(this was posted on a previous 91 civic problem thread... these problems sound different, so i posed a new question.. sorry about the double post)

Hi all,

Im a new owner of a 91 civic w/ 146k miles... the first two weeks I drove it, it worked fine. Then the problems...

It would start to randomly stall at lights/stop signs and in traffic (no warning.. jsut stall). When i could feel it coming on, I could flutter the gas and would keep it going.... then a few days later, i would be driving ~70mph or so, and the engine would stop with power.. i could downshift into 3rd and it would come back up and i could go to 4th and it would work ok...

After reading a bit, i thought it might the IACV, so I pulled it and cleaned it and put it back on... the dying during driving seemed to stop, but not the stalling at lights (and it had a fairly rough idle)... i went to get a fuel filter to do a replacement.. i relieved teh pressure at the filter... HOLY COW the freaking banjo nuts on the filter are on there WAY too tight (i dont think the thing has been changed in sometime).. so i give up (couldnt even crack one of the banjo nuts loose with sockets... do i need to use an impact wrench?) and put the relif nut back on the special banjio nut and was on teh way to a mechanci to help with the fuel filter replacement.. when it died a block from my house.. now the damn thing will crank,and eventually when it turns over, i can gun it for about 2-5 secs (with the obvious smell of rich, unburnt fuel emitting from the exhaust).. then it dies and acts flooded.... i can let it sit for several hours, and it will turn over, but not for long....

i pulled the main fuel relay, desoldered and resoldered the connections... i guess it was working fine before, because that didnt change anything...

anyone with any suggestions? i just dont know enough about this car to start running around replacing everything.. any pointers.. GREATLY appreciated

CroCivic91

Hey there...

First thing i'd do is resolder the Main Relay. Your symptoms just scream "MAIN RELAY!!!". Do that first and see if it helps. Do not buy a new one, just take it out and resolder it's joints. I did that and mine is starting like a champ for 8 months now.

To answer your question about igniter and ignition coil. They are inside the distributor. To get to them, you should remove the Distributor Cap. It is a black plastic thing from which 4 spark plug wires go out of. I wrote a little HOW-TO on replacing distributor cap and rotor, so you can take a look at it - http://jagor.srce.hr/~kpuljic/honda/...tor/index.html . It should help you see what everything looks like inside the distributor, and how to remove the cap. Once you remove the cap, you will see an ignition coil on the top. Black box with 2 wires going out of it and some kind of hole on one side. Igniter Unit is "under" it, hidden behind a plastic cover, with 4-5 wires going out of it.

Anyway, do the relay first. Relay gives power to the fuel pump and ECU when you start the car...if it's joints are not soldered properly (as they are now) they might burn the ECU. Just take them out and resolder ALL the joints. Here is a text that will tell you more about it - http://www.markl.f9.co.uk/howto/elec...main-relay.htm

Do let us know what you do, and what helped, and what not

TAPSILOG

hey crocivic i know its more proper to say this in person! i really thank you!! for replying to me, i hope i can do a favor in return in anways,as you say tommorow ill start looking for my main relay under the dashboard, driver side, and examine it.i will try to work on it 1st, b4 the ignition coil plus igniter, i wish thats cousing me problem. you know before im so hopeless and just wanted to sell the car, but im like you i got HEART and dont wanna sell a defect item to just anybody, but know you give me hope with my civic, people like you should get a free internet connection, you help so many people,..well tommorow i got time the whole day no work, ill work on it, then ill tell you the income, tnx man!!

CroCivic91

I'm glad to see people willing to work on their Hondas and learn about them...I'm like that too...8 months ago I knew NOTHING about engines, didn't know that an engine has a block and a head. Now I know a lot more

Anyway, I just wish everything works out fine with your Civic...it's a nice car

TAPSILOG

crocivic i get a job well done today with my civic! i tink that works on me, we did it step by step today, what you told me, i roll under the dash and manage to pull out the main relay, then my friend do the work on main relay, its kinda dirty and we see the dry spot, after that i buy a brand new rotor for 15euro, and a dist.cup 25 euro, i assemble it my self! and that feels good,!anyways the big test i drive like 4km and shut off the engine, counted 5 secs, then started it., it went great, i do it again and again, its perfect! tommorow i will park it under the heat of the sun and, ill do a test again, i hope the problem is solve by now,.many many tnx to you!!

CroCivic91

I'm glad it works for now! Hopefully it will work well tomorrow too.

Very, very glad it went out smooth...do keep me posted about your test tomorrow!

Enjoy your ride!

TAPSILOG

again tnx cro, i tink that solve the math now, anyway im planning to change my timing belt, but may be thats to much for me, im planning to change fuel filter, air filter,brake disk, timing belt, clutch disk, they have no problem but may be there aging now, and need to be change? what u tink? i notice i have to change the guskets in my motor, bec moist of oil is vissible in the middle of the engine, middle where the valve cover connects lower engine,tnx cro

CroCivic91

If your timing belt needs a change, make sure to change timing belt tensioner and water pump along with it. Because it requires no additional work once the timing belt is off.

Change fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs and spark plug wires if you do not remember when they were last changed. Have someone check your brake pads - they might not need a change if they're not squeeling. However, if your discs have never been changed - it might be their time.

Clutch? If it's not slipping - don't touch it. Only if you have extra cash and want to make it run nice and safe - then do it.

Now for the gaskets...is it a gasket between the head and the block? Because there's no gasket between the valve cover and the head, at least i didnt see one when i took the valve cover off. Try to wipe any oil off the engine, perhaps it would be best to degrease and wash the entire engine, then drive around for 1000km and check to see if there's any oil leaks.

TAPSILOG

hey cro, sorry im busy the fast days, dont have time to reply, anyway since i replace the main realy my civic is starting up great, hope it will last long enough, yes the gusket im reffering is the one you mention, my sparkplugs is new irridium, and i got ngk high tension wires, its also new.anyway have a nice day keep it up!!