Hello all EF fans,
After driving my '91 Civic DX all summer it finally died on me. I said “finally” because I pretty much was expecting it to go anytime. I’m in the long process of building up a ZC for it, but until then I’m stuck with the stock D15.
I started my commute to work this morning and got about 2 ½ blocks when it just acted up. It was like I had the brakes on because there was some type of rolling resistance when I had the clutch to the floor and this all happened like a switch was flipped, it happened that fast. I do know that the clutch is shot, but I’m not sure if that’s the problem (clutch cable). It has about 165k miles on it, so really it could be anything.
I just recently changed the spark plugs and readjusted the valves and it was driving like normal for about a week after those changes. Again, not sure if those two things have anything to do with the problem.
The battery has plenty of juice to turn the engine over but it’s almost like it’s only firing on one cylinder. I had it started at idle for a minute or so and when I gave it gas it was chocking off and there was no way it was going to move without dieing again. The engine also burns its share of oil, do to some mad blow bye. I’m thinking it could be something to do with timing but I’m not sure at this point.

I’m new to the site as a member and I just wanted to know if anyone has a clue to what is going on.

Thanks,
EF fan

 

Anyone? Would it be fuel filter maybe?

 

could be fuel filter, also is it getting spark? check the cap and rotor or it could be the dizzy itself. my dizzy just went out and it just died and started up and died again and ran really ruff. My dumbass was trying to start it for so long I wore out the starter. good thing my friend had a spare. Also check for codes on the ecu.

 

Thanks for the info "civicflow",
I was also thinking that if it was the fuel filter it might have been a slower death, but maybe it's the culprit. I really should see if it is the dizzy unit since they are notorious for biting the dust.

 

I've had 2 dizzy go out on my hatch since I've had it and the first time you could actually hear the dizzy making a scraping/squealing sound. Try listening to the dizzy with the car running. My dizzy went out on my last pizza delivery of the night a month ago. I was speeding up and when I hit 4grand it just cut out and died. It restarted but ran really ruff. I thought something was wrong with the motor cause it was misfiring so bad that my whole car was shaking. After putting on a new cap and rotor and starter I figured its the dizzy. Check your codes on the ECU. It should throw a code if its the dizzy.

 

I hope it is the dizzy or fuel filter bro, pretty much anything else will require much more work that it is worth on an old block.

I have a D15 block with over 250k on it, and she has some of the same issues you described in addition to bad rings and cracked head gasket. I fixed mine with new fuel pump (prep for a swap), fuel filter, and ignition system (dizzy to plugs, all replaced). The cool thing about all the good stuff I replaced is they will all fit and work with the newer block I am building.

I am not certain if you will be able to do the same, but these are all relatively simple and do not require a full teardown to fix.