Car:
1994 Acura Integra LS w/ swapped 1998 JDM B18c Type R motor.

After filling up gas one day I attempted to start car and the followjng occured:

- Car would start then start rumbling and and struggle to stay on. It would then cut off. This occured 4 more times. Even if I would put into gear and floor pedal the rpms wouldnt go up but continue to struggle to stay running. Finally after the 5th time to corrected itself and stayed running.

Current Issue:
- Tried to start car this morning and car is turning ovet but wont catch and start running. Also I dont believe I heard the fuel pump kick on when I turned key 3/4th of the way.

Now there is another possibility. I just bought this car from a private seller and he told me he changed the spark plugs before selling it to me. Problem is when I called him about the car not staying running the first time he said he wasn't sure of he gapped them correctly (go figure).

So anyone have any thoughts on what it could be? Also if it is fuel pump would I be buying a fuel pump for a 94 Integra LS or 98 Integra Type R. Let me know if more info is needed. Thanks!

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ITR pump.... forget what the lph on the ls one is, but the ITR one is higher. no not gapping the plugs wouldn't cause what you're experiencing. you say it stumbles almost starts ? check timing(mechanical) then check for spark by grounding the plug in the wire on the VC. then report back also see if you have fuel to the rail/

 

Use an HEI spark tester to check spark, grounding out a spark plug improperly can short out the coil, also if the spark plug is not under compression, the spark does not "act" the same, the HEI spark tester will compensate for that.

I would also like to know what the fuel pressure is when engine will not run properly, a permanently mounted fuel pressure gauge is the best tool for that.

Even though you can hear the fuel pump priming, "turned key 3/4th of the way" it does not mean it is working properly. 94

 

So I need to have a fuel pump for an ITR in the car for it to run correctly? Or would a stock LS fuel pump get the job done if money is an issue . Could I use a stock GSR fuel pump if that is indeed the issue? Or is there an aftermarket fuel pump that a shop could get from a local advanced auto parts that would meet the requirements of an ITR pump. Do you know what that is by chance?

The motor struggling to stay running happened last week wednesday and didnt occur since driving it between now and last week time in a row. Basically the incident with the car rumbling/struggling to stay on occurred after I filled the tank up and started car. it turned on then rpms began flickering at a low rate (between 200-1000rpms), car motor was struggling to stay on, then it would shut offafter about 15 seconds or so. I did just put 93 octane gas in it as that it what previous owner used and I assumed a JDM motor would need at minimum since our highest octane is Japans regular octane level. So after starting car and experiencing this 4 times in a row the fifth time I started it again it didnt struggle to stay on and ran like nothing just happened in the past 2 minutes. Also it has not thrown any check engine light/codes either.

The car not starting is a first since my ownership (and according to previous owner a first to him as well of course). It drove and started fine since that incident last week until i tried starting it this morning when it would turn over strong but fail to catch and start car. The dude paid 9k for the swap and it was done by JE import Performance, a shop in Baltimore, MD, october 25th 2012 ( I have all paperwork and his receipt) so at least i know it was done right. He only drove it 5k since the swap too.

Right now its sitting at a local car repair shop (who is also going to be doing my inspection) who my girlfriends dad knows the owner and trusts so I'm waiting to find out whats going on when I call tomorrow at 8am. They had it in bay for around an hour and half and when I called at 5:09pm today the lady at front desk said she didnt know status and the head mechanic had left for the day. So right now im going crazy trying to figure out what it could be to prepare myself for what the bill might be.

On another strange note I noticed my head unit isnt getting power right now yet my ciggerate lighter charger port is still working. So I assume a fuse blew too somehow for that. Could that be connected somehow? Maybe one of the fuses to make car start also blew? Phew!!! Sorry for long rant but wanted to make sure everyone reading this is completely informed.

 

*FCM

I said I noticed today I did NOT hear the fuel pump turn on when I turned the keys 3/4th of the way. I didnt think to listen for this until I attempted to start car again for 8th time in a row today so maybe it had already keyed up enough fuel and fuel pump was not needing to turn on to start car. Also I should mention I'm running Hondata s300 as my ecu.

 

The fuel pump will always prime when you turn the key to the second click, the excess just get sent down the return and back into the tank.

No cel's?

 

*kaycee

thanks for your response. What do you mean by no "CEL?". i bought the car already tuned so i dont know much of anything about using hondata as my ecu. Thats a setting or sensor i think right? Please clarify. Thanks!

 

CEL (Check engine light).

Was the car running perfectly fine before you put gas in?

 

are you 100% sure you have a s300 pls post pics this seems like an odd issue for a car tuned on Hondata....

 

Car was running fine on drive home and it was an hour and 20 min away. I have the Hondata s300 box in my car which is at repair garage over night. here ill show pic of paperwork showing it was put in. Ill take pic of ecu when i get car back tomorrow.

 

Better Angle.

 

Up Close Shot.

 

And no check engines have showed yet.

 

If you do not hear the fuel pump priming, [anytime the ign. switch is turned to run position] the engine may start and run poorly for a bit and then stall, that is normal.

If/when the car fails to start again, turn ign. on and listen for the fuel pump priming, [it must prime every time the ign. is turned on] if it does not the problem is most likely the PGM-FI Main Relay, a common problem on older Honda/Acura bur repairable in most cases with a little re-soldering.

If on the other hand you do hear the fuel pump priming but engine fails to start the problem may be a bad fuel pump, a fuel pressure gauge is needed to see what the fuel pressure is when engine fails to start.

Because of the way engine "acts" when it fails to start or keep running I believe it is a fuel related problem, but it is still possibly spark related, [weak spark] an HEI spark tester is needed to check spark.

Coils and ICMs are also common problems on our older cars.

As with any intermittent problem, it can be very hard or impossible to diagnose unless the problem is occurring when testing. 94

 

Hey ya'll. just letting everyone know it ended up being the Main Fuse that blew. Its getting inspected right now cuz they jumped it and got it started somehow. So lets keep fingers crossed theres nothing wrong after inspection.

 

If it was running fine before im sure nothing else is wrong, by main fuse do you mean the relay fcm mentioned or an actual fuse?

 

I dont know for sure. They (repair shop) said the main fuse blew and after the inspection is finished he'll get a quote on parts in case they find anything else wrong with car for MD State Inspection. Ill keep you guys updated as I find out more and specific details.

 

Correction. Main Relay Switch.

 

Hope they didn't charge you a lot because thats a pretty easily serviceable part.