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    neil95civic's Avatar
    neil95civic Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Oct 10, 2010, 05:53 PM
    1995 honda civic starts then dies
    I have a 1995 honda civic with 90,000 miles. I recently bought the car from my friend, who has owned it since 1996. Never had any major problems.

    Today I was under the hood trying to figure out why the high beams were not working (troubleshooting the relays). I drove the car a few blocks to grab a tool from a friend's house, and as I was pulling up to his place, the check engine light came on and the car died.

    If I wait 10 minutes or more, the car will start without issue, then die within 5-10 seconds.

    Any ideas on what the issue may be? I find it too much a coincidence that I was working on the car and then now it won't run. But I didn't change anything on the electrical system.

    Thoughts?

    UPDATE:

    I did a paper clip CEL test. When the paper clip is inserted and the ignition switch is turned ON, the CEL stays on, and the SRS light flashes repeatedly.
    TxGreaseMonkey's Avatar
    TxGreaseMonkey Posts: 16,761, Reputation: 5597
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    #2

    Oct 10, 2010, 05:57 PM

    If the CEL comes on for 2 seconds and then goes out, and you can hear the fuel pump run, when the ignition switch is turned to ON (Position II), then I would replace the Ignition Control Module (ICM) and coil:

    https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-t...tml#post265896

    If the problem persists, the main relay may be bad. You may have shorted out one of these components, while you were working on the car.
    neil95civic's Avatar
    neil95civic Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Oct 10, 2010, 08:43 PM
    Hi, thanks for the reply.

    The CEL does not go out, it stays on (even when doing a paper clip test), so I'm wondering if it could be the main relay. Is there a simple way to test it with a multimeter?
    TxGreaseMonkey's Avatar
    TxGreaseMonkey Posts: 16,761, Reputation: 5597
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    #4

    Oct 11, 2010, 07:14 AM

    The odds are that the ECM is bad.
    neil95civic's Avatar
    neil95civic Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    Oct 11, 2010, 10:44 AM
    Comment on TxGreaseMonkey's post
    So I went out this morning and turned the car over. Started fine for about 5-10 seconds, then I heard the main relay make a switching noise, CEL came on and car died. Think it could be that the main relay is bad?
    TxGreaseMonkey's Avatar
    TxGreaseMonkey Posts: 16,761, Reputation: 5597
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    #6

    Oct 11, 2010, 10:50 AM

    To me, it sounds like the ECM is failing. Here's how to replace:

    https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-t...tml#post235038
    Filipinopride's Avatar
    Filipinopride Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #7

    Aug 15, 2011, 02:38 PM
    I have the same problem my car turns on stays on for 5-10 seconds then dies. Can someone help me out? It might be the same answer
    TxGreaseMonkey's Avatar
    TxGreaseMonkey Posts: 16,761, Reputation: 5597
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    #8

    Aug 15, 2011, 04:15 PM

    Filipinopride, replace the Ignition Control Module (ICM) and coil inside the distributor.
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