Hi all,

I have an 89 Civic hatch. A week ago I was leaving work and stopped at the grocery store. Upon leaving for home I attempted to start the car. It would turn over, kick off but then immediately stop running. Every time I would start the car, it would kick off and then immediately stop. Finally, after pressing the gas pedal in rapid succession while turning the key I got it to start. Drove it right to my local shop and, of course, it started every time for them. They replaced the cap, rotor, wires and plugs just as a tune-up. I drove it the day after that to work and it was fine. On the way home, 40 minutes into my 45 minute trip I had to stop. The car stalled out. I had the same problem again, would kick off but then immediately die. I was able to get it started by pressing the gas in succession while turning the key. I got it hom and parked it in the driveway. It hasn't started fully since. It will kick off but then die. I know it's getting spark (I did the spark test) and I know it's getting fuel (I took off the throttle body and checked for fuel when turning the key). It seems to me to be a vaccuum type of issue but I'm not sure. Has anyone else experienced this issue or have any insight as to what the cause could be?

 

Is the LED of the ECU blinking a code?

You may have a faulty fuel pump or clogged fuel filter. To test, measure the fuel pressure.

 

I do not have any engine codes when the key is to the II position. I will test for pressure this afternoon. I just went out to the car and tried something else. I turn the key to the III position to start the car and press the gas the car turns over, kicks off, revs up and dies. While it's fired up if I turn it back to the III repeatedly and press the gas repeatedly (not good for the starter I'm sure) it will continue to kick off each time I turn it to the III position and the starter turns the motor. As soon as I let it return to the II position it stops. It almost seems like it's a vaccuum issue but I"m not sure. Any other ideas to try besides the fuel pressure? While I'm in there this afternoon I might as well try as many things as I can.

 

As you have already said, you need to check the hoses and connections for vacuum leaks. You might also check whether the timing belt has slipped, causing the cam and crank not to be synchronized at TDC.

 

could it also be the carburator? did this model have a IACV or any other controllers to clean?

 

Yeah, a bad dashpot solenoid valve or dirty EACV are other possibilities.

 

You my friend have the very rare Throttle body fuel injection.
( also known as Dual Point Fuel Injection) orDP-FI
only used from 88 to 91,honda stopped using carbs in 87, and by 92 all models were multipoint fuel injection.

I think your problem is electrical, if the car will start, and you can keep it going byturning the key to start, but when you go to the run position it dies. I would suspect the main relay, might be the problem, the main relay is actually 2 relays in one box, a start relay, and a run relay. The solder joints inside the relay are poor quality, if they are reheated the relay is good as new, most times. This is a very common problem ( main relay).

 

I checked the fuel pressure today, I'm on the money. I did not check TDC for timing, I didn't have that kind of time. I'm also thinking that it could be the main relay but my local parts shops don't carry them, they are special order. I'll have to wait until later in the week to go by Honda since they have them in stock. If anyone else has any ideas that I can try in the mean time I'll gladly give it a shot. And yes, the cars is DPFI. I'm sad to see my car sitting. It wasGIVEN to me by a co-worker and I use it to drive 45 minutes to work and 45 minutes home every day. I'm getting 36-38MPG and it has 178XXX miles on it. I was never a honda guy until that car. I've had it 6 months and wouldn't trade it for the world (maybe a honda with working air conditioning!!!). Thank you all for your help.

 

The main relay is unlikely to be the problem given that the fuel pressure is fine. By the way, how did you check for spark?

In the meantime, check the injector resistor:

 

I checked for spark by doing the old chainsaw/lawnmower trick. Pull the plug and hold it close the chassis while someone turns the key to III. I checked all of the plugs this way and all had spark. I will check the injector resistor tomorrow in the morning and report my findings back to the forum.