zinsavage123

Recently my 96 civic dx has an issue, 2 days ago amd currently I go to start it, it runs for a second and shuts off. After a few cranks it stays running, at the moment at least, but im expecting it to stay not running/shutting off permanently, just a matter of when.

Any ideas of what the issue brewing is/could be?

civic402lx

Recently there have been a lot of thread in regard to start, no start, crank etc... Directly below this thread.
have you started to read any of them? Other threads already have general info on how to test or what to test pertaining to your(similar) issue. Please read those and come back with test result.
Other then, my car is dying, why? We can't provide you with any specific help if there are not more info provided by you first.
In your case, it may be a dying fuel pump, bad ignition switch, cracked main relay.. Etc..etc..
Do you have good fuel pressure?
Is the fuel filter old and clogged?
What maintenance have you done?
When was the last time you did a tune up?
Et..etc..

mk378

I'd consider bad ignition switch or dirty IACV (i.e. it's not really "shutting off" but merely stalling out of idle).
On the ignition switch you would look at the dash when it shuts off. The oil and battery lights are supposed to come on any time the key is on but the engine is not turning. If they do not come on it is likely the ignition switch.

zinsavage123

I am up to par generally with maint. fuel filter has 15k on it at best.

zinsavage123

and no, I have not checked the fuel pressure, how would would one go about that, who is not a mechanic, or no gauge on dash?

mk378

If the car is otherwise driving OK it's probably not the fuel system. First sign of a weak pump or clogged filter is usually starving for gas (missing, sputtering) when you hold the gas pedal on the floor at highway speed.

zinsavage123

When I start it, it immediately cuts out, after "x" amount of turn key/cranks it stays running, and thus far, drives fine. Haven't felt or experienced any sputters or hesitations as of now gas wise, or at least that I noticed. Seems to just be a start up issue and needs a few cranks to keep the car on running and able to be driven.

but once I get it to crank over and run, it stays running and seems to drive fine, as of now.

mk378

You need to look at the lights.

verycleanhatch

i had this problem before on a 93 hatch. My problem was fixed when i replaced my main relay. Try that.

If that is the problem go with a different one rather than the old version. I believe i replaced mine with a crv version. You can actually fix it, requires some resoldering though.