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I recently ran into a couple problems with my 97 Ex. It started last week, when, driving down the freeway, my engine seemingly stalled, but as i coasted, it caught itself, and the rest of the trip went on as though it never even happened.
The next day, my car would periodically stall, I'd make it to the side of the road, and it would start right back up. After this, I replaced the fuel filter hoping that was it. However, This continued off and on every once in a while, until a couple days ago, the car wouldn't start. I decided to change the distributor cap and rotor. Nothing. So I proceeded to change the ignition coil.
That got the car running perfectly for a day. Then it all started again. I noticed that when slowing to a stop, the rpm would go up about 100, then instantly drop 200. While sitting at a stop sign, the RPM would stay at 300, if that. Finally, for the first time in all of this, my car stalled while at a stop light, while previously, it would only stall while driving. It also seems that the longer i drive, the more often the car will stall. Finally, last night, after about what adds up to be an hour of driving, my car stalled in a parking lot. I could get it to start back up for seconds at a time, but it would instantly stall. So i left it in the parking lot and came back today. Surprisingly, it started right back up and i was able to drive it home.

To clarify, every time the car stalls, it will still at the least crank. I changed the spark plugs and wires three months ago, got a new battery about 2 months ago, and I just changed the oil, fuel filter, distributor cap and rotor, and ignition coil within the past couple days. The check engine light has also never come on while it was stalling.

I've been told that it could be a weak fuel pump, a throttle position sensor, or that "a wiring harness has rubbed through on the intake bracket."

*side note* I can hear the fuel pump priming as i go to start the car up.

Anyone have any ideas as to what this could be?

 
Rep Power: 519

Watch the dash lights. Does it appear like someone shut the key off when it stalls? (After the engine stops turning, all the idiot lights are supposed to come on. If the dash is dark when the engine dies then it is probably an ignition switch.)

Turn the key to ON, don't start the engine. Does the check engine light come on for 2 seconds and go out?

After the engine is dead, does it have spark?

 
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When the car dies, the battery light, oil, etc. all turn on.

The check engine light does turn on for a few seconds when the key is in that second position.

However, I have yet to check for spark when the car dies.
How would one go about doing so?

 
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It will take 2 people.
Got any friends that know something about cars? That would be a big help for you.

Check out this shakycam how-to. I usually use the screwdriver method. [autostream]http://autostream.com/ibcivicforums/?page_type=firebirdplayerthumbnail&framepage=1162& transactionid=1326938876-9821527142&posted_by=ezone_www.civicforums.com&you tube_video_id=ZceAZgZBn9E[/autostream]

 
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Now I'll just have to wait and see when it dies again.

Hypothetically speaking, if it doesn't spark, that would suggest a problem with what?

 
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Hypothetically? I don't fix cars that way very often.

The engine must have compression, fuel, and spark to run.
In the proper amounts, at the correct times.
When it dies, one of these is missing or wrong.
Since it runs, we can pretty much rule out compression, and timing of ignition, cam, and valves (it ain't the engine itself causing the problem).


Ok.......
If no spark at the plug wires, then backtrack up the ladder.
I might check next for spark right at the coil itself.
Then check for inputs to the coil. B+, and control signal from the igniter with a dwell meter.

It has to be in a state of DEAD to find any problems. If it runs, you won't find anything wrong.

 
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Hypothetically, meaning lets say I get out there and it does die, I wouldn't have time to run back and try and find out where to go from there.

That being said, it does have the tendency to start right back up with exception to the latest, when it took a night of sitting to get it back up and running. So this may be a huge task in itself.

Is the spark like an end all? By that, I mean if I do get a spark, would that suggest that the Igniter, ignition coil, etc. is fine?

 
Rep Power: 519

Figure out if spark is missing when it dies, before going any further.

If there IS spark and it won't run, then spark probably isn't the problem.






Or did I misunderstand something here?