Hey Guys,

I have a 95 Acura Integra with 235,000 miles. Its been in good operating state for as long as i have had it for the last 60K.

About a week ago the engine started to sputter out some times when i took off at traffic lights. At first i thought it was just letting the clutch out too fast, so i started being slow with the clutch and it would still sputter out when i was anything but gentle on the gas. When it happened it was always hard to get it going again; lots of cranking before it would start.

After reading some forum threads i decided to do a visual inspection of my cap and rotor. It has been really rainy lately in Colorado, they had a little corrosion, but looked pretty clean. I sanded them a little with 220 sand paper, and put the cap back on. I noticed right way that it was running a little smoother, i hadn't noticed it running poorly before, and on my test drive i noticed no issues with the engine dying. So I decided to swap the cap and rotor the next day.
The next day i drove to work and noticed it lurch once while i was getting on the highway. After work it started ok, although it was a little slow cranking (like i had left the cab light on all day, but that was not the case), but when i went to back out it sputtered and died. This time it would not start, and i cranked the battery almost all the way down. A bump start did not work, but someone was able to jump me. I thought, Alternator, so i went to the auto parts store and had them do an electrical system diagnostic. The engine wouldn't idle in the parking lot for more than 5 min while i went inside, and every time i would run at 2000 rpm for the test and then let off the throttle it would die, and have trouble starting again. The test yielded the Battery was bad, so i swapped it out and headed home. It definitely ran better then before the battery was replaced. But on the way home it lurched again going up a hill on the highway. so i got a cap and rotor and replaced them. on the test drive, i found no issues.
This morning when i started it, it started and then died. Then i started it and it seemed fine. I went to the coffee shop. started fine. drove all the way to work, no issues. went to subway on the way (just down the street from work) and when i turned the key, nothing. No dash lights, no ignition, no ding when i leave the key in with the door open, no hazards, horn or power locks. It did all flash on for half a second once when i was turning the key a bunch.
I don't think it is the ignition, because the power windows and hazards don't work. Googled failed ECU symptoms, but that didnt fit. I checked the 100A Battery fuse and all the other big fuses in the fuse box, none of them seem to have issues.
So what can i try next? Im totally stumped. Every time i would try something it seemed to get batter, and it thought i was out of the woods, then this. The car is literally right across the street from AutoZone so i can get anything needed. But i would like to go home from work today.

 

Does anything electrical work?

 

nope, nothing at all. I don't remember if the Clock worked or not, my guess would be not.

 

Solved it.
Chock this one up to operator error.
You know that anti corrosion grease they sell you with your batter? Don't put that between the batter post and the clamp.
There was poor contact at the positive battery terminal.
I feel like a dummy.