Car wont start - not battery?

Squirrel · All-Acura Enthusiast Joined: Apr 26, 2004 Posts: 11

Ok so my car wont start lately. Starting about a week ago I wqould turn the key and it would do the startup thing but then the engine wouldnt kick in and run ..but after about 3 tries it would start working. but today i tried 100 times and it wouldnt work. Not only that but today while i was driving home my car like turn off for some reason. or the engine stopped working for about 10 seconds...then it started working again. Well my car now is parked in front of my house and it wont start...not the battery i dont think...and also i have to hit the shift lock release to get it in neutral ( if that has to do with anything). anyone know what this could be???

AcuraImport · Site Admin Joined: Mar 11, 2003 Posts: 339

Check out your starter. When you say it stopped working for 10 seconds do you mean the engine cut out while in motion?
_________________
If you feel like you're in control, you're not going fast enough. ~ Mario Andretti

Squirrel · All-Acura Enthusiast Joined: Apr 26, 2004 Posts: 11

well i was driving on the highway and im not sure if i was pressing the gas as it happened, but i know i heard a sound like my engine just shut off and I wanted to speed up so i pressed the gas pedal but nothing happend, i couldnt even hear the engine running. so ya...

could it be the starter? i dont think its the batter becuase I can turn the key and it makes the normal sound like the car is about to start...but then it doesnt start, and also my radio and stuff work too so i dont think its the battery....so is it the starter??

see i am going to take it to a shop to get it fixed tomorrow and i want to know what it could or couldnt be cus i dont want the shop people to slap me with some $1000 bill for some crap that was never wrong.

AcuraImport · Site Admin Joined: Mar 11, 2003 Posts: 339

It could be a problem with your fuel delivery system. The only reason a car would shut of while in motion is if: a) you turn it off, b) you stop getting spark, or c) you aren't getting fuel to the engine.

If i had to guess i'd say its a clogged fuel pump and/or dirty injectors. Its probably not your starter if the car just shut off on you while it was running. The starter is nothing but dead weight, except when you nee to turn over your engine.

How old is the car, last time u got a tune up etc.?
_________________
If you feel like you're in control, you're not going fast enough. ~ Mario Andretti

Squirrel · All-Acura Enthusiast Joined: Apr 26, 2004 Posts: 11

could it possibly be the fuse for the fuel pump?
also, if i were to put some injector cleaener in with my gas would that help..even if i had teh keep turn the engine to start every 5 sec?

...if it is the fuel pump that is the problem...how much would a new one cost and could i install it myself? i myself am not very car engine intelligent but my friend knows a lot of that stuff

or should i just take my car to the shop and let them diagnose it and fix it?

KnitGnosis · All-Acura Enthusiast Joined: Jun 04, 2004 Posts: 17

My car ( Plymouth Duster) died on me once while I was in motion... turns out this belt that broke that I thought just went to the air conditioner also went to a few other things, one being the altenator which while the car is in motion helps recharge the battery and the radio and stuff. One sign that this was the probelm was while i was moving the lights got real dim and the radio and stuff turned off. Did this happen to you?

If not I'd probably guess spark plugs might have something to do with it. And I doubt fuel injector cleaner would help solve this problem, because your car apparently isnt getting fuel to start so the cleaner would never move from the tank. If you dont want to go to the shop. Just swing by automart or whatever and pick up a set of plugs for 5 bucks easy to install just get a ratchet unscrew the old ones they should be right on top of the engine in an Integra, just need to remove the distributor wires first, then screw in the new ones, not too tight but semi tight so they dont fall out. Try that, its an easy 5 dollar minimal work fix that might help the problem. Also check the wires when you pull them off the plugs they might be rotted or rusty and the plugs arent even getting charge.

It might also be a fuel filter. Most are made of cheap carboard inside and they tend to collapse into themselves cutting off gas flow. They are easy to replace if you can get under your car. Just slide under you'll see a little cylinder type thing looks like an oil filter. If you cant find it just follow the gas lines coming from the gas tank. Then just get out the handy ratchet unscrew it then pull out one line put it on the new filter pull out the other put it on the new filter and screw it into place. just make sure everythings tight so you dont leak gas.

If that isnt it, it might be your gas distributor... I never really worked on one of those but I know if that doesnt work then your car wont start.

Another cheap fix is some dry gas. You can buy it at walmart for 3 bucks or so. Sometimes if your car sits awhile the gas will decompose and water will form in the tank. If that water gets into the lines or worse, into the engine it will cause it to die down, lose power, lose gas efficiency. Try buying some of that and dumping it into the tank or putting it into the fuel filter if you replace it. Hopefully it can cirulate enough and disperse itself through the fuel system and gather up any water or maybe clean up some loot dirt inside the engine.

Thats all I really know, it just sounds like your motor isnt getting gas or the gas isnt getting spark to explode. Thats if your battery isnt dead. So just try those cheap fixes most you'll spend is like 15 bucks. If those dont work or even help then go to the garage and pay the 1k to get it fixed or at least looked at.

Squirrel · All-Acura Enthusiast Joined: Apr 26, 2004 Posts: 11

i took the car tot he shop and they found out it was an ignition problem. I forgot EXACTLy what they said but i believe it was an ignition switch that was just really raelly worn after 10 yrs.