We are running a 96 Civic Hatch on dirt tracks. We have the following setup:

Y7 Block
Y8 Head
OBD1 wiring harness
P28 ECU

Motor runs strong EXCEPT that after a few laps, the motor "cuts off." By "cut off", I mean the car doesn't completely shut off, but it's like it goes to idle. If you try to give it throttle, you get "bah-bah, bah-bah" like it's hitting the chip. After a minute or so, the engine will return to normal for a lap or so and then the same thing.

No certain times / events when this happens - very random.

Any ideas?

 

Clogged air filter?

CEL codes?

Plugs/wires/cap/rotor/ignition timing?

 

id say clogged filter and as he said prob dirty terminals... these cars are nto really set up for this i hope u have your fender lining in the car.

 

i also run dirt track. does the car start doing it when it gets to temp? is the computer chipped? a good friend of mine that i also help out has a type r in a civic and thats about the same thing his started doing about two weeks ago, we chased our tails, changing dizzy, plugs, wires, ignition switches, wiring, fuel,...etc and it wound up being our computer, it just decided it wasnt going to run the car anymore.

 

Thanks Gilbert...seems like it only does it once it gets to temp for the most part. The computer is one of only two parts that haven't been changed (the other being the fuel pump), so we may take a look at it. As far as I know, it's not chipped. Was thinking about sending it off to have all the stuff we don't need deleted and programmed for our needs.

Not sure who renamed my thread, but the car is not misfiring or hesitating, it goes to an idle-type situation.

 

Is the air filter clogging with dirt?

If the problem only happens after the engine is fully warm, check whether unplugging the O2 sensor prevents the problem.

 

No on the dirty filter...the track is red clay which is very tacky and not dry and dusty.
Will try the 02 sensor, but think it not that 'cause it's been replaced previously.

 

yea i would try another ecu(COMPUTER)