THSCC Forums

The car: 1998 Honda Civic LX
The problem: While driving, it shuts down. The engine stops, the speedo and tach quit working. Then, less than a minute after it stops, with the key still on, the dash hazards lights all flash on... then off (but I'm not sure if that's because I turn the key off or not). If I try to start it up immediately, the starter will turn the engine but it won't start. If I wait a few (maybe 5) minutes, it will start again and run fine... for a while... and then it will shut down again (except when I really want it to, and then it won't do it).

I was thinking maybe the fuel filter but with the speedo, tach and light stuff, its seems to be electrical.

Maybe someone has run into something like this before and can help. In the Integra I used to have, something similar to this happened and it was the igniter, I think it was called... a little black electronic box that lived in the distributor... but I don't think this car has one... maybe it does.... I haven't really looked.

Anyway, any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Lee

Before a Honda expert checks in:

How about lights, radio, etc.? I've seen/fixed cars where the problem was a battery cable (plus or minus) at the battery or down stream. Since it cranks immediately it might be one of the smaller parallel wires (if your car has them). Do these cars have some sort of resettable circuit breaker for the ignition, etc.?

Dick

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Dick Rasmussen

FS 50 2018 Mustang GT

I'm not an "expert" but I'd vote (1) main relay or (2) ignition switch. Something is definitely cutting power to or from the position II wire on the ignition.

Next time it dies try fiddling w/ the key to see if it causes anything to come to life (in position II). Older Civics were plagued by bad solder joints in the main relay with similar (not identical) issues but I haven't heard of it being a problem with 98 era cars.

Not surprising that the starter will still turn since this is a separate/dedicated wire on the ignition switch (I believe). Checking the wiring diagram on the FSM would confirm this. And this would isolate the circuit that you're having problems with -- along w/ Dick's recommendations too (lighting, radio, etc)

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Dick and Mike, thanks for your quick responses!

I did some snooping on the internet and the ignition switch seems the likely culprit. So, I went out driving to let it do it again and of course it wouldn't. However, I was able to make it 'die' by wiggling the key just a little bit. It was almost like switching off the ignition but there was very little resistance when it normally takes a pretty significant twist to get it to switch off. Then, when I tried to start it up again, it wouldn't.... same symptoms as before, starter would turn over but wouldn't start. It did, of course, start again after a few minutes. So, I was pretty much able to duplicate the problem. I drove around some more to try to do it again and drove and drove and drove and couldn't duplicate of course. But now, the ignition switch feels much, ummm, firmer... not as much slop and going from on to off requires more than just a gentle nudge.

AutoZone has an ignition switch in stock, so I am planning on getting it and will install it tomorrow night. Wish me luck and thanks again guys!

As a follow-up, the ignition switch was replaced and the car is running like it should again.

It turns out that Honda issued a recall for many (about 2,000,000) of their vehicles (some Acuras too) from that era (late 90s, early 00s). So, if anyone experiences a similar problem in that vintage Honda, call a dealership, give them your VIN and they may invite you in for a free, yes FREE, replacement (labor included). Of course, they will find 3 or 4 other 'major' issues that require immediate attention, but that's expected, and usually nothing that can't be fixed cheaper in your own garage.