tmob13

Help! My daughter's 97 Civic has been not starting and will occassionally cut off when driving. We have had the alternator and disbributer replaced, as well as new plugs and wires. It is not throwing any codes. The distributor was replaced 3 weeks ago, then it wouldn't start again, and they put in another brand new distributor. Yesterday, while driving 55 or so, it just cut out on her. We couldn't start it, it would turn over, but never catch. After about 5 minutes it did start, got it home. This morning it started, left it for about 5 minutes to warm up, and it cut off and wouldn't start - Any ideas?

Jrfish007

iTrader: (3)

SOunds like a bad ground... maybe?

What do you mean it doesn't start, it won't even turn over? Do the interior lights come on?

tmob13

Sorry - it turns over, but won't catch. Usually if you let it sit for a while (5-10 minutes) and try it again, it will start right up. All interior lights are on. Also had a new battery installed sometime in the last 6 months.

Jrfish007

iTrader: (3)

So when it doesn't start, the engine turn but it just doesn't catch... has the engine ever overheated? Is there any pattern to when it won't start. Like it doesn't start when it's warm or anything like that?

tmob13

The engine has never overheated, and there's no discernable pattern for it not starting.

tinman

Do this: Next time it does not start, take off the air intake and spray a little carb cleaner in the intake. See if it wants to start, or starts for a moment.
If it does, it will be the fuel pump or the fuel pump relay. If it does NOT, and won't even sputter, then it's in the ignition power. Does the car have a tach? Pay attention to the tach when it won't start. If the tach wiggles a little when you crank the engine, it's NOT a power problem.

Post back.

tmob13

Thanks - we will try. I'll post after trying it.