Hi, I have a 2002 Civic LX that has a peculiar problem. Many times when the key is turned to start the car, it will go completely dead (engine + electrical) while the key is at III. You have to pull the key completely out and after that it will start fine.

Last night, when the key was moved to III, the car died completely and stayed completely dead for about half a minute regardless of where the key was. Then all of a sudden all the electrical stuff (lights etc.) came back on spontaneously and the car started fine.

That was when my wife informed me that about a year ago it did that while driving. Died utterly while moving and had to be restarted. If this happened on one of our local hellish interstates that could be a very big problem indeed.

Does this sound like a faulty relay or ECU or something? I'd like to know whether it's something I can fix myself before I take it to a mechanic. Thanks much in advance.

 

Check the main relay, that's my guess. Go through all of the fuses with a multimeter too, and check your battery ground cable.