I have a '95 GSR that yesterday out of nowhere started with this. The car starts and turns on just fine, but the instant the engine starts the car goes completely dead. Its almost like if someone turned the key the moment the car starts. I'm guessing it might be electrical because it seems like it doesnt want to read the "II" positions (you know how you have 0 (remove the key), "I" radio works, "II" everything works and then you turn the key more and it starts the car. Well when I put it in the "II" position it doesnt do anything and when I turn it to start the car it starts and then acts like its in the "II" position (meaning I have to hold the key in start mode for the car to continue to run)!!

This is crazy!! If anyone can give me any insight or ideas as to what this might be related to I'd greatly appreciate it!! Thanks!

 

Basically had close to the same problem last week with my 89 Teg. To me it seemed like ignition because it completely died. Not even a sputter. Sometime with fuel it will sputter. Ok, I will tell you what I sposted to other on the board with similar problems. I read thisin my repair manual and itis the logical way to approach these kind of problems.

OK, there are 3 main things cars need to run, they are

1. spark

2. fuel

3. compression


Since the electrical system in most cars is the weakest link it is only logical to test this first. Get an in-line ignition-spark tester. They connect to the sparl plug and ignition wire. You can run the car adn look at the bulb to see if flashes. If you see no flash, then take a look at your distribtor. This will quickly tell you if you have spark or not and let you move on to the test ignition components and eliminate others, l**** fuel and compression. If you don't see the light bulb flash I'd test the ignitor and distributor. Look for loose wires. Test primary and secondary winding resistance on the ignotor. In my case they checked out, but he secondary terminal was corroded. I sanded the terminal downwithsandpaper and 15 minutes later mmy carran like a dream. I suspect you may have the same or similar problem based on what you said.

Otherwise if the light still flashes when the car dies, then test for comprssion. Itis very unlikely that it is compression, however, compression is easy to test and fuel is not.

If you have good compression and ignition, then check the fuel system. You may wish you see if the injectors are firing and then start testing things like fuel pump, fuel filter, fuel pressure. Be methodical, systematic, and logical when working with the fuel system and you will find the problem.

 

my friend had an identical problem in his 97 Prelude; turned out to be a bad ignition switch...

 

thanks guys for the suggestion..

it turns out it was the wiring to the ignition switch. i figured that would be easy enough to take out so i went for that first. turns out one of the four lines (its kind of like a cap/rotor setup inside the switch.. depending on what position the key is in is where the connection is made) one of those lines was fried and the soldering had melted and it didnt have a contact. Thanks again