Alright so here's the deal. I'm new here and I'm usually in the ITR forum's and know a good deal bout the DOHC b-series but not much bout the D, esp dual-point, so here's the question.

I have a 1991 Civic DX auto, 142,xxx miles. Does not burn a drop of oil, leak down is excellent, and the car gets oil changed every 3,000 miles and has a new battery and plugs. The problem

I am up at MSU in East Lansing (onePOINTsix you are gonna have to look at this for me) and I have it at the frat house. I parked it sunday and just drove it today (friday).

The car went through alot of temp changes in the past week and well it normally acts like a car that is old and sat for the first few mins then is fine and so I went off. Drove the car for around 5 minutes and let it warm up for a bit then off to grab some food. The car then sat for around 15mins while in Tbell and when I came out it started up NO problem. I get out of the space, turn the stop at the first stop sign and the engine just dies.

I turn the key and it just turns over the starter. Slowly for the next three minutes (with the throttle body open) I try starting it (it was to cold and I was to lazy to get out and pop the hood on the beater) and the car sputters and dies again and again. No tach made it harder to monitor, then the car had fine time turning the starter, fine time cranking but it would just sputter and die. It has never happened before.

So I'm just gettin all your guys opinion, I'm just guessing that the seals for the gaskets hardened and dry, then when I went to slow the car to a stop after restarting it there was some air in with the gas. Or I don't know. After I drove the car for the next 15mins it was fine. Never died, turned on and off fine, no check engine light, no nothing, no oil burning, no odd idle, nothing.

Any idea's would be appreciated, not to worried prob just some crap with the cold but any idea's would be appreciated.

 

It could be the main relay. These tend to crap out in older Civics, causing these sorts of problems. Try tapping at it when trying to start the car.

 

I agree with Matt...typically the main relay. Maybe the igniter.

Did you hear the fuel pump prime when you initially turned the key?