I never had this problem before, but last night I tried to start my 89 Civic (all stock, 5spd) and it started, but then IMMIDIATELY stalled...it's like I turned off the ignition. I tried to start again and it did the same thing. Then I tried to give it gas when it started, and this time it didn't stall. The drive back home was fine.

This morning, I'm trying to start my car, and it does the same thing!! Again, I gave it gas, it started w/o stalling and the engine light came on for 3 secs and then went off.

What could be the problem to this? Where should I look?

 

You said the 'check engine' (aka CEL) light came on? First check and see which code the ECU is throwing.

 

werd, and when you find out what code, let us know - it may help us help you . It could be a variety of things, I'd stipulate but I don't want to feel dumb after I hear the ECU code

- Nathan

 

And how do I find out the code? (sorry if it's a dumb question).

By the way, the CEL doesn't light up all the time. And...today when I was trying to start the car, I gave it gas and the revs reached about 3.5k, and I heard some kind of a weird, unnormal noise coming out of my engine If I rev under ~3.5, then the engine sounds fine. Right now I don't really wanna do any experiments by reving over 3.5k.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Odessa &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And how do I find out the code? (sorry if it's a dumb question).

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pull back the carpeting on the passenger site footwell. you'll see a metallic cover type thing (hard to explain really). that is the cover over your ECU. on the cover there will be a small round window with an LED light inside. put the key in the ignition and the light will blink if you threw a CEL. count the number of blinks...that's the code you're throwing, like if it blinks 666 times, that's a code 666...easy huh?

...then come back to honda tech, go to the search function and type in the code(s) you've got and there usually is info on what it is/means, and how to fix/correct the problem.

BTW...there is no code 666

-cody

 

I think I solved my problem Here is how: I was told to try and spray some WD-40 on the fuel injection stuff...well I'm not too much of a mechanic in the "fuel" thing, so I just sprayed it wherever I thought would be reasonable under that fuel injection black box, right on the intake manifold or so. After that I tried to start the car in it came on normally!!! Now after like 5 days, the car never stalled like before...only once it tried to stall, but it didn't.

So thanks for whoever helped...I'm sure I might need to check the error code while figuring out future car problems.

PS. What an easy fix it was...the good ol' wd-40.