35 replies to this topic

[Alchemist Dragon]

I bought a 1987 Civic Si about three months ago.. I have had about 5 offers for it since. It has running great until about a month and a half ago. It has a 1.5L fuel injection engine (I think EW4). I was driving home one day and the engine cut off.. To me it seemed that the fuel seemed to cut off to the engine completely.. It wouldn't start what so ever after i got it out of the road.. I went back later that night it started right up.. I have changed the distributor cap and rotor button.. It ran fine for about a week.. It starts when it wants to.. When it does start it runs like nothing is wrong.. To me it seems to be an electrical problem, a messed up ECU, a sensor, or fuel injector problem.

I have asked many ppl opinions

Junk in the gas tank
Bad ignitor coil
Fuel filter (changed it twice)
Bad spark plug wires
Fuel pump (but why would it work some of the time?)

No one seems to be helping.

I checked the self diagnostic on the ecu and it seems that its either not working right or it doesn't reconize the problem.. Whatever the problem is it seems minor, its just finding it. The honda place wants $65/hr just to look at it (no way).

If anyone has had this happen to them or knows what is wrong help would be appreciated.

Edited by Alchemist Dragon, 08 October 2005 - 11:51 AM.

[badpenny]

Call me crazy, but it does sound very much like your fuel pump is starting to go out on you. Are you the only driver to this car? How many owners before you? My guess is it is either the fuel pump is overheating or you have a short in the wires leading to the fuel pump.

[Alchemist Dragon]

That actually has crossed my mind before.... As for how many ppl owned it before me that is up in the air... I got it from a used car lot.. As soon as I saw it I knew i wanted it. From the shape the car was in when I got it, I would say it only had one previous owner.. The only things really wrong with it body wise I did to it and they are very minor.

It seems to me that its a minor problem that is easily fix once I figure out what is wrong.. Money is an issue for me right now as well..

[badpenny]

Here is a question for you: Does it mainly cut out when its damp or wet outside?

Secondly to check your wires for a short only takes about 20min worth of visual inspection, its all located right along the drivers side of the car under your carpet.

[Alchemist Dragon]

Here the thing that gets me about it... A few days ago it was pouring the rain and it started fine.. Its very picky when it wants to start... I have heard everything about whats wrong and not one person seems to know what they are talking about... I wish I had some local help..

Its been a lot of guessing and spending money on things it could be and it has solve the problem yet..

Edited by Alchemist Dragon, 08 October 2005 - 01:44 PM.

[crxls]

its your igniter dude. almost always is the igniter. unless its only when extremely hot inside the car that it dont want to start, then its the main relay.

[badpenny]

Here the thing that gets me about it...    A few days ago it was pouring the rain and it started fine..  Its very picky when it wants to start...   I have heard everything about whats wrong and not one person seems to know what they are talking about...   I wish I had some local help.. 

Its been a lot of guessing and spending money on things it could be and it has solve the problem yet..

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You could talk to bryman he is somewhat local to you and there are a number of NC/SC people on this board.

But, with it being picky I would have to agree with crxls on this one, it does sound like the ignitor.

[Alchemist Dragon]

I'm going to price all the parts.. Right now though all i can do is price.. I have some help money wise.. I'm on the verge of losing my place though.. What can you say? I'm a college student.. Going to be easier to find a job once I have my ride back..

So replace the Ignitor coil then go from there?
or the ignition switch?

Edited by Alchemist Dragon, 08 October 2005 - 02:40 PM.

[Alchemist Dragon]

Sorry, I'm new at working on cars.. I know very little.. Never had anyone to show me the ropes.. So, I'm attempting to teach myself..

If it comes down to its I'm going to "borrow" one of my stepdads friends garage (He races in Fast Ford circuit).. If I happen to lose my apt and have to move back to my hometown then I might as well make the best of it..

Edited by Alchemist Dragon, 08 October 2005 - 03:39 PM.

[EPcivic]

If you can, next time it won't start go pull a spark plug wire off and place it near a ground and crank the car to check for spark while cranking. My bet would be the ignitor too. It's one of the few parts that can cause an intermittant problem like you're having. But, if you have spark while the car isn't starting then I'd guess the main relay. Both of these components are fairly likely candidates. Regardless of the type of car, the basic steps in diagnosis are the same.

You need a few basic things for a motor to run. Fuel, spark, and compression. And they all have to happen at the right times. Intermittiant problems are usually ignition/electrical.

Honda fuel pumps rarely go bad. Honda ignitors often go bad, as do the main relays. There are also some other sensors inside the distributer that can go bad and cause the same symptoms.

Good luck - Chris

[crxls]

So replace the Ignitor coil then go from there?
or the ignition switch?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

igniter (or ignition module, depending on who/what store you talk to). not igniter coil.

the igniter and the coil are 2 different parts. ignition switch is where you put the key to turn the car on (not this part)

this igniter will run you roughly $70-80 and is inside the distributor under the cap

good luck

[E-AT_me]

well, i'd think it to be the main relay. when it doesn't start, turn the key off, then turn it back on.. can you hear the fuel pump "prime"? aka, run for a few seconds? my car does this a lot now adays.. it'll start for like 2-3 seconds then die.. i'll have to sit there, take the key all the way out and wait about 3 seconds then try 'er again.. usually it starts, sometimes it doesn't.. but i think my igniter is going bad, too.. oh well! it's always something!!!

[Alchemist Dragon]

I'm going to put an igniter in it this week... I will update you guys to weither or not it works..

[strudel]

If it is the Main Relay it is located on the left side under the dash behind the fuse box. It's about 2"x2" square and it does say main relay on it. If you have access to another vehicle try and swap these between the cars. I had that happen and it would crank and maybe fire once if I was lucky. Wait a few minutes and it would start.
Some people take them out and have the joints resoldered and away you go or buy a brand new one from Honda. Electrical problems are absolutely the worst to sort out. The other thing you could try is to loosen the top bolt on the fuel filter. It may still be under pressure so be careful. If you turn on the key you should be getting fuel squirting out. If you do, the fuel pump is working and at that moment the main relay. With them it is a hot cold thing. JS

[Alchemist Dragon]

I changed the igniter and it started for a brief second then died once again...
Think the main relay should be next? It doesn't sound like the fuel pump is working current so would a short in the main relay cause the problem?