92 civic starting problems?

[Guyver8]

Alright, here's the story

It was raining hard one day and I had to go to work, the car wouldn't start, my battery was fine (actually brand new), the engine starting shaking but it was like no gas was there, or nothing was being sparked. I guessed the distrubutor got water in it, or the plugs were loose...whatever

Next day, I start the car and it starts but it sounds like its coughing and its gonna die, everything goes fine and it starts.

Few months later I am at a buddys house and it is hot as hell. The car does the same thing, I turn the key and the engine starts shaking, you here the sound but nothing happens and it doesn't start, giving gas does nothing noticable (prolly floods engine hehe). I waited a bit, fucked with the plugs, and wala! it started.

3 Weeks later same shit happens, wouldn't start for 20mins, 4 hours later it started.

Today, it started at 8am fine, i get home and park outside, its hot as hell. I go to my car at 2pm, it wont start, same shit, gassing does nothing, engine shakes but no start...


I've asked the mechanic but he said i gotta leave the car over for the night and I dont have that leisure. Anyone know if this is a FI (fuel injection?) problem? Could it be the FI pump, or the FI filter, anything else it could be, anyone else ever experience this?

--Thanks

[h3ystrok3r]

Do u have an engine swap or is it stick engine? I kno my bro has a 92 with a gsr and sometimes he has problems starting it when he fillls it up with gas.

[Guyver8]

stock auto engine, no mods, just sound system, i know the battery is fine though

[h3ystrok3r]

dont know what to tell u

[Guyver8]

well shag me rotten, i got some fuel injection cleaner, poured that stuff in, waited 4 hours, and car started...harsh but started

[chib46]

I've got a 93 civic with a gsr and have the same problems. I notice that when I drive for a while at a higher rpm the car looses power and dies, or it starts to sputter like no gas is being received. Replaced the main relay and rotor. Gonna try and check the fuel pump. Anyone got any suggestions.

[JuMBoBeaTS]

sounds like your alternator is goin... how big is your sound system... the civic alternators cant handle that much amperes being pulled thru it.. the same thing sorta happened to me.. but it just happend in a span of 2 days.. i got a new alternator with a higher wattage output...

[Guyver8]

no joke, i fixed my shit, all i had to do was open the gas tank, something wrong with the air pressure in there, it shoots out air when i open it (even when my tank is full) and then it starts fine EVERYTIME for now( knock on wood)

especially hot days. try it? it worked for me

[chib46]

Don't have a system in my car, but I'll try opening the gas tank. Thanks for the info guys.

[GScivic7]

your gas tank should be pressurized. That is why you hear that psshh when you open the gas cap. It needs the pressure to move the fuel through the lines.

[Anaudiophile]

Ok.....I'm confused. What's the fuel pump for?? It sounds like a fuel pump problem to me. If it was spark/ignition related it most likely wouldn't run rough then clear up. Fuel problems like lack of pressure/volume can cause rough running and hard starting.
If it becomes more consistent try checking the pump pressure. She should be at least 35 psi and more like 40-50.

[GScivic7]

The fuel pump is for pumping the gas through the lines, but the gas tank becomes pressurized and hell maybe someone else can explain it

Okay did a little searching. When your pump is working it creates pressure in the tank, so when you open your gas cap you get that little pssh sound.

[chib46]

Haven't had time to check the fuel pump yet but when I open my gas cap it doesn't go pssst. Nothing at all.

[chib46]

Do you think the fuel pump could be the problem? I'm still running the stock civic Ex fuel pump to the gsr. If it can't handle the load what do you guys recommend to use for the fuel pump.

[GScivic7]

well, if what i read is right, it very well could be a malfunctioning fuel pump. Your EX fuel pump should work alright in your situation, I would just swap it out for another EX pump.