Engine dies shortly after starting

integra89 · Newbie Joined: Aug 28, 2004 Posts: 3

Hi everyone- new to forums and need help on 89 integra RS.
Car started fine, pulled out of driveway, engine died and would not restart. Push car back into driveway and left to take my son to get another vehicle, came back about 30 minutes later and car started fine and ran fine. That was yesterday. Today I hooked up a fuel pressure gauge then started car- fuel presure normal at idle and accelerating. Drove car and noticed that around 4K rpm the tach jumped around. Came back and checked cap and rotor- both fine. Checked codes in ECU and got strange reading, 15 real fast fllashes then pause and 15 flashes again. According to my Haynes manual a code 15 should be 1 long flash, pause and then 5 short flashes. Can anyone tell me if the Haynes manual is correct in the discription of the ECU flashes or do I really have a code 15?

Thanks in advance.

AcuraImport · Site Admin Joined: Mar 11, 2003 Posts: 432

Yep the haynes manual is right, the number of long blinks equals the first digit and the number of short equal the second digit. Sometimes if there is a poor or intermitent electrical connection can cause the MIL light to come on. You may want to check the connections and repair as necessary.
_________________
If you feel like you're in control, you're not going fast enough. ~ Mario Andretti

integra89 · Newbie Joined: Aug 28, 2004 Posts: 3

I was not clear in my first post, the check engine light did not come on, I was just checking for codes.

AcuraImport · Site Admin Joined: Mar 11, 2003 Posts: 432

You won't ever have engine codes stored w/o the MIL light on, unless the ECM is messed up. And in that case you can't really trust anything it tells you. Sometimes an older car like that will just get a little tempermental! If the problem persists, let me know.
_________________
If you feel like you're in control, you're not going fast enough. ~ Mario Andretti

yippieguy · All-Acura Enthusiast Joined: Mar 17, 2004 Posts: 11

I dunno why your ECU is throwing a code without the "check engine" light coming on.. tha'ts not supposed to happen.

HOWEVER>.

Check 2 things:

1) the main relay (driver's side, up under the lower facia on the left front) This usually fails if the cabin temp is high.

2) The key switch mechanism . That's my first guess for your car. replace it.. under 70$ usd. The car's old now... worn contacts...14 years of starting the car.. poor thing. check this site for submissions from me, "yippieguy" and you'll find lots of posts from me on this.

jaMEs

p.s. promise to let me know if my advice fixes your issue.. makes me feel good on the inside.

integra89 · Newbie Joined: Aug 28, 2004 Posts: 3

After that one time of dying the car has not acted up. While checking things out I did pull the ignition switch and check continuity on all terminals and foound no problems. I had replaced the main relay for an occasional no start problem several months ago and had no other problems until the other day. I will replace the ingnition switch this weekend to insure it is not the problem.

Thanks