1992 Civic hatchback. Before I get into the other night - I was having problems all summer if the car sat out in the heat with the windows all closed up. It would not start - turn over, but not start. I would usually have to roll the windows down, go inside for 15-20, then come back out and BAM - would start right up. Dunno if this was jut totally coincidental or what. Someone at work suggested vapor lock, I came on here searched around and saw a LOT of stuff about the main relay down by the fusebox. ANYWAY - the weather has been great and havent had a problem in months.

On to the other night - driving along, the car just dies. It hesitated a little, I thought I had slipped outta gear, made sure it was in gear, gave a little gas, it chugged, sputtered and died. Pulled off the road, tried to start it, cranked fine, ran for a about a second and died. Would not start thereafter. I did notice a faint odor, but couldnt tell if it was from my car or one of the 500 passing me by. Feul pump is pumping just fine, changed the fuel filter, checked my cap and rotoe for the heck of it, they needed changed bad so did that. Car cranks like a champ, but won't start. Neighbor who works on cars thinks the ignition coils is bad after checking it out - but if that went bad would my car die while I was driving?

I'm just looking for any suggestions before I spend a wad in the shop. I used to love working on old 70, 70, and early 80's cars, I guess it's time for me to learn about the newer ones too.

Thanks for any ideas.

RRR

 

make sure you're getting spark, if you're not, I would change the coil. They're around $70-$80 at Autozone/Advance Auto Parts/Pep Boys

 

Actually - I meant to add that detail, pulled one of the wires, did the ol screwdriver thing in the plug, and no, I'm not getting any spark, but that's what confused me a little - if the coild did in fact go bad, would the car cut out on me the way that it did???

 

yup, the coil is one of the parts that helps to create the spark, if you don't have spark, what will cause the lil explosions in your engine?

Same thing happened to me in my civic... luckily I made it to my street and rolling into my driveway, but as soon as I replaced the coil, it fired right up. Installation was simple too. As soon as you take the cap, rotor off, and the little protective cover, the coil is right there, and their are only 2 wires connecting it.

 

Thanks. I'm goin' to pick one up right now. As for those 2 wires, I assume one of them is a ground? Reason I ask is that I am getting power from both places where the wires connect.

 

could be a seized bearing in the dizzy too, that was my problem with my 92 hatch. Supposedly, 92 and 93 civics are notorious for dizzy problems.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RRR71 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks. I'm goin' to pick one up right now. As for those 2 wires, I assume one of them is a ground? Reason I ask is that I am getting power from both places where the wires connect.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Just put 'em back the same way you took 'em off I'm not sure if one is + or -. haha

 

Blue wire is the tach signal.. doesn't have to be hooked up... unless you want a tach signal!

 

Thanks guys. I got a new Iggy coil, hooked everything the way it was, and presto!

 

Nice job! Feels good doesn't it?! I HATE when my car isn't working, and something SO simple fixes it!

 

Ahh, gotta loive it when things just... work out.