I drove to work just fine yesterday and then when I went to leave my car would not start at all!!!

It cranks and a couple of times it sounded like it wanted to start and then it wouldn't.

Not wanting to flood the engine I let it sit over night.

Went out and tried to start it today on my lunch breakk.

IT STARTED... . then died.

The Main Relay makes the click. The CEL light goes away. Recent tune up, Recent oil change.

Only thing I can think of is either the fuel pump is going, or the fuel filter is clogged.

But not sure. I was thinking my spark plugs were foul but the car started today, so that got me thinking it wasn't it.

I've had it happen in the past that it would start up and then die. I would give it some throttle and it would start running.

Any ideas?

-Shane

 

sounds like the distributor (igniter, coil, etc...). check for spark then report back.

 

damn it does sound like an ignitor. crap, didn't want to spend money on a dizzy .

Thanks for the help. I'll have to take a look at it.

-shane

 

I forgot to mention. When its happened in the past. after I got it running. it would run fine.

 

hey man, check to see if your fuel pump is actualy working lean over and listen to hear if it is sucking up gas. if not then hit it with a volt tester thing-e (the screwdrive that lights up) to see if it gets power, if not then id replace the main relay.

 

ignitor

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vtecn8ive &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">damn it does sound like an ignitor. crap, didn't want to spend money on a dizzy .

Thanks for the help. I'll have to take a look at it.

-shane</TD></TR></TABLE>

you dont need to buy another dizzy, you can buy just the ignitor, a guy i know had to do the same.

edit:now that i think about it, it might not be a ignitor, he replaced a coil.

 

Try tightening the spark plug. It might be loose.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FOMULA91 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Try tightening the spark plug. It might be loose.</TD></TR></TABLE>

car is running fine one day, then the next all 4 spark plugs are loose randomly and the car won't run? I don't think so.

 

What does the coil and igntion module do in the car? Like does the coil soak up the power and then shoots them out. haha tryin to do a comparision

 

Check your alternator. If it's the dizzy, the car wouldn't start.

 

My battery is sitting at 12.63v so I know its not the charging and battery system.

Its either igntion or fuel.

I doubt its fuel since I can smell it.

The only thing I can think of is a bad dizzy. I guess it makes sense. The only thing that throws me off is the fact that after I get it going it'll stay running.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vtecn8ive &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My battery is sitting at 12.63v so I know its not the charging and battery system.

Its either igntion or fuel.

I doubt its fuel since I can smell it.

The only thing I can think of is a bad dizzy. I guess it makes sense. The only thing that throws me off is the fact that after I get it going it'll stay running.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Check the pump... just to be safe. Also, see if you can check the starter. If it's the fuel pump, it may not rev at all, and it will stall.

Was it raining recently?

 

Smelling it could be just from the depressureizeing the tank (if you did that) make sure you can actualy hear the fuel pump turn on.

 

I doubt its the starter. It cranks just fine.

I will double check the fuel pump. You said it'll make a noise? Any particular noise? I guess I've never checked the sound of a fuel pump starting.

I know on my 89 Civic it is hell of loud though.

-shane

 

Well car started today. i drove it around the parking lot and it drove fine.

But it has a low tire so I can't drive it home

 

Have you done a swap or any wiring changes? Check the wiring for the dizzy, maybe something is loose or bad ground.

 

I have a mini-me done. connections for the dizzy are correct and were soldered I doubt it but I can check. thanks for the help.

it didn't drive home. it started and then died.

-Shane

 

had the same problem once. it was the ignitor . hope u figure it out.

 

i owuld also check all your grounds, its free to do that and sometimes it works

 

get a spark checker thingy its less than 8 bucks from any auto store. you plug it into the plug boot crank the motor look for a spark. or they have another model its a pen with a lightbulb. put it on the plug wire crank and if theres spark itll light up..

 

turned out to be my main relay. replaced it and it starts up. . good thing I had a spare laying around.

I'll let you guys know if that fails.

now time to pull my DPFI-MPFI since previous guy didn't do the wiring correct!!