Car Repair question

[Scrumhalf]

A quick car repair question for the automotively inclined on this board.....

My '91 Civic has a problem with starting when the engine is warm. It has no trouble starting on a cold day or even a summer day first thing in the morning when the engine has been dormant all night, but if I drive the car around for some time and the engine is warm and then I park it somewhere, say at a store, I can't start the car again for several minutes. The engine will turn over but won't start. I will have to sit for anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes and then it will get going again. Needless to say, this is much worse in summer because the engine gets (and stays) hotter much faster.

Any clues on what could be the problem? I am not a car expert but I know the engine needs 3 things - air, fuel and a spark. Since the car starts fine when it is cold and the engine turns over, I suspect the problem is with the air or the fuel. Is there some kind of sensor that adjusts the air/fuel mixture as a function of temperature and perhaps this is malfunctioning?

Any suggestions before I take it in to a mechanic? Thanks!!

[coffee-guy]

Temperature gauge/sensor - if that's all it is you can do it yourself - just bolts right on. You can buy them so that they're activated at warmer/cooler temperatures as well - just don't go out of your cars specs unless you've got additional mods on it...

The bigger problem would be if there is something *causing* the spike that is greater than the gauge itself - if this is the first year it has ever done this then chances are it's something else - for now though I would keep your fingers crossed that it's just the sensor ;)

[Scrumhalf]

It's been kinda doing for the last year or so - just not bad enough for me to bother taking it in to be checked out. Since I just ride it from home to work (not every day), it has not really bothered me too much, but I just want to take care of it so I don't have to worry how long I need to sit twiddling my thumbs waiting for it to start again if I stop somewhere.

[coffee-guy]

Definitely shouldn't let something like that sit - the sensor is supposed to set off the coolant/water system so if it's malfunctioning on any level you could be doing damage you're not aware of - that and other things that can hurt your car when repeatedly trying to start it when things are wrong...

Wait for Rocket or someone like that to chime in first though - I'm no car expert - just know things from what I've had to repair/replace/upgrade - some of these other guys know everything there is to know and I would put my money on Rocket for this type of deal....

[coffee-guy]

Oh yeah - and of course dna and newbie and grinder etc etc...

[Scrumhalf]

Older Civics also seem to have a problem with bad main relays.... might buy a soldering iron to investigate this first before anything else...

FAQ - My Honda Civic Won't Start - Read Here Before You Post

[coffee-guy]

Older Civics also seem to have a problem with bad main relays.... might buy a soldering iron to investigate this first before anything else...

FAQ - My Honda Civic Won't Start - Read Here Before You Post

Cool - just remember though Scrum - don't inhale the exhaust :P....

[3v1lj03]

first the main relay is a easy prob to diagnose the fuel pump wont prime when you first turn the key on engine off, it really sounds like a ignition issue, in the distributor there is a coil and a ignition control module if the under hood temps get hot ie driving for sometime then stopping heat soak will become an issue the i.c.m. does not like heat. if it gets hot it will not send the ecu the proper rpm therefore the fuel maps will not put out any fuel. the coil is also a weak link due to heat, if you replace one, replace both
just for the record i do have a 350 hp turbo honda i am not blowing crap out of my mouth and making me sound like I know something. hope this helps ,
ebay for coil, and ignitor shouldn't pay over $150 for both, also pick up a haynes or chilton they will help you fix and save a ton, honda mechanics are pricey

[Bouncer]

My '91 Civic has a problem

Any suggestions before I take it in to a mechanic? Thanks!!

yes, get a new car. the car is 17 years old for hells sake. lol :idea::D

[Scrumhalf]

yes, get a new car. the car is 17 years old for hells sake. lol :idea::D

:moon: :D

I drive about 15 miles a week.... can't justify getting rid of a car that works perfectly well except for this. It only has about 150K on it, I am sure it is good for another 150K... :D

[Bouncer]

:moon: :D

can't justify getting rid of a car that works perfectly well

yea works perfectly well and yet you had to make a thread about its problems...

denial is a bitch. :D

[NewbieChris]

I actually had the same problem, in addition to an erratic idle. The Throttle Positioning Switch fixed the idle. The starting was a completely different issue than what other have suggested. My Check valve was bad causing a lack of pressure in the system. Don't ask me why, but when I did research and changed the check valve that solved my problem. :shrugs: