The car in question is my fiance's 1989 CRX. It's an auto, D15 or D16, I don't remember. We took it on a trip a couple weekends ago and had no problems on the way down (2.5 hours) but on the way back, about an hour into the drive it started acting up. Running at a consistent 65mph or so on the highway, it just fell on its face. Felt like a full fuel cut, depressing the gas pedal would only change the tone of the exhaust. I happened to be driving, so I tried various "tricks" to fix it. Popping it into neutral would only kill the engine completely, and because AUTOTRAGIC I couldn't do anything but pull off the road and try to start it again.

It would start intermittently, sometimes running normally, sometimes wanting to die without accelerator input. I should also mention it wouldn't always die completely. If I kept my foot steady on the gas when it died at speed, it would slow to 30-40mph usually and then kick back in. It would accelerate normally so I'd get it as fast as it would go before dying again, and kept going through that cycle. The further I took it, the worse it seemed to get. I did check the LED on the ECU, which seemed to be flashing something like 37 times, but I think I'm just foggy on how OBD0 codes read. It may have just been a code "1" for o2 sensor.

Eventually, we parked it off the road, got picked up by a friend, and came back a few hours later with it cold to see if it would do any different. It started right up, and drove the 45 minutes home no problems, with no hiccup whatsoever. Since that day, we haven't had a problem with that same symptom, however almost every time she goes to start the car now it gives her trouble. It will turn over no problem, just won't fire. If you go through several key cycles, eventually it will catch and run like normal. I wouldn't worry so much about it, but it's embarrassing to have a vehicle that doesn't start immediately like she's used to.

I plan on taking the main relay out and checking the solder joints, possibly resoldering if I find a problem, but it's not typical main relay symptoms (hot start problems) so I'm not convinced that's what's wrong with it. I also haven't even checked it to see if the fuel pump is priming when she's trying unsuccessfully to start it. Now that I think of it, there should still be pressure in the lines, so I would think it's a spark problem. It does have a Walbro fuel pump installed.

I'd appreciate any input, hopefully for somewhere else to check before I start throwing parts at it to fix it. I plan on B series 5 speed swapping it, but that's hopefully going to be down the road. Still need an engine block (or GSR long block...) and pedal assembly. Sorry for the lengthy post, I tried to include all relevant info, and I tend to ramble. Thanks if you read the whole thing.

 

Check timing.

Check spark plugs. All four.

Probably something in the distributor.

Best to get a new dizzy, or figure out if it's the rotor slipping, or ignitor, or ignition coil.