Yesterday as I was warming up my car to leave college, it died all of a sudden. So I tried starting it again…it turned over fine, but it seemed like it wasn’t getting any fuel. So after checking the coil, battery, distributor, etc., I decided to take out the rear seat and check the fuel sending unit (thinking maybe the fuel pump was acting up). My friend had seen a similar problem, and told me to start cranking the car again, as he gave the area beside the sending unit a few good whacks.
PRESTO…that seemed to fix it…engine started running, and I was able to drive back home.
Today I started it again, no problem, and noticed that after warming it up and backing it out into the driveway, there was a bit of water in the tailpipe (and it hasn’t rained in awhile). I revved it a bit, and noticed a bunch more water had ejected and sprayed onto the driveway(Not a lot…but it’s the first time my car has ever done it)
I’m trying to figure out WTH is going on! Is it something with the fuel system??:think:
Some other symptoms I’ve been having lately:
-after car is warmed up, and I am driving around town and hit a stop light, my idle will stay at about 1250 RPM for a minute or two before going back down to 750
idle will sometimes bounce a bit when I’m stopped
As a point of interest to anyone who can help me, I just had a tranny swap done about a month ago. Also, I usually run 87 octane gas in my car, but had filled it up the day that my car wouldn’t start w/ 92 octane (gas station was outta regular, so I got it for the same price :D)
Would filling up with a different gas have done anything that would relate to my symptoms?
Anyway, I kept this as short as I could. Any help is appreciated. THANKS!!!
Look up the teg tip for cleaning the IACV and do what it says. That should help out your idle problem.
As far as not starting, it could be a multitude of things. I suggest you look into your mail fuel relay if you think it is fuel related.
I agree that you should also check your engine grounds and your battery cables for corrosion and make sure they have a good connection.
I was working on another members car that was having the same starting problem as you last week and it ended up that his positive battery cable was at the end of its life. the metal had been stretched out on it so it wasnt making a good connection on the battery therefore not getting enough voltage to crank it over all the time.
About the water out of the tailpipe…
All cars do it. Just because you never noticed yours doing it before doesnt mean that it has never done it. It is a normal thing for a car that hasent been warmed up.
In my owners manual it says to use 91+ octane. I use 93 because in Michigan we have 87 89 and 93 (or is it 92?). Sunoco has 96+ but there is only one that I know of so I dont use it. Use the highest octane you can get in your state regularly, dont fluxuate between the low grade and high grade, you will have problems. Higher octane is used to decrease the chance of a knock being created within the motor, and eventualy frying your piston rings or head gasket even destroying your pistons or rods (very bad). I’ve seen all four of these things happen to different motors. A hole in the front of your block is not cool (sorry Tony). The reason we use (or should use) higher octane is because of our relativly high compression ratios 9.7:1 GSR and 9.2:1 for the rest of us. Its okay to use lower grade fuel on lower compression ratio motors (with out turbo, supercharger, nitrious etc.) say a Civic with 8.5:1 compression ratio or lower I’m not saying that this is the problem I’m just gigving you the heads up.
i have had a similiar problem with the car not starting but this was on hot days after the car has been warmed up ,i would go to the car and try to start it the engine would not crank , all i would here is the starter make a grinding noise , after cranking it a few times the car would start up (really weird) i went to honda and bought a main fuel relay replaced it , i thought the problem was gone 2 weeks later it happen again ,like br said it could be alot of things ignitor, fuel problem ,distributer im still trying to figure it out , about the idle try reseting the ecu and check your throttle cable and the screw on your tbody good luck
Hey guys…just wanted to say thanks for the help. All is back to normal now.
BR- I cleaned out my IACV and reset the ECU today, as well as changed my ground wires…runs like a charm now
That IACV was pretty nasty dirty…it was definately due for a cleaning.
Great sounds like your car is running good, sorry i couldn’t help much, i was suprised someone asked for engine advice from me LOL, cause i know crap hahahaa
Hey integ_pilot, are you the same integpilot i called once or twice by accident? is your name john? cause i remember 2 integ pilots can’t remember which
Nah dude, I’m still in Florida. Only time I’m gonna be showing up in LA again is on holidays. Speaking of which, any going on between Dec 20th and Jan 6?
