Hello i'm Paul.
I have a 88 civic 1500dx hb. If i hit 4 grand the CEL comes on and the car run at 1.5-2 grand. To fix i shut the car off. The light goes away and the car goes back to .8 grand. Now sometimes when i go to the store i have to remove the gas cap to start the car. I have no mods on the car and it has 196k. Could this be as easy as the gas cap is holding to much pressure?

 

it could be your regulator. the diaphram inside could be staying closed and not letting fuel go back to the tank making the rail pressure high. is it hard to start when the car has been sitting for a long period of time?

 

Ya, thats when i remove the gas cap & it starts.

 

Start by determining the CEL code that is blinking from the ECU LED (see diagram below). Post the code for feedback.

 

the ecu is flashing 7, 16, & 17. I down loaded the 88 civic manual from "http://hondatech.info/downloads/Auto/Manuals/Civic/" so i can see what my next step is.
Thanks paul

 

Also download a different and better 88 Civic manual here:

https://www.spoonhonda.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=119