89 Honda CRX DX Mystery Diagnosis

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Aleaf.CRX

Well-Known Member
Basically, I don't know what's wrong with my car.
It died the day before yesterday in the middle of a four lane 50 mph road at a stoplight, stopped. It acted like I stalled it, even though I was completely stopped. The battery and oil light popped on and it would turn over, but wouldn't start.
Fire Department came and pushed me into a parking lot. I sat there until my mom came, probably about an hour. Before we left, I decided to try and start it again. It started right the fuck up!!!
Drove it, it was fine. Lasted all yesterday, fine. Changed the distributor cap today before work, it worked okay, got me to work anyway.
After work, I started her up and was backing out of the parking space when it died again, just the same as before.
Got help back into the parking space, then popped the hood. I waited for my mom's boyfriend to get there, he knows cars pretty well, then he looked at it.
We dumped a little gas into the fuel injector area, then tried to start it, nothing happened. Then we we went and got a new ignition coil, put that in. Didn't start...
Weird things about it when it's being driven:
*Hitches when accelerating and sometimes breaking, just like when the timing belts breaking or you're going through a big puddle and you kinda slow down for a split second.
*Idle is messed up. Tried adjusting it, but when I start it for the first time that day, the RPMs can hang out at like 2000, then after driving for a while, get around, somewhat normal 500-1000.
Mechanics thought it was the computer, I think maybe a sensor or something???
Anyone know??? Any idea is welcome!!! If anyone has any questions, feel free to PM me!!!
Thanks for reading my lifestory!!!

Oh btw, before anyone asks, the timing belt was just replaced about a month ago, but if anyone thinks the mechanics timed it wrong, speak up!!! Any opinion welcome!!!
 
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Yea definitely sounds like timing's off. You said your mom's bf knows cars tell him to re-time it using your Chilton's manual.
 
Are you sure??? I don't want to fuck it up anymore than it is. Anyway, if the timing was off, would it last about a month before giving out??? And if that, wouldn't the valves be all bent??? Shit, I hope it's not that, I don't want to re-do everything. I had mechanics do it this time for the sake of time, but....
 
see if you can borrow a dizzy from someone before you buy one, to see if thats it if not check and make sure the ground on the battery is good and tight. also i would change the fuel filter there perty cheap andeasy to do.
 
A dizzy??? What's that. I actually got a fuel filter today.
No one one took car of this car before me. Stock timing belt JUST replaced, stock head gasket, that kind of thing.
My first thought was the fuel filter, cuz I used fuel injector cleaner and I thought maybe the build up broke down and clogged the filter. I plan on changing that, if I can get my car running. If not, looks like it'll happen in the parking lot lol.
Oh yeah, checked the ground for the battery, looks fine and the electrical aspect is running fine as far as I've seen and tested for.
 
That's what I was saying. When my timing belt was about to break, it acted kinda similar to now, but then it broke. It was just the downward spiral. But it was just replaced and it still ran a little roughly, but ran strong, so that's why I have my doubts too about the timing...
I still feel it's something with the fuel system, my computer, or something close to that. The mechanics thought my computer was tweakin' out before, so it might be just that, I don't know.
lol that's why I have you guys, cuz I'm new to all this.
 
That's what I was saying. When my timing belt was about to break, it acted kinda similar to now, but then it broke. It was just the downward spiral. But it was just replaced and it still ran a little roughly, but ran strong, so that's why I have my doubts too about the timing...
I still feel it's something with the fuel system, my computer, or something close to that. The mechanics thought my computer was tweakin' out before, so it might be just that, I don't know.
lol that's why I have you guys, cuz I'm new to all this.
well dizzys are high priced thats why i hope you can borrow one first, because that might not be it, id go ahead and put new spark plugs in also,but if it is the ecu just let me know i have about 4 of them,
 
Basically, I don't know what's wrong with my car.
It died the day before yesterday in the middle of a four lane 50 mph road at a stoplight, stopped. It acted like I stalled it, even though I was completely stopped. The battery and oil light popped on and it would turn over, but wouldn't start.
Fire Department came and pushed me into a parking lot. I sat there until my mom came, probably about an hour. Before we left, I decided to try and start it again. It started right the fuck up!!!
Drove it, it was fine. Lasted all yesterday, fine. Changed the distributor cap today before work, it worked okay, got me to work anyway.
After work, I started her up and was backing out of the parking space when it died again, just the same as before.
Got help back into the parking space, then popped the hood. I waited for my mom's boyfriend to get there, he knows cars pretty well, then he looked at it.
We dumped a little gas into the fuel injector area, then tried to start it, nothing happened. Then we we went and got a new ignition coil, put that in. Didn't start...
Weird things about it when it's being driven:
*Hitches when accelerating and sometimes breaking, just like when the timing belts breaking or you're going through a big puddle and you kinda slow down for a split second.
*Idle is messed up. Tried adjusting it, but when I start it for the first time that day, the RPMs can hang out at like 2000, then after driving for a while, get around, somewhat normal 500-1000.
Mechanics thought it was the computer, I think maybe a sensor or something???
Anyone know??? Any idea is welcome!!! If anyone has any questions, feel free to PM me!!!
Thanks for reading my lifestory!!!

Oh btw, before anyone asks, the timing belt was just replaced about a month ago, but if anyone thinks the mechanics timed it wrong, speak up!!! Any opinion welcome!!!

100% positive you need a new ignition module. :thumbsup:
 
You said your timing belt broke. Did they check for bent valves? A mouse got caught around my buddies timing belt. The timing jumped a little and bent some valves. He was able to drive the car for a little while but it ran like shit.
 
yeah, thats the same thing that came to mind when i read that.

have a compression test done. that should tell you something.
 
your idle prooblem is pobably one of your idle control's
but as for the car not running,it could be that you jumped time,the dizzy is bad or is going bad,the fuelfilter, it could be a number of things,,so check easiest shit first...pull the spark plugs and put the wires back on them and set them on the valve cover,,have someone turn the car over and you look for spark,if theres no spark you either need new dizzy or new relay..
if there is spark then check compression..go to an autoparts store and they will have them..i got mine for $45..
how you check compression is pull all the plugs,screw the compression tester into 1 plug hole at a time and crank the car over for 5 seconds...then write down the numbers for all cylinders and come tell us..
if your compression numbers dont make sense you might have bad headgasket,warped head,bent valves,cracked block,or need valve seats redone.
if you have good compression then ceck fuel..just pull the injectors and set a paper towle under them and turn the car on..they should all squirt..
after you check those get back to us
 
It could be the timing, no bent valves, but I'm not sure. Unless it can jump time for basically no reason, I don't know why it wouldn't be working right now.
I JUST replaced the spark plugs and the wires. Also, replaced almost everything attached to and in the distributor.
I had a few people say maybe the main relay. Does anyone know how much those run for???
How do you replace it also. I could try that.
I do want to replace the ecu though, it's gonna go bad sometime, probably soon with my luck.
@ ahhvtec: how much would you want for one?
 
well you said that the timing belt broke before.
its almost imposible for the timing belt to break and not bend any valves.
like i said, a compression test could tell you that one.
 
Does distance determine somewhat what kind of damage the valves take when the timing belt breaks?
I was only going like 25-30 mph and pulled over right away. But I had them go in there and check for bent valves.... they said there weren't any, which I thought was weird too. Come to think of it, if there are bent valves or anything related, wouldn't your engine, when it's idling, sound like there's something flying around inside there, like a loose part. You know, cuz once in a while, there was this kind of knocking... that's also when the idle is abnormally high too.
Or would it just not run???
 
when a timing belt brakes there is a 99% chance the valves are bent...it does not matter how fast you stop,the motor is still on and rotating and the valve asembly is stopped,causing whatever valves that were left open,to crash into the pistons,
it doesnt make sense for the motor to run a month after,but do a compression test and let us know..also your motor will jmp time if the belt wasnt done correctly,like the tebsioner wasnt tightened enough or wasnt tightened at the right time..and you wouldnt here anything bouncing around in the motor unless tha valve end broke off..which then your fucked..you might here a slight knock..but yea buy a new ecu and check your spark..do all the shit i said before you go buying expensive parts though
 
just pay for shipping and you can have it lol ill get you a price on monday
 
wow, how come this girl hasnt yet seen the harsh hazing that usually comes with the noobs?

that reminds me, what happened to the other chick, injen? did you scare her off?

aleaf, watch out. lmao.
 
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