Ok, I'm pretty stumped on this so maybe someone can give me some ideas before I take my car in to the shop and pay to have it checked over.

The car: 90 Civic EX
ZC Powered/ZC Tranny
89 Teg ECU

The problem:
Start up the car, the check engine light can come on, then go out...every time the check engine light comes on, it's like the motor stops for a half second, so when you do it under accelleration, there's a pretty severe stutter to the car. The check engine light can come on, go back off a bunch of times in a row, or it can just stay on, or it may stay off for a while - it's very inconsistent. The ECU is not giving me any codes - it starts to flash sometimes, but never finishes when the check engine light goes back out. The car also tends to die completely if not in gear.

I've already changed the cylinder positon sensor and the whole distributor, including the coil. Once I'd changed the distributor, it did run pretty well - for that evening. The next morning the problem was back.

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks,
Eric

 

check all your grounds

reset the ecu. check for codes...
if you still have problems try a different ecu

 

Have you tried new spark plugs or wires? It might be misfiring. Since you got a new distributor I doubt it's a problem with the cap and rotor. If you have an air/fuel gauge it might be an idea to check the fuel delivery, if it's leaning out or anything.

 

Well, things have gone from bad to worse...

I checked the main engine ground and the battery negative ground - both seemed fine. I tried to start the car up, but now I don't even get a check engine light at all. So, I tried using the ZC ECU that came with the motor (I didn't use it because it was for an AT not a MT) and the check engine light and the ECU led light both just flash rapidly. Heeeelp!

What I really don't understand is how this is getting worse despite the fact that the car was parked most of the day.

Anyway, thanks for any help.
Eric

 

You say the light's flashing? What code is it flashing?

 

It's not flashing a code...it looks more like a fast-flash turn signal. I do not think it's a very good sign.

By the way, where else should I be checking the grounds?

Eric

 

Um dude you used a a/t comp ona m/t. Thats why it freaked. Anyways just get a manual for a crx (in know you have a ZC) and locate your MAIN RELAY. Mine is doing the same thing and today I check and the most common problem was the last I checked. You see two part of solder on the relay often break all you must do is solder them back ta da. I did it on my friends rex, but I didnt have any solder for mine tonight. Once I got off work. Also how good is your fuel filter and pump. Check those two.

 

Actually, I had used this ECU initially when the engine was first dropped in. It worked ... it just threw a code 19 all the time. Now it won't even start with that ECU. I have also looked into the main relay box, and everything looks very clean in there. I haven't checked the fuel filter or pump yet - I didn't think that a problem with either of those would produce the weird ECU behavior that I've got now.

Eric

 

Might want to just doublecheck that all the wires are plugged into the connectors. Not that the connectors are plugged in... see, on my car the wires actually pull out of the back of the connections quite easily. Especially from the VTEC solenoid. It's freakin' annoying .