RDAYA0

Sometimes if im at home and i drive to get gas someplace close and turn off the car, i get gas, try to start the car but it wont start? it takes about 5 tries then it would start sluggish, after a while of driving the CEL comes on, i dont know whats wrong, i recently replaced the distributor becasus my old one was faulty, do i need new spark plugs, a new starter, or anything? i dont know, please help. Thanks

-RD

fastrc2

sounds like you got bad gas. either the fuel you purchased was actually e-85 on accident, or there is water it in it. any case, if the station carses, you can have the bill paid for by the fuel company if its bad gas

RDAYA0

should i put a bottle of water remover in my tank then?

mechanix619

From what you said, it sounds like this has happened a few times, I doubt you got bad gas multiple times. Check your fuel filter.

hondabadtoy

Take it to a shop or even autozone and pull the code for the CEL. I've never been one to go buy parts cuz the code said such n such was faulty, but you should never ignore them. Chances are you'll get something related to fuel if it happens everytime u fill up.

RDAYA0

Yes it has happened a many more times than this. Not just after filling gas, sometimes when im just out the car wont start, like theres no spark.

I live in canada, and the weather here is still pretty cold, when i start it in the morning it starts up strong and one try, after i go to places and the car warms up it starts up weak and sometimes not at all.

mechanix619

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RDAYA0 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yes it has happened a many more times than this. Not just after filling gas, sometimes when im just out the car wont start, like theres no spark.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, sounds like you have narrowed it down, go check for spark.

hondabadtoy

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RDAYA0 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yes it has happened a many more times than this. Not just after filling gas, sometimes when im just out the car wont start, like theres no spark.</TD></TR></TABLE>
When u turn the key does it crank but not fire? or does the starter just tick?

RDAYA0

it cranks but wont fire yes

hondabadtoy

It doesnt sound like spark, if it were it would happen literally all the time. Get that CEL code to try n narrow it down.

When u turn the key to "on" jus before u turn it over can u hear the fuel pump running?

RDAYA0

yes i could, okay the cel light is gone, im thinking its just water and moisture in the gas tank, i just bought the car like 2-3 months ago and i havent change the plugs, so im thinking ill get new spark plugs and get a bottle of water remover. Anything else i should do?

EFRue57

me personally i don't think it's any of the things anyone else has mentioned. i had an integra that did the same thing. it would sometimes start just fine then i would turn it off and try to restart it just a couple of minutes later and nothing. finally after trying over a couple of minutes it would start and run sluggish at first but then be okay or sometimes it would start but be really sluggish and i would give it gas but it would act if it wasn't getting fuel. it turned out my main relay was bad. i replaced it and had no problems afterwards.

RDAYA0

where is the main relay? whre can i get a replacement part for that, how much would it cost?

RDAYA0

is it the fuse under the hood?

RDAYA0

alright, i replaced my main relay, and my distributor is new. when i turn it off and try to start it couple seconds after it won't start up just cranks. I dont know what to do this is such a hassle when i need to turn my car off for like 30 minutes and then need to drive somewhere right away.

Starts up fine if you leave it for like 2-3 hours, then when u drive it and it gets warm and u turn it off for like 10 minutes it just cranks but doesnt turn over, i hear all 3 clicks, cel comes on then off while the fuel is priming, my car drives smooth now with the new main relay but i just wanna figure out how to make it start all the time its such a hassle........

EFRue57

got this from another person having a similar problem. it's the only other thing i can think of that might be it.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RonJ@HT &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Check the fast Idle Valve:

</TD></TR></TABLE>

AnotherSI

cant agree with the fast idle valve. all it does is act like another IAC except for when the engine is cold. if the fast idle valve was faulty the car would have a bouncy or racing idle when started up cold.

RDAYA0

nah wouldnt be that fast idle thing

-car cold starts right up
-replaced main relay
-dizzy is new
-no more cel because of faulty main relay
-car is running smooth now like before
-just doesn't start up when i drive it until it warms up and i turn it off for like 20 minutes it cranks but doesn't start.

RDAYA0

should i replaced spark plug wires and spark plugs? i havent replaced them since i bought the car off my buddy 3 months ago

EFRue57

yeah i didn't really think so either but figured it might be worth something to at least look for something.

AnotherSI

i'd pick yourself up a spark tester and a fuel pressure gauge, go for a drive and come back home. verify the car wont start and check for fuel and spark.