3 days ago I got in to my Civic and it wouldn't start. It sounds like it's trying to start, but never actually catches. For a few days prior it would take a couple tries, but it would eventually turn over. Not sure if this is related, but for about a week before that I would be at a stop light and when I would hit the gas to go it would stall. I drove it very carefully after that happened a couple times, and being super easy on the gas seemed to help that.

Transmission rebuilt a year ago, and distributor replaced around the same time. Battery replaced about 4 months ago.

I'm not good with cars and what little knowledge I have is from American cars. Any suggestions would be a huge help.

1997 Honda Civic DX, 180,000 miles, Automatic

 

Did you have any check engine lights while driving before it died?

Does the check engine light come on for a few seconds and then shut off when you turn the key?

 

The only time the CEL comes on is when you turn the key, but like you said, it's off after a few seconds.

 

Check your fuel pump and main relay. It sounds like you're not getting enough fuel to the engine.

 

1st see if your getting spark from one of your spark plugs ? I bet your Coil went bad.The Coil is located under your Dist Cap.But make sure you have spark! I hope this helps

 

Also check your rotor and the inside of you dist cap contacts, if they got burnt up (like from a malfunctioning coil) it would cause hard starting and eventually it wouldn't start

 

the CEL is a seconday warning system. sometime it wont throw a code eventhough you have a prob. so dont just rely on the CEL

id bet youll have a trouble code in the computer. with OBD1 yyou can jump out the connector and see it flash on the dash but im fairly sure yours is OBD2 so youll have to physically scan it for codes.

 

Update:

I replaced the main relay and put new spark plugs in and it started up just fine and has been running well enough for the last couple weeks.

This morning I was driving and the check engine light came on and the engine seems really weak when I stop at a red light. It feels like it could stall at any time when I am stopped. I had a similar problem this past summer, and I replaced the battery and it cleared up that problem.

Any ideas? I am considering running down to the parts store and picking up a new alternator. That seems to make sense to me.