[Zufan]

Ok guys I am new to the forum, from London and recently inherited a 1989 (well on some documents it says 1990 ) Honda Civic GL.
This car has only 52K miles on it so it drives like a new car really... My girl and I drove it from Austria all the way to London and had no problems with it until about 3 weeks ago.

I am not too mechaniclly inclined so bear with me please.

Here goes...

It completley stalled on us one day while returning from IKEA. It had no problmes on initial cold start but would not re-start. I thought it might have flooded and let the car sit for about 15 minutes, then it started fine but was running really rough as it was jerking and generally felt like there was "fuel delivery" problem as it cutt off every time I tried to accelerate.

We finally made it home and the next day we re-started the car, it idle'd fine, rmp was fine, we took it out for a spin and everything seemed normal and the cold start was fine, but when we parked and tried to re-start again it kept cranking but refused to start (like you have no fuel or battery problem both of which were not the case in this case)... we did this for three days in a row and every time it was the same story.
Starts fine the first time but when we drove the car a bit then parked and immediately tried to re-start, it would not start until we let the car sit for about 10-15 minutes then it starts again like nothing happened but when we tried to drive again it runs very rough, misfires and stalls at traffic lights .
The thing is there seems to be a pattern because it drive fine on initial cold start but seems to have a problem on second start-and-drive.

I don't think it's the fuel filter because in my opinion, the car would have been much more erratic and unpredictable as far as the stalling/misfiring/etc.. car would not be breaking down in a precise pattern like this if it were the fuel filter I reckon.

Mechanics here cost A FORTUNE and I know its hard to make a call without actually inspecting the car but I thought since this is a CIVIC forum , someone might have had similar experience.

We have ruled out perhaps the different country fuel Octane levels because we have driven this car for a few months now with lower octane level ( 94 octane, from the usual 97 octane the car was used to ) and had no problems so I don't think it's that either.

Advice much appreciated!
Cheers
Zu

[CroCivic91]

First thing I'd look at is your ECU error codes. Read the FAQ in this forum to learn how to do it.

Second, when your car won't start, try to see if it's getting both fuel and spark. Again, read the FAQ throughout, since everything is explained there. If there's no spark - do the Igniter Unit test.

Listen for a click from the Main Relay under the dash when you want to start the car (when it doesn't want to start). Turn the key to "II"... you should hear a humming sound from behind (that's your fuel pump working) and then listen for a click under the dash (it's your Main Relay clicking once). If there's no click after the fuel pump humming sound stops - your car will not start and you know you need to take the main relay out and resolder it's joints.

[Zufan]

Thanks mate.
I will check it out first thing tomorrow morning.. its after midnight here in London.
Cheers
Zu

[CroCivic91]

Thanks mate.
I will check it out first thing tomorrow morning..its after midnight here in London.
Cheers
Zu

So was here in Croatia at the time of writing ;)