For the last three weeks are so, my prelude has been acting up. My car engine would mysteriously die on the freeway all three times, about a week apart. I would be driving all normal in 5th gear when all of a sudden, the engine shuts off completely without any hesitation. The instrumental lights (Oil, Brakes, CEL) that lights up when the key is on "ON" mode or when the car "normally stalls" etc. would completely shuts off as well when the engine stalls. (keep in mind that my headlight/radio was still on during the whole ordeal). I am unable to start my car until all those instrumental lights come back on again which could take seconds or minutes. My observation of the instrumental lights was a dead give away that I had an electrical problem in my hand. I was told it could be ignitor, coil, cap , etc. but not the alternator since i was able to restart my car. Fuel pump can also be the issue but my car doesn't bog at all. It just shuts off like an on/off switch. I brought it to the shop and they couldn't find anything wrong. Im really confused now and wonder I should replace coil and ignitor even through the problem is intermittent. Could it be computer problem? I have no CEL light btw. Help me out guys as I am clueless.


Modified by bizzy930 at 3:37 AM 3/16/2007

 

I had a similar problem once, the car cuts out & no instrumentation lights, and it was the ignitor. I replaced the ignitor & coil and had no problems since.

 

Yea, people keeps telling me its ignitor or coil even thought my shop can't find the exact problem. How can you test the ignitor?

 

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1833080

Also, buy the part new from honda instead of used like i did the first time. used $40 new about $60.

 

If my problems are from the ignitor, coil, etc., would it throw a CEL code or not neccessarily? Could it also be my kill switch of my alarm?

 

In my experience, ignitor/coil faults don't throw a CEL.

 

Like mentioned in this thread link it sounds like you have the classic ignition switch problem that 5th gen suffer from, there is a Honda recall on safety grounds for replacing the switch free of charge.
Contact the Honda dealers and they will book it in and should replace the switch free of charges for you.

 

The ignition problem doesn't cause the car to shut off. It keeps it from cranking...somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

Do you have any aftermarket parts installed on your car, op....specifically anything with wiring? Alarm? battery relocation? underglows? Besides the ignitor, you could have a short problem. Don't take it hard into a curve....

 

Maybe the main relay?

 

But does the main relay mess things up while you're driving? I thought if it was bad, it sometimes would and sometimes wouldn't let you crank your car, but once your car was running, you're good to go....

 

I had my ignition switch checked due to the recall a few years ago. I do have an alarm with a kill switch but i think its hooked up to the starter but i may be wrong. My car has no problem starting up at all. It would shut off on the freeway, therefore it lead me to believe heat is a factor as well. It would die instantly without any hesitation with the dash light going out even when my key is still in the "on" mode. Then it would come back on (time varies) as if the car just resetted itself and im able to restart my car again with no CEL. Im clueless.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by UK_Luder &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I had a similar problem once, the car cuts out & no instrumentation lights, and it was the ignitor. I replaced the ignitor & coil and had no problems since.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

first of all, sorry for digging an old thread. found this thread when i was doing a search on Yahoo.

i'm having the exact same problem, but mine's a 89 civic with b16a swap. i know this is not the right forum for me just wanna try my luck. i have replaced my ignition coil, but it didn't fix the problem. i have replaced the main relay, and it was fine for about three weeks, but the problem appears again after that. haven't solve my problem since.

 

Plus 1. I just redid the main relay for the starting problem<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1GPlusSH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">But does the main relay mess things up while you're driving? I thought if it was bad, it sometimes would and sometimes wouldn't let you crank your car, but once your car was running, you're good to go....</TD></TR></TABLE>