91 LX Stalling/Failing to start, please help!

[asnorikane]

Would love any help/ideas for this problem with my 91 Accord (120k)

Within the last month my car has stalled while I was accelerating (usually from a stop light, or at low speeds) several times. Usually I pull off to the side of the road, wait a few minutes and it starts up just fine.

Last night it stalled while driving, I was able to start it up again (after several attempts), but it died after driving 20-30 feet. This happened several times (waiting, starting it finally, then driving it a few feet and it would cut out), until I had to call a tow truck.

Symptoms:
It usually happens when it's cold.
Right before it stalled, the car would lurch a little when I tried to accelerate and the tachometer needle would shudder up and down, then the engine would cut out.
In addition, ever since I've owned the car (1 year), the tachometer has shuddered when it went over 3000-3500 rpm, although it drives pretty smoothly when travelling at high speeds.

I am scheduled to take it to a mechanic, but thought I would see if there was something I could try first. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

[Ehscrewdude]

J/W, not to be mean or anything, do you know how do drive stick? Sounds kinda like me when I first started. Yea...

Moving along, assuming you do know how to drive it (which you prolly do), you might want to check either your vtec solenoid, make sure all ur fluids are good and then check all your belts for wear/slippage. Just some things that came to mind when reading this, although it is obviously an engine problem and has nothing to do with ur tranny (based on the given info)

[asnorikane]

It's actually an Automatic Trans. car, but that would be pretty funny if it was just my bad driving (memories of driving in a parking lot as a 16 yr. old kid with my dad yelling at me come to mind).

I'll check on that stuff, thanks!

[AccordCodger]

Too many variables. The tach makes me think it's ignition (which it might be) and that involves about half a dozen components. The again, ti could well be a fuel problem, and they are a pain to diagnose.

See what the mechanic finds - they have things like a fuel pump pressure gauge (unless your guy is a shade tree mechanic) which most of us don't have.

[asnorikane]

Thanks for the responses!

I took it in to the mechanic and he said it was the Ignition Coil and Igniter. Will cost about $300 with p&l.

AccordCodger, you were right, nice diagnosis!!!

Anyways, thanks for your opinions! It's really great to have people use there own time to help others.