at the ECU.

Replaced distributor with one I had, started up fine. Drove it around for roughly an hour, noticed that when I hit a bump it threw the code for a few seconds then went away. Let the car idle and tried to see if there was a loose wire by moving the harness to see if the car would sputter again, did this on the ECU side as well but idled fine.

Anyone have any clue as to what may be the issue?

Random side note, the speedometer seems to bounce around every once in awhile, sometimes just stop all together than couple miles down the road, picks up and works fine again not sure if related.

Thanks in advance.

kyden

sounds like a ground issue.

dephtone

Cleaned all the grounds last night and the surfaces they attach to but issue still happened randomly. When I drove the car it seem to be choking for power. The car has always felt like its holding back but once I get into higher rpm its fine. Almost like a rubber band effect. Its not a smooth power band. Timing is all correct also.

dephtone

Bump. Any other suggestions? Double checked all readings 385 at distributor and same at ecu. No continuity either.

GSaura

Although it doesn't sound like it would solve the problem, the next step in the flowchart is swapping the ECU out for a known working ECU. Also, when you checked the grounds, did you check G101? It's the ground on the T-stat housing. Mine has come loose on two of my cars and caused a lot of weird symptoms. Grounds both the speed sensor and the ECU, so it could conceivably be part of your problem and if loose, could cause an intermittent condition.

Former User

From B13 and B14 of the ECU connector, you measured proper resistance for the TDC sensor. Have you tested for a short (continuity to body ground) at B13 or B14 individually?

GSaura

Good point. I just assumed he'd already done that. 385 at ECU and lack of continuity to ground are the right answers to those q's.

dephtone

Yes I have checked the continuity. I have followed the flow chart, minus doing an ECU swap. I have also double checked all of my troubleshooting to verify I didn't miss anything. I also check CKP and Cylinder position sensor to see if possibly they were throwing off also, but all within range according to the Factory Service Manual. I had thought about running 2 new wires from the distributor to the ECU to ensure 100% there isn't any breaks in the wires etc but I'd prefer that be a last resort, as I don't really want to hack up my harness.