Rep Power: 0

I have a 2001 Civic EX with 101K on it with a suddenly puzzling problem.

I had a leaking oil pan gasket and PCV valve replaced last week.Drove it home, the next day I drove to the USPO and gas station and directly home. No problem. Following day, I go to start the car and it starts immediately but dies instantly. Every time I start it, the same thing happens. I put an OBDII reader on it and it shows no codes. [The car is always garaged, so weather shouldn't be an issue.]

Any clues? I don't want to spend a fortune fixing a 24 yo car, so this may be a make/break decision.Thanks.

 
Rep Power: 222

Does it it stall like you shut off the key? Like it runs out of gas?
if you leave the key on for like 10-15 seconds will it stay running?
You need to do some more diag besides "there's no codes"

 
Rep Power: 0

It starts with no hesitation and then stalls ~3 seconds later.

Thoughts that run thru my mind:
- Bad gas? I did dump a can of dry gas in the tank when I encountered this problem. It's the same gas station that I always use and there was no problem in the ~2 mile drive back home from the station.
- A connector or vacuum hose came loose?
- The replacement PCV valve is defective? I'm unsure what a defective PCV valve might do and I know that a vacuum hose hooks up to it (it looks connected but as a YouTube video shows, it is mostly hidden from view when looking down on the engine.
- There is a small transmission fluid leak that had bee diagnosed as well, but I did not deem it wise to spend the money to fix that for such an old car. Since I never engaged the transmission, I'm unsure why this suddenly would result in an engine stall.

 
Rep Power: 222

Potentially bad gas, maybe the sock on the pump is getting clogged
after those 3s does it stumble and die or is it like you turn the key off?
Tried leaving the key on for a bit before starting yet?
Take a look in the engine bay for something disconnected or broken.
does your scanner do live data?

 
Rep Power: 0

It shuts down like I turned off the key, no stumbling.

I just checked with my police chief and he's had no reports of cars with bad gas lately. [I actually called him to forward a very crafty phishing message that I received, not about the car.] The station is very popular and in my town.

I've had the key on for a short while before trying to start it, no difference.

I did look in the engine bay and nothing seems obvious.

I don't know if the scanner will do live data or not. It is a HF Zurich ZR11. I haven't had much time to check things out, we had a 2-day 24" snowstorm (very unusual for SE NH) that I had to deal with and my garage is 20F, so I haven't spent much time on this problem. I'm heading out to a class (I have a 2017 CR-V also) so I'll read up on the scanner when I get a chance over the next day or two.

 
Rep Power: 222

Sounds like its going to be something electrical then, which can be tricky to figure out

 
Rep Power: 0

Zurich ZR11 will do a live scan. However, the scanner no longer recognizes the car (car info is stored in the scanner from prior use). No change in behavior. Tomorrow morning, I'll pay a visit to the shop and pick their brain. Depending on what I learn and the estimated cost to figure out the problem, I'm likely to decide to sell the car to a junkyard.

 
Rep Power: 222

If the scanner won't connect to the car; check the cigarette lighter fuse, then check the alternator mounts. If the alternator is loose it can cause all kinds of issues

 
Rep Power: 0

Since the scanner lights up when plugged in, a blown fuse is unlikely. I will check the alternator mounts tomorrow.

 
Rep Power: 0

Accessory outlet works, so no fuse issue. Alternator mounts look good. A friend is a tow truck driver who likes to wrench on his vehicles, He'll take a look on one of his days off in a week or so and we'll take it from there. I was in the hospital for an operation on Friday thru Sunday, so I won't be doing anything with the car until my friend stops by.

 
Rep Power: 0

A friend who is an auto mechanic checked out the car and is almost certain that the fuel pump failed. Not wanting to spend money on this car, I sold it to him. Thanks for the ideas.