92 Civic Momentarily Dies

[unclejohnny_69]

I'm having a weird problem with my 92 Civic LX. This problem is intermitten (although it seemed to happen a lot today). One of the problems I'm having is that sometimes when the car is sitting idling it will die. I crank it over and it will start right up.

The other problem is that when I'm driving it'll sometimes "miss" (and I'm not referring to the spark problem). The RPM gauge will jump to 0 for a second and then back up to normal. It seems like the engine shuts down for a second. Other times RPM guage will jump to 0, but the instrument panel lights (battery, etc) won't come on immediately, indicating that the engine hasn't totally shut off. Then all of a sudden the RPM's will jump back to normal. It's only totally died 3 or 4 times.

It's been happening for about 2 weeks and I thought it may have been a clogged fuel filter so I replaced it. Didn't work. I don't think it's an ignition problem (replaced the ignition coil, ignition control module, cap, rotor, and plugs less than 6 months ago). I'm sure none of the vacuum lines are leaking/bad.

My only other thoughts are maybe the plug wires or the fuel pump (maybe just the fuel pump strainer). The engine isn't overheating. I also ran concentrated fuel injector cleaner through the system.

Any thoughts?

[jbluesi]

sounds like u have a short somewhere in ur ignition

[unclejohnny_69]

I've replaced the fuel pump strainer and took it to fill it up. Didn't hesitate or anything. It actually felt like it was running a little better than before. I'll find out, as I'll be going out of town for the weekend. Hopefully it won't crap out again.

[GEESERTEG]

Check all the connectors to the distributor.. Pull them off then reseat. Pull the cap off and examine the electrode in the center. Also check for any unusual tracing. I personally got a hold of a cheap cap once and that electrode cracked causing almost identical probs. Replace the wires and check the plugs for cracked insulators. Regap the plugs too!

[unclejohnny_69]

It quit on me this morning on my way to work. Took a little time but it started back. No problems on the way home. I replaced the cap and the plug wires. Hopefully it'll be cured.

[unclejohnny_69]

Well, it wasn't cured. This morning it did it again once, and on my way home it wouldn't stop doing it. It actually died and wouldn't start, which got me to thinking about the last time I had this problem I replaced the ignition coil and the ignition control module. Lucky me it finally started and was able to get it home. Took out both the coil and ICM to check resistance. The ICM looked to have gotten too hot or something b/c it looked like it tried to burn from the inside out. Took them both back to the parts store and replaced them since they were under warranty.

Hopefully my next post won't be a sad one. LOL

[GEESERTEG]

good luck.. should be the prob. You may want to check the voltage being supplied. If its low you could see probs like that.