I have an 89 Honda Civic Wagon – 4WD. Recently I used it to do some shopping. I got about a mile down the road and it started to sputter. I was able to make it to my first stop and so I shut the car off. Came back out of the store and it was difficult to start. Probably had to start it 5 or more time. I sputtered all the way to the next store – less than a mile down the road – and shut it off. Came out and tried to start it. Very difficult to start. Then it stalled and the starter would do anything - no cranking at all. I took the battery out and charged it over night. Next morning it still wouldn’t crank. I had it towed to my friend’s garage on a flatbed. He reaches in the car and turns the key - it starts immediately. No sputter or anything. I came back with my wife to pick the car up and it started immediately. Ran like a Champ. However, when I drove about 1 or 2 miles down the road and I stepped on the gas pedal it started to sputter again. We went for a walk on the way home and I had to try to start it maybe 10 times or so and even then it sputtered all the way home. I parked it outside and then thought maybe I should have it inside to work on it. So I tried to start it and it was dead just like the night before and it wouldn't crank at all. I moved the gear shift in and out of park several times and tried to start it each time. It was dead. So I pushed it into the garage and left it over night. I tried to start it next morning and it was still dead.

Then I remembered a trick that got an old car started long ago. I took a 2 x 4 and a hammer and hit the starter. After a few good hits, I turned the key and it started right up. Again no sputtering. I haven’t driven it since then. Is the starter problem and the sputtering somehow connected? - Electrically

The car has a history of sputtering but not to the extent that it would stall. I always put dry gas in the tank and eventually it would go away. This usually happens in the rainy season.

 

if starter is getting stuck definitely should replace that first and go from there a shudder can be due to map sensor or tps no engine codes??