I've recently had a problem with my 1990 honda civic dx...hope u guys can help me out.

Sometimes when I try to start up the car it just won't start until after the 20th try. Also, while i was driving on the road the engine seemed to have stopped and the car would gradually slow down forcing me to drive to the side of the road. Once again, when i try to start it up it won't until about the 10th attempt. While i was on the side of the road with the hood up a guy who claims to be a mechanic parked behind me and thinks that it's my distributor. I'd like your guys' expertise on this, could it be just the distributor i need to change or other things too?

 

Check for ecu codes. Turn key on and count led flashes. the ecu is on the passenger floor board. If you didn't know already

 

my 91 dx did the same. it started flashing code 4 which is crankshaft position sensor. i swapped dizzys and it still did it so i swapped ecus and it still did it. i ended up having to redo connector c going to ecu

 

It also would not hurt to replace the Main Fuel Relay with a known good one. It's right behind the change purse in your dash by the driver's door. Kind of above the hood release. That symptom could possibly be caused by this, but it usually will not make the car cut off while driving... either way it's cheap insurance a brand new one is like 50 bucks.