mechanix619

All was good for a day, car died twice yesterday on the way home from work. This is really getting old. Same thing as before, I turn the key a few times with no response from the dash and then after a few turns the lights come on and I can start the car.


Well the problem is happening again. This time while I am driving the engine “burps,” dies for a second then comes back on. The times that it doesn’t come back on, when I turn the key the lights on the dash don’t come on but after a few tries I can fire it up and continue on my way until it dies again. Any thoughts? Thank you.

(Previous)

Honda Civic 1998 EX
Headers, CAI, cat-back exhaust, gutted cat.

I have been having some problems lately with the car dies while driving. At first it would die after a lengthily trip, getting the car all warmed up and running it fairly hard. Lately it can die while driving to the grocery store which is just a few minutes away. When this first started happening I wasn’t getting a CEL, the car would just die. After I let it sit for a few minutes it would start back up. When it did die the car would crank but it wouldn’t completely turn over; all the lights and electrical stuff worked thus I eliminated it as an electrical problem. Lately I have been getting a misfire and catalyst system efficiency below threshold CEL. I used to get a code for running rich but I have not gotten that in a long time, I am also not throwing an O2 specific code. I know my cat is gutted which would lead to the efficiency problem but would that cause the car to die? I changed the spark plugs about two weeks ago and the plug wires are maybe a year old. I just changed the fuel filter, and the distributor cap and rotor look fine. I have some ideas what could be wrong but it never hurts to bounce some ideas off other people. Any thoughts? Thank you.




Modified by mechanix619 at 7:09 AM 8/30/2007

crazyguy

does the cluster work before the car dies?or throwing any battery light on the cluster?

ferio252

that gutted cat may cause your car to be running lean. It might not throw a CEL though. Anyone else ? Correct em if I'm wrong ?

Hybrid96EK

I know from personal experience that the catalyst below efficiency threshold code will NOT cause the car to die. You have something else going on. It sounds almost like your ignition is being turned off and then back on. Loose connection at the ECU? or at the ignition cylinder/switch? Poor grounds?

AWD Terror

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ferio252 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">that gutted cat may cause your car to be running lean. It might not throw a CEL though. Anyone else ? Correct em if I'm wrong ?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Will not cause you to run lean.

Will not cause your car to die randomly.

It sounds much like you have a short. Next time you get a chance, take a tester with you an be ready. When it dies, start checking all wires while a friends sits in your car and waits for the dash to start working again.

Hybrid96EK

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AWD Terror &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Will not cause you to run lean.

Will not cause your car to die randomly.

It sounds much like you have a short. Next time you get a chance, take a tester with you an be ready. When it dies, start checking all wires while a friends sits in your car and waits for the dash to start working again.</TD></TR></TABLE>

My understanding is there is actually some evidence in OBD-2 systems that the secondary O2 sensor DOES have a fairly large effect on A/F ratio. More so then first believed. This comes from a fairly reliable source who is "in the industry". Just some food for thought. But no, its not enough that it would make the car die like mentioned.

mechanix619

Everything seems to be normal until the car dies. I am running rich but no check engine light at the moment, I have gotten a few before for misfire and catalyst below efficiency threshold. I am thinking its the ignition switch but I just wanted to hear a few other suggestions. If the dash lights do not respond when I turn the key would that rule out the ignition control module and ignition coil as the problem? I just hate to throw money at parts hoping for a bullzeye. Thanks for the suggestions. It sucks having the car die while in rush hour traffic.

AWD Terror

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mechanix619 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Everything seems to be normal until the car dies. I am running rich but no check engine light at the moment, I have gotten a few before for misfire and catalyst below efficiency threshold. I am thinking its the ignition switch but I just wanted to hear a few other suggestions. If the dash lights do not respond when I turn the key would that rule out the ignition control module and ignition coil as the problem? I just hate to throw money at parts hoping for a bullzeye. Thanks for the suggestions. It sucks having the car die while in rush hour traffic. </TD></TR></TABLE>

If the dash lights don't turn on, then it must have something to do with a short. Maybe the ignition.

The cat will make you run a little more rich like stated above, but it will not make your car die

24TEN

iTrader: (2)

I had this same problem on my 85 Corolla. Eventually it just stopped running. After a lengthy trial and error process of replacing everything, I found that the distributor went bad. I guess while it was going in and out, it was on it's last legs. Check the color of your spark by grounding out a plug wire to a shock tower bolt, blue spark is strong, orange or something similar is weak.

mechanix619

All of these are awesome suggestions. Here's a little more info that I can add. I'm not sure it's directly related but someone tried to seal my car just before this started happening. I'm so pissed that the car wont work properly I forgot to mention my attempted car theft.




Modified by mechanix619 at 1:48 PM 8/28/2007

mechanix619

Thanks again for all the info. I ended up getting a new ignition assy which included the ignition and switch. Car hasn't died yet, I'm crossing my fingers, knocking on wood ect. I installed the part yesterday during my lunch break. I was in the company parking garage and people were looking at me like wtf; but at least I got my **** done before the ride home.

92_civic

I was just about to mention the ignition switch, I had a gsr, same symptoms, drove me crazy for a few weeks, replaced the ignition switch harness (electrical portion of the switch) and then the ignition switch itself, and the problem has not come back since