Hello everyone,

I am having a problem with my CRX stalling when idling. I apologize in advance for the long post. To give you a little history...

I have a 1990 CRX DX. No mods. 5 MT. For the past couple years the CRX would have a problem starting when hot. Would run fine and not stall, but if it was 90+ degrees outside, it would not start until it cooled off. Put off trying to fix it since it was getting to be winter time. Last fall, it died on the way to work. Just cut out suddenly, no sputtering or anything, just died. I could not start it for anything. Towed it home and let it sit all winter. Last weekend, I replaced the fuel pump, main relay, ignition coil, distributor cap, and rotor. Also replaced alternator and belt, but because it needed it, seperate issue. Seemed to run fine, started right up and ran. Was driving into town the other day, and it died while coasting down a hill. I was able to start it, and get it home. Drove it yesterday, started fine, ran fine, then when I got home I let it idle for a while. It died after about 5 minutes. It restarted, but did not really want to. (sputtered a little then started.) Then this morning, I started it, started fine, backed out of the garage, let it idle for just enough time for me to close the garage door and it died. Would not restart.

Anyway, any ideas? I thought it was the main relay, but that cant be it. Then I thought it was spark, but I replaced the cap, rotor and ignition coil? Am I missing something? Could it be a flooding problem?

Thanks guys, hopefully with all the expertise here we can get it figured out.

 

Is the ECU blinking a code?

Have you changed the fuel filter?

When it won't start, check for spark at all the plugs. If the problem is with spark, the igniter unit in the distributor might be bad.

 

check your timing belt. it may be loose n could cause you to misfire and die all of a sudden.. clean your idle air control valve. also check your fuel filter. and pump..

 

OK, I definitely think it is spark related. I replaced the fuel filter today. It neded to be done, but did not help. The car still would not start since this morning. I disconnected the battery and took off the distributor cap, and ignition coil, and wiggled the wires on the igniter. Then put it all back together and then it started! But after just a minute of running it died again, and now it wont start again. I dont think it is the idle air cv, because it idled real smooth. The ECU never flashed a code through all of this, and still is not.

So, what do you all think?

 

Any corrosion or moisture evident inside the distributor?

I'd start by checking whether wire connections to the coil and igniter are loose or corroded. I'd also recommend that you use a multimeter to troubleshoot these two important components of the distributor.

 

Inside the distributor looks real good, no moisture or corrosion.

 

Well, I worked on her off and on all day, trying to figure out the problem. It is weird, I start it and let it run for a while. I let it idle, and after a while, it will just cut out. A couple times I could start it back up. Then this afternoon I started it, and gave it gas. I noticed that if I give it gas and keep the gas on it, every once in a while it will hesitate for just a split second, but keep running. Not bucking or coughing, just a split second it will hesitate. Then I et it idle for a minute and it cut out again. This time I cant start it. But every time I cant start it, if I take the distributor cap off, and the ignition coil off, and poke at the ignitor, then put it all back together, it will always start.

So, any ideas? Does this thing have a crank shaft sensor? Any other sensor that might be going bad? Still no ECU code or check engine light. Thanks in advance for any help.