Strange issue here. I have a 1990 Honda Civic DX 4AT 209XXX miles with a relatively new engine (less than 10,000 old) and an aged transmission (50,000 old). This car has been through a lot and since I bought it as a beater it has been good for a month. My mechanic so far has had to weld on a new muffler, change my doors, put in a new battery and replace my air intake back to the stock. I have a parts car that is a base model 1990 Civic manual. 70HP D15B1. While mine is a 92HP D15B2.

Here's the issue. I live in Alaska Anchorage and it's getting very near to the freezing temperatures this state is known for. My car starts barely. And as I give it some gas the engine does a strange lurch as if it was dying and idling very low and then dies. Another time I start it and give it some gas it will be fine for a few seconds then go from high rev to low rev intermitintly. If I try to put the car into gear while idling the engine dies. If I try to turn on the lights while car is idling. It dies. Me and the mechanic were checking the alternator and it is giving power. We replaced the belt just in case. The battery is holding a charge at around 14v. Plenty of power. Do you nice folks have any suggestions as to why my car is exhibiting such strange behavior? I theorize that my ECU has a short somewhere and when its freezing it creates a bridge somewhere and is screwing up something. Hopefully this isn't the issue. It would be a lot of work to try and find the short. I have little to no experience with cars apart from what I know of my own. Any help would be appreciated because it is currently parked outside of a sushi bar where it died. It has done this several times already but if its warm enough there are no issues other than my temp guage reaching critical when I drive at 50+MPH (Whole nother story) Thanks

- Sordel

 

I would start off by changing the ecu out of your parts car. Then i would try and swap out the ect sensor as well.