I have 1993 high mileage VTEC. Just recently it won't start. It kicks over then stalls instantly. At first if I stepped on the gas it would start but now nothing. I do know that the guy I bought the car from put a cheap chip in the ECU but I never had any problems before. The other day I had some electrical glitch.....the gauges and lights stopped working for about 2 seconds and then went back on but it only happened that once. Im lost and need my car. Any clues as to what it could be?

 

I dont know what you have tried before, but the samething has been happening to me and it has just been a loose battery cable, but your problems could be worse not sure. Mine jsut has been the bolt wasnt tigh enough and it keep bouncing around, but it stayed on the post. It made my car die all of the sudden going down the road or maybe you need a new battery cable i would try that first if you haven't.

 

I'll check that out. I also found out it could be the IAC. Anyone else think it could be that?

 

any CEL's ? check your grounds.

 

please excuse my lack of knowledge of initials but what does CEL stand for?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by baker29 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">please excuse my lack of knowledge of initials but what does CEL stand for?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Check Engine Light

 

If it was the IAC your car would start, at least mine did when mine wasn't working at all. I would think that it was something else. Have you checked to make sure you are getting fuel and spark?

 

Can you hear the fuel pump come on when you turn the ignition to the ON position? It sounds like a drop of water falling into a tub full of water. Easiest way I can explain it. Kinda like... "guuulllup"

Open your hood, and be inside your garage where it's quiet. Turn the key on and listen for that sound.

It may be your main relay as this will cause no starts also. It's very easy to check it also for continuity.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fscot &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can you hear the fuel pump come on when you turn the ignition to the ON position? It sounds like a drop of water falling into a tub full of water. Easiest way I can explain it. Kinda like... "guuulllup"

Open your hood, and be inside your garage where it's quiet. Turn the key on and listen for that sound.
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my fuel pump sounds nothing like that (high pitched electric whine), but maybe that's because its on the top of the fuel tank and not in the engine bay...

 

check your ecu ground. It is on the thermostat housing

 

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

my fuel pump sounds nothing like that (high pitched electric whine), but maybe that's because its on the top of the fuel tank and not in the engine bay...</TD></TR></TABLE>

yea its like he said.

you can hear it inside the acr if your really quite. its right on top of the seats in the back. right when you click the key twice into the on position.

i have a feeling it might be a ground somewhere since you said it was working the day before and you have electric problems before it happened.

check the ground on the tranny, the valve cover, then the ground on the thermostat like that other guy said. then come back and tell us what happened.

my car did the same thing like your car a while back. it started then died. then wouldnt start no more. i went under the hood and checked cleaned up my ground connections and it started right up.

 

you're pumps probably fine, those hardly ever go out on 4th-5tg gen ludes

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

It may be your main relay as this will cause no starts also. It's very easy to check it also for continuity.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If his car turns over and then dies his main relay is probably fine as well

 

Not really true.

The main relay actually has two relays. One energizes the fuel pump, and the other provides current to the fuel injectors.

You can actually have the engine start for a brief second before dying out when a main relay starts to go bad, OR suddenly goes bad. The warmth from electrical current alone (starting the car) can cause the relay to lose continuity, thus leaving only a smidget of pressurized fuel in the lines for a brief start and die out.


I recently had this type of trouble where the relay was the problem. My car would sometimes not even start, other times it would just kick over then die. Replacement of the relay fixed the problem.

It's worth a a look seeing that his vehicle is 12 years old.

 

I don't know if this helps anything but I noticed if I hold the key in the starting position the car will run as soon as it goes back to just on it stalls. Does that mean anything? Im going to check all the grounds today and look into the relay.

 

No, it means your keeping the starter turning the engine. Not a good thing to do.

 

I knew it wasn't a good thing I just noticed it kept the engine going and wasn't sure why. Just making sure it wasn't something to aid in figure out the problem. But thatnks for the feedback.