93 Si Wont Start!!! Please Help!!!

[hatchbacksi]

Hey, im a college student, and my school is about 150 miles from my house...and the mechanic i trust, and so i need some help. Two weeks ago, i got into my car to move it to a better parking spot, and im coasting and it dies. I restart it, and it dies, and then i get it restarted, and it makes it to the parking spot. Then a week later, i start it, and it dies after like a second. Then i start it, drive around for a bit, and it dies again....and again, and again...even when im giving it gas. It eventually dies on me and it wont restart period, so i have it towed to a shop. They call me the next day saying i was just outta gas. Im so happy at the news, i get it, go fill it up, and im on my way. It dies again....and again, and again. Thankfully, i get it started and get it back to the shop. I called my mechanic and he said the thing that most commonly causes the early 90's civics to not start like that, is the ignitor in the distributor. The auto shop took the whole distributor off, and it was VERY corroded, and the ball bearing thing inside was all rough, and didnt spin easy, so i had them replace the whole distributor. That didnt work. Its now been in the shop a week and a half, and they still have no clue....

Sorry this post was so long, but if anyone can help me, i thought it would be you guys, maybe someone has had this problem before, and can give me a suggestion to tell the mechanic. I also wanted to be as specific as possible, so that if someone reads this, will be able to help.

My thoughts were that it could be the fuel pump, but they said they listened to it, and you can hear it running. I thought hmm, maybe a clogged fuel filter, or maybe a slipping timing belt, or bad spark plugs. I also thought it would be the distributor, but the whole thing was replaced. They told me they would run the car, and it would die, and they would check immediatly for spark, and they were getting spark. (Thats what my mechanic suggested also) Im totally clueless, and carless for like a week and a half. This is the 3rd 5th gen hatch (second SI) ive owned, and NEVER seen this problem before.......

Again, sorry for the long message. Anyone who can help me, ill send you naked pictures of my girlfriend as thanks! Just kidding on that one, but i would appreciate any help you guys can offer....

[Trinity]

i would check everything you just mentioned and more. i seriously would look at the ignition or a fuel problem. do you smell gas when you start the car? or give it alot of gas? also you need to check for spark if that isn't there that is your problem.

[pvang31019]

here's the easiest to check....alternator

[G2002]

Yea check all thats, spark plugs altenator belts and fuel lines. Try your battery or cable connections from the battery. If that doesnt work sell it to me!

[RickDaTuner]

to me it actually sound lik somthing is cloging the fuel pump inside the gas tank you say it starts and then dies evtime you turn your car to on the pump primes the engie I think that when this happens the object which is clogin your fuel pump is still a little loose allowing small amounts of fuell to get by, enough to run you engine for a bit but then when you motor starts and the pump drawsa more fuel it increases the fuel flow causing the object in your tank to become tightly lodged in the fuel delivery pipe you say thay this is your third civic Si mabey the ownwer before added some injector cleaner or some oactane booster nad the little silver seal fell in the tank things like that tend to hapopen sometimes I know it happend to me with my washer mottor the little bastard at the gass station let the plastic seal fall in and didnt bother telling me I spent like aweek tring to fin the reason why my nozzl ewoulndt squirt right its always the simple thing that make themselves seem lieka b ig problem

[hatchbacksi]

that could make sense...because sometimes it will run, and sometimes it wont. And they said it wasnt the fuel pump because they could hear it running....and it might be running, but if theres a clog, then the pump could be working, just not getting fuel to the engine. Ill have em check that.

my car only has 71,000 miles on it, and my last SI, has 115,000 (i sold it to my friend) and its still running really good.

[93_SI]

there is a fuel line going into a regulator at the end of the fuel rail. undo it and turn on the ignition. if you have fuel there you fuel pump is ok.

[hatchbacksi]

wow......i posted this message like 2 1/2 years ago, and i was reading it thinkin "That same thing happened to me, maybe i can help....." then i looked at the post and it was my post....damn thats what i call a serious bump....

Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, it turned out to be the ECU not sending a signal to the fuel something or other....dont really remember.

[SlamminMOfo]

Originally Posted by RickDaTuner

to me it actually sound lik somthing is cloging the fuel pump inside the gas tank you say it starts and then dies evtime you turn your car to on the pump primes the engie I think that when this happens the object which is clogin your fuel pump is still a little loose allowing small amounts of fuell to get by, enough to run you engine for a bit but then when you motor starts and the pump drawsa more fuel it increases the fuel flow causing the object in your tank to become tightly lodged in the fuel delivery pipe you say thay this is your third civic Si mabey the ownwer before added some injector cleaner or some oactane booster nad the little silver seal fell in the tank things like that tend to hapopen sometimes I know it happend to me with my washer mottor the little bastard at the gass station let the plastic seal fall in and didnt bother telling me I spent like aweek tring to fin the reason why my nozzl ewoulndt squirt right its always the simple thing that make themselves seem lieka b ig problem

That sounds correct... If you drove the car until all gas was used up, you probably got alot of sludge from the cas tank into the filter. Change the fuel filter first and givr that a try and if still having problems, clean the injectors.