Ok so I have a 89' crx with a sohc ZC swap that I got about a month or so ago.

It just recently started having this problem where I will be driving and it just dies. When I try to start it up, it will not start. It attempts to turn, but simply will not. After about 5 minutes, it starts right up... Its gotten to the point to where if I am driving more than 10 miles, I can almost expect this to happen.

My car has had an unsteady idle since I got it, where it will jump from about 800 rpm to about 2000-2500 rpm constantly. Immediately I assumed a TPS, but did not have the money to fix it yet. When my car first started having the issues of it dying, I assumed a fuel filter, since it did it while i was driving, so I changed it out, and my idling problem disappeared, and it seemed to run fine for a couple days, but started dying on me again.

I am a little bit confused about what the problem may be and am completely open to suggestions and/or help.

Please and thank you for your time.
Jimmie

 

Oh and I want to make note that popping the clutch does not work as well. Thanks

 

hmmmm i had the same problem on my car you should try checking you distributor..the wiring to it because maybe the 4 plug was setup wrong so your not getting spark or fuel pump...... thats all i can assume

 

main relay next time it happens try smacking under the dash around there the coin pocket/fuse panel area

 

When it dies check for spark sounds like somethimg is getting overheated possibly coil or igniter.

 

Mine did that, was the distributor coil. You can tell if you open up the distributor and its burnt to peices. That happens if you rev your engine a lot when its cold =S. Or just rev it to high

Or it could just be the cap aswell, thatd be a cheap fix.

My cap went bad then i fixed it and a month later the coil went.

 

ef-hatchcrap: do you mean like before I start try restarting it?

Jockone: should I listen for this while trying to start the car? or right after it dies?

1 civic I: Is the coil under the cap? and the distributor cap is where all the spark plug wires run to, correct?

Thanks for the response guys.

 

Oh and thank you too, zenny.

 

NO PROBLEM

 

Ok so I installed the new cap and rotor, but haven't had the chance to take it for a good test drive. I've driven a couple short distances, but ill let you guys know how it goes tomorrow

 

That sucks.

 

Yah i mean if you took the old cap and rotor off and it was all melted. It was surely your problem. But yah and and your coil is inside. Id look at that while it was it off and see if it was melted. pretty sure it pulls out. just so you know if that will go soon haha. If that goes bad you might as well buy a new distributor. ( i get mine from the junkyard and pay half the price and hope to get lucky) 45 bucks is all you should pay for another there.


hope i helped let me know if the cap and rotor was the prob

 

Thanks for the responses everyone.

So far so good, it hasn't died on me yet. The unsteady idle has returned, but only when the car is cold. I wanna say that I can blame that problem on a TPS, but who knows. I'm just happy that it's running confidently