1992 Civic si, 144K

it started about a week ago, the car would hesistate and lose power for a split second here and there. It wasn't really bad and sort of felt like a slipping clutch at first. Then I was sitting in traffic and the car just started shutting off, I would restart and drive for a little and it would lose power and die again. The radio and lights work perfect.

Then for two or three days it would not start at all. It seemed like it wanted to turn over but wouldn't. I thought it was fuel at first, but I can hear the fuel pump turn on, so I replaced the filter, nothing. Checked out the main fuel relay, seems alright. Checked for spark, no spark, replaced the plugs, no signigicant change. Replaced the cap and rotor because the posts looked dirty. Got some spark.

Then it started! ran for about 2 seconds and shut off, started again, ran for about 20 seconds and it lost rpm and died, started again ran for 30 seconds and died. Started again and ran for a good five minutes, I took it around the block and it would lope and lose power and die. But, It would still start right back up again. It seemed to die when I was at low rpm (below 2000 or so).

Now it won't start at all, again. Frustrated I gave up and here I am.

Please help! Could it be vacuum, a sensor, ecu, bad ground, intermitant short? Help! Thanks in advance

 

Does it have any codes stored?

 

thats another thing, how do I know if it does, and how do i check it

 

just do the paper clip method
http://www.c-speedracing.com/faq/06.php

 

easy enough, I'm gonna go give it a shot now

 

it didn't get a code, i'm pretty sure i did it right, is the connecter brown instead of blue on a 92 civic?

also, the CEL never came on when the car was actually running


[Modified by BeerMan, 10:17 PM 4/5/2003]

 

then you dont have any codes

 

Did the light come on solid when you jumped the connector?

 

That sounds like what I had. It was misfiring under load under first 2000 rpm then 2500 rpm, and it would try to die while idling. Turns out it was bad spark plug wires. Replaced them today and voila the car works better than ever. But if it is misfiring its either air, fuel, or spark, but with your symptoms its most likely ignition so check your plugs, then wires, then distributor in that order.

 

no, should it have?

[quote] That sounds like what I had. It was misfiring under load under first 2000 rpm then 2500 rpm, and it would try to die while idling. Turns out it was bad spark plug wires. Replaced them today and voila the car works better than ever. But if it is misfiring its either air, fuel, or spark, but with your symptoms its most likely ignition so check your plugs, then wires, then distributor in that order. [quote]

i'll do the wires tommorrow





[Modified by BeerMan, 2:19 AM 4/6/2003]

 

Yes. The connector should be blue. It should be to the right of the glove box.

 

BeerMan, i had a VERY similar problem.

I think you missed the plug ur supposed to see .. in my car, the plug was surrounded by a neon green rubber case. Just slip that off (i used a flat head screw driver).

Then each end of a paperclip (or any metal conductor) into both of the 2 spots on the connector .. and then turn the key to the on position, and watch the "Check" light, and count the blinks.

a sustained blink is 10, and a quick blink is 1


I got a code 4, 9, and 15 ...


and my car is doing something almost exactly like yours. (i also thought it was a clutch problem actually)

 

I figured out the problem, it was the distributor. Apparently, a bearing or bushing went up inside of the dizzy. It would bind and cause the car to stall, then it would unbind itself and run. I could hear a grinding or scraping noise inside it that I don't think I noticed before. Replaced the dizzy and the car runs better than it has in 4 months.

It was the cause of weird electrical problems I've had for months, ie the tach would twitch, the head unit wouldn't work sometimes, also the cruise control was tempermental. All those problems were taken care of with a new distributor. Plus the engine is veeery smooth now.

Thanks for everybodies help, and check your dizzys

edit, forgot to mention that my CEL never came on throughout the entire ordeal, so I don't think It was throwing a code




[Modified by BeerMan, 12:27 PM 4/7/2003]