GRR! Engine turns off while driving, radio/lights still work, garage baffled!
#1
06-09-2009, 10:15 AM
GRR! Engine turns off while driving, radio/lights still work, garage baffled!
97 Honda Del Sol, Manual shift, standard model...
ok, twice last week I was driving and while driving, the engine just quit. No sputtering or anything. Its like someone just pulled the plug. The radio and lights are always working fine. When trying to start again, the engine will crank with no problem and sounds fine but it will not catch.
Got it towed to the shop, the engine started right up with no probs. Ran tests to find problems and they cant find a single thing wrong with it. Oh well, so I picked it up and drove home. The next day at work when going to lunch, it died on me again just before I pulled into where I was going to lunch. Got my lunch anyway, came back and it started right up but died again about 5 seconds later. Again, battery and all power seems to work fine.
Towed BACK to the shop...same thing! Its working fine for them and no problems. They even called Honda to get some suggestions from them. They recommended with the symptoms I was having, that the ignition could be going bad, the fuel pump relay could be going bad, and one other thing which I cant remember (might know it if I hear it). They ran tests on all of those items and everything is working perfectly and the engine starts right up.
Ok, picked it up and has worked fine for a week. Today while at work, I got in the car to go to lunch and it will not start!!! I dont know what to do now! All I can think is to tow it to an actual Honda garage which I know will cost me double than where I usually go but out of ideas. Scared that when they get it, it will be working again and wont find any problems and screwed out of more money with no results
Does anyone have ANY suggestions or been through this before?? The only thing I havent tried yet is jump starting it which I will try today. Just dont see that being necessary when its obvious Im getting full battery power
ok, twice last week I was driving and while driving, the engine just quit. No sputtering or anything. Its like someone just pulled the plug. The radio and lights are always working fine. When trying to start again, the engine will crank with no problem and sounds fine but it will not catch.
Got it towed to the shop, the engine started right up with no probs. Ran tests to find problems and they cant find a single thing wrong with it. Oh well, so I picked it up and drove home. The next day at work when going to lunch, it died on me again just before I pulled into where I was going to lunch. Got my lunch anyway, came back and it started right up but died again about 5 seconds later. Again, battery and all power seems to work fine.
Towed BACK to the shop...same thing! Its working fine for them and no problems. They even called Honda to get some suggestions from them. They recommended with the symptoms I was having, that the ignition could be going bad, the fuel pump relay could be going bad, and one other thing which I cant remember (might know it if I hear it). They ran tests on all of those items and everything is working perfectly and the engine starts right up.
Ok, picked it up and has worked fine for a week. Today while at work, I got in the car to go to lunch and it will not start!!! I dont know what to do now! All I can think is to tow it to an actual Honda garage which I know will cost me double than where I usually go but out of ideas. Scared that when they get it, it will be working again and wont find any problems and screwed out of more money with no results
Does anyone have ANY suggestions or been through this before?? The only thing I havent tried yet is jump starting it which I will try today. Just dont see that being necessary when its obvious Im getting full battery power
#2
06-09-2009, 10:40 AM
These intermittent problems are always very hard to find. No one in the world will be able to identify the problem if it never malfunctions for them.
As you have guessed, jump starting won't help.
You are the one most likely to have the car when it won't start, so you should look for clues next time it happens. In particular look for--
*Do the red oil and battery lights on the dash come on after it dies?
*When you turn the key on but not all the way to try to start, does the yellow check engine light come on, and go out (this is what it should do)? Or does it stay on, or does it never come on at all?
*Also when you turn the key on and don't start, you should hear the fuel pump running under the back seat for the 2 seconds while the check engine light is on. You will need to be in a fairly quiet location to hear it.
Also I'm sure someone has already done this, but find the fuse boxes under the dash and under the hood next to the battery, and push all the fuses down firmly to be sure they are not loose.
As you have guessed, jump starting won't help.
You are the one most likely to have the car when it won't start, so you should look for clues next time it happens. In particular look for--
*Do the red oil and battery lights on the dash come on after it dies?
*When you turn the key on but not all the way to try to start, does the yellow check engine light come on, and go out (this is what it should do)? Or does it stay on, or does it never come on at all?
*Also when you turn the key on and don't start, you should hear the fuel pump running under the back seat for the 2 seconds while the check engine light is on. You will need to be in a fairly quiet location to hear it.
Also I'm sure someone has already done this, but find the fuse boxes under the dash and under the hood next to the battery, and push all the fuses down firmly to be sure they are not loose.
#3
06-09-2009, 11:07 AM
My guess would be a bad ICM in the distributor. Nonetheless, WHEN THE ENGINE WON'T START, check for spark (see Spark link in my signature) and listen for whether the fuel pump primes when the key is turned to ON(II).
#4
06-09-2009, 11:20 AM
DISTRIBUTOR!! That was the other thing Honda told them to look at which they did. Said it all checked out ok
#5
06-09-2009, 11:31 AM
These intermittent problems are always very hard to find. No one in the world will be able to identify the problem if it never malfunctions for them.
As you have guessed, jump starting won't help.
You are the one most likely to have the car when it won't start, so you should look for clues next time it happens. In particular look for--
*Do the red oil and battery lights on the dash come on after it dies?
*When you turn the key on but not all the way to try to start, does the yellow check engine light come on, and go out (this is what it should do)? Or does it stay on, or does it never come on at all?
*Also when you turn the key on and don't start, you should hear the fuel pump running under the back seat for the 2 seconds while the check engine light is on. You will need to be in a fairly quiet location to hear it.
Also I'm sure someone has already done this, but find the fuse boxes under the dash and under the hood next to the battery, and push all the fuses down firmly to be sure they are not loose.
As you have guessed, jump starting won't help.
You are the one most likely to have the car when it won't start, so you should look for clues next time it happens. In particular look for--
*Do the red oil and battery lights on the dash come on after it dies?
*When you turn the key on but not all the way to try to start, does the yellow check engine light come on, and go out (this is what it should do)? Or does it stay on, or does it never come on at all?
*Also when you turn the key on and don't start, you should hear the fuel pump running under the back seat for the 2 seconds while the check engine light is on. You will need to be in a fairly quiet location to hear it.
Also I'm sure someone has already done this, but find the fuse boxes under the dash and under the hood next to the battery, and push all the fuses down firmly to be sure they are not loose.
#6
06-09-2009, 11:34 AM
Did they replace the distributor?
#7
06-09-2009, 11:37 AM
The oil pressure light should not remain on when the engine is running.
Last edited by RonJ; 06-09-2009 at 11:41 AM.
#8
06-09-2009, 11:37 AM
Be careful. As mentioned by mk378, intermittent problems are very very tricky. If your mechanics happened to check the distributor when it was not acting up, then they would incorrectly conclude that the distributor was fine. Tests are reliable ONLY WHEN THE ENGINE WON'T START.
Did they replace the distributor?
Did they replace the distributor?
#9
06-09-2009, 11:39 AM
Its not, the engine never catches. When I release the key, the oil light comes back on just like it does when you put the key in and turn it half way.