Hey guys, I have a quick problem that I'd like your help with.

My car: 1999 Honda Civic HX w/CVT transmission.

My car died the other day after idling for 10 mins. Immediately I checked for spark, There was none. So I thought it was the distributor. Since I've had plenty of distributors go bad in my Honda owning life. I changed the distributor with a brand new OEM model. Drove the car home, same thing happened. Car died after warming up. No spark. When it cools down there is spark.



Summery.
* 1999 Civic HX
* Car dies and won't restart after warming up
* No spark when hot
* Has spark when cool, and will run until it warms up.

* Replace distributor with a new OEM unit, new cap, rotor, igniter, coil, etc

* Car dies and won't restart after warming up. (No Spark)
* Has spark when cool, and will run until it warms up.

*No CEL's


This is where I'm at right now. From the research I've been doing, I've seen a few theories.

1) Distributor (ICM, Coil, Igniter, Etc)
2) ECU
3) Map Sensor
4) Coolent Sensor (Not supplying enough fuel when warm)
5) Main Relay


Thank you for the help!

 

when you replaced the distributor did it come with all new internals or did you use your old ones?

 

not positive buy try the resistor box or ICM

no CEL im guessing?

 

Post any CEL codes that are thrown.

When the engine won't start, does the fuel pump fail to prime in addition to the lack of spark?

 

The new distributor came with all new parts.

 

Ron,

No CEL's.


That's a great question about the Fuel. I'll have that answer in a few.

 

Does the CEL work? Did you check for codes with a code reader?

 

CEL light does work. It comes on every once in a while with an o2 code. But just for the hell of it, I'll go check since I have a reader.

 

I'm sitting here "warming" up the car. It's running great, (of course) Lol

It now has a cell on. So I plugged in my reader and I'm not getting power to it. I tried my reader in another car and it works great.

So, I now have another question mark.

 

Is fuse 43 blown?

Do you have a multimeter?

 

Ron, nice call on the fuse. Blown 43, scan tool worked.

Code:
P1259 (VTEC Malfunction)
P0118 (P0118 - Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor circuit high input

Yes, on the Multimeter.

I also found something interesting. I don't have fuel pressure when it dies. So, no spark, nor fuel when its warm.

After loosing fuel and P0118 popping up, I'm thinking it might be the ECT sensor.

 

A bad ECT sensor should not cause a no-spark, no-fuel problem. In an attempt to rule this out, unplug the 2P connector for the ECT sensor forward and below the distributor and then run the engine or drive the car to check whether the engine no longer stalls.

Also reset the ECU to see whether either code returns.

(I am beginning to suspect bad ECU, but more tests are needed to support this possibility)

 

Ron, I was just thinking exactly what you are. Why would the ECT sensor cause no fuel and spark? Doesn't make sense.


Ron, I'd also like to add I've been idling the car for a while. After it gets to temp the fan comes on. I go ahead shut the car off manually and it won't start. So it's interesting to know that I can shut it off while idling perfect and it won't start until cooling down.

 

When the engine stalls or won't start, turn the key to ON(II) and then check:

1) Whether the Blk/Yel wire attached to the coil has battery voltage to body ground.

2) Unplug ECU connector A and test whether grounding pin A16 in the connector makes the fuel pump run.

 

I will test that next after this thing shuts off.


Right now I have the car idling with the ECT sensor unplugged. Code P0118 came up instantly, but we expected that.

 

Ron, sorry for the delay. I ran out of time yesterday.

1) The Black yellow has 12v @ the ignition and distributor when the ignition is on and the car won't start.

2) Still working on this...

 

Figured it out. Took the main relay out and tapped on it. It made the car stuttered. Swapped it out for a new one and it fired right up.

Thank you Ron and everyone else!