Problems with 2001 Honda Civic Vtec Auto
The problem I have been having with this car started about a year ago. The engine suddenly stalled while on the move in busy traffic on a very hot day (45 degrees celsius), engine light came on. It started again in around 1 minute and I pulled over and the engine stalled again. It started again and stalled after about 200 yards. I gave the car to a Honda (specialist) mechanic who did a major service and replaced the fuel pump, relay, fuel filter, oil, coolant, brakes, tyres etc and charged a tidy sum. However, six weeks after all that the car stalled again on a hot day. I live in Sydney, Australia where summer usually kicks in around October and stays hot till February the next year. The weather is pretty hot (45 degrees celsius) on really hot days and immediately drops into the 20's after four or five days of heat. The car does not stall if the weather is less tha 25 degrees celsius. Recently we have been having some really hot weather, like today (45 degrees celsius) and it did it again within a period of 30 minutes (it stalled 7 times within a distance of 16 kms and took me 45 minutes to get it back home where it died on my driveway. I contacted the same Honda mechanic (who is not a Honda Dealer mechanic), who advised that since this car has no distributor, it is probably the Ignition Key and the Immobiliser (for which repairs will cost around $1.5 grand. However after reading all the answers posted by Greasemonkey on this forum, I have my doubts about this mechanics verdict. I think he could be talking me for a ride. I am not very savvy with cars but fortunately picked up two things from GM's posts about the ICM and the CKP sensor. I would like to know whether I should tell this mechanic about the two details above or should I give it to the Honda Dealer who will charge me an arm and a leg anyway. Looking forward to hearing from the experts, thanks for your time.
Ralph
