iv been looking and looking and i have gotten things all across the board. So if i missed something, send a link and we will call this done. But my 93 Civic coupe ex, 5 speed, d16z6 is having an intermittent starting problem and shutting off problem. I can go out into the driveway and itll fire right up, then i can turn the key off and try to start it again and it will only turn over. If i let it sit for about ten minutes and try again itll start up. Also under normal driving circumstances the car will shut down, usually when im going slower like through a parkinglot. It just gives no warning and shuts off like it stopped getting fuel or something. The rpms just slowly decline until zero. I have only had it a week and have no idea where to start.

 

is the CEL on?

 

oh of course, forgot to mention that. No its not on. But it does come on initially when you turn the key into the on position so it does work. Also when it doesnt start but only cranks i donot believe the tach moves any. Im not sure though. Ill check the next time it happens.

 

Last full ignition tune-up?

 

I have no clue. But its on my to due list. Cap, rotor, plugs, wires, vc gasket. Anything else? im not big ballin lol i cannot afford an entire distributor atm.

 

Start with plugs and wires. Check the cap and rotor to make sure they aren't corroded so you can use them till you do get new ones.

 

Also a main relay is on the parts list along with a fuel filter because it cant hurt anything right?

 

unhook your 3 majors ground wires, clean them and re-install them.

 

I cant imagine the cap and rotor being expensive. I know the distributor itself from autozone is close to 300 bucks

 

Im new to hondas....where would those be? also is there any negativity with the msd distributor cap/rotor kit? i plan on running ngk plugs and wires

 

no, get rid of the MSD crap. It'll only cause more issues. Do NOT buy a dizzy from autozone. Only OEM Honda ignition parts should be used. Others MAY work and possibly will, but a majority of the time, they cause more issues and crap out randomly and in a shorter time.

 

On what planet is replacing a distributor part of any tune up?

 

idk just heard from a few peoples that i should. I dont think so. that shiz is expensivveeeee lol so what about autozone cap and rotor?

 

Why don't you look it up for yourself and find out if a cap and rotor is expensive compared to autozone/pepboys/o'reilys/advanceautoparts? They sell oem honda parts online as well.

 

oh i wasnt asking if they were expensive, i was asking if autozones or similars were any good.

 

The reason why those people recommend replacing the distributor is because they can't troubleshoot electrical issues and there way around it is to replace and hope to god it remedies the issue. If its the original Honda OEM distributor the only thing that needs to be replaced is the ignitor, ICM, cap and rotor.

 

Check battery terminals, clean or replace or make sure they are tight.
have fixed this issue on a few cars due to loose terminal

 

Does the engine crank and just not start?
Or does the engine not crank at all?

If it cranks do you hear the fuel pump prime when you put the key in first position?

Fuel pump not priming intermittently is a common problem with your year civic.

Could be cracked solder joints in the main relay or burned out capacitors in the ECU.

See stickies for this common problem.

 

It always cranks, it just wont fire. Never have i turned the key and nothing as a response. @ delsolintegra i will look into that. Now to some updates, the car shut off on me again this morning. I was in second gear going about 20 mph crossing through an intersection and i lost power, the CEL came on. When i lose power it will actually stay running if i keep my foot on the gas but wont go anywhere, meaning itll hold 2k rpms and gain no acceleration from it, and i think it does actually die slowly, i wasnt watching that as much as i was watching the car that was on my ****. As soon as i let off the gas the rpms tank and the car dies. I pulled it over to the side of the road, waited five minutes IF that and she fired back up. My Honda buddy thinks its the ICM since hes had a few go on multiple integra/civics that hes owned and the symptoms sound similar to him. But thats why im here, doing research and asking questions so im not just throwing parts and money into it.

 

When was the fuel filter changed? Maybe try that.

 

Do the tune up.

 

Update, I changed the distributor cap, rotor, valve cover gasket, crappy autolites out with NGKs, wires out with NGKs and I replaced the ICM. It drives Better naturally but now what it really does is after it warms up itll idle around 600-700. Also if I get on it (only do so for test purposes) itll idle low like normal then after I shut it off it will start for about half a second the cut off again and will only crank. It won't turn over for about five to ten minutes.

 

I had starting problems just recently. It would start fine then hours later wouldn't at all. I ended up replacing my battery cables and a ground. Kick right over and haven't had an issue since.

 

Sounds like main relay to me, next time it doesn't start watch to see if the check engine light illuminates for 2 seconds and shuts off (indicating fuel pump priming) or just stays solid indicating that the main relay has an issue

 

Okay it's definately something fUel related. But if I'm correct the main relay plays a part in the fuel system. It's shutting off while driving now, and sometimes when you get it started it will sputter some and stall out again like it's not getting fuel.