1998 Honda Accord car shuts off while driving

Tiny
DPSET24
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 HONDA ACCORD
1998 Honda Accord

my honda shuts off while driving and I took it to the dealer. They told me it was the catalyst converter that needed to be replaced. I changed the catalyst converter 2.5 years ago. I im still having this problem. I don't know if it was misdiagonised. Pls let me know.
it also wouldn't start on hot days.
Monday, December 29th, 2008 AT 1:42 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi dpset24,

Catalytic converters should not make the engine cut off while driving, unless it is clooged very bad whish would result in very poor performances.

Does the Check Engine Lamp shows?
Do you have performance issues?
When vehicle cuts off, does the dash lights shows?
Were you able to restart and was it easy?

From the symptoms described, I would suggest checking the PGM-FI main relay. It is known to fail intermittently due to cold solders which cracks and provide intermittent contacts.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/192750_PGMFIRelay97Accord_5.jpg

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Monday, December 29th, 2008 AT 2:46 PM
Tiny
LORD FARRINGDON
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  • 17 POSTS
I would be surprised if this wasn't an Ignition Control Module problem. I have experienced exactly the same symtoms in another make of car. As I understand it, these modules contain electronic circuitry which due to the 'hostile' location of the module ie on the distributor are encased in a heat resitant material. This material can break down and when it does the module's components can overheat. Leaving the car to cool down solves the problem, at least until you start the car and the module heats up again. You may have noticed the problem getting worse over time. A short hesitation or motor cutout at speed occassionally, maybe a failure to start after a short stop on a hot day, and then the events occur more frequently and the effects are more problematic.

The Ignition module is a control mechanism which sends data to and receives data from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) or on-board computer. One of its key functions is to detect programmed ignition pulses (PIPs). PIPs occur as the magnets in the distributor pass a Hall effect sensor and create pulses of voltage. When the Ignition Module receives these PIP signals it sends the data to the PCM which tells the PCM that the engine is rotating and what the ignition timing is. The PCM sends data back to the Ignition Module which in turn relays this to the coil and bingo, thousands of volts head to the appropriate spark plug. The PCM also uses the information from the Ignition Module to tell the fuel injection solenoids to start pulsing. Thus we have those two vital ingedients, spark and fuel.

When an ignition module fails, the PCM no longer receives the vital signs from the distributor and must assume the engine has stopped rotating. Acordingly it ceases to send information that would allow the coil to energise and of course ceases to allow the fuel solenoids to pulse into (what it now believes) is a non-rotating engine. There will still be pressure at the fuel rail though. The result is no spark or fuel to the cylinders. The motor cutouts completely and no amount of cranking is going to start it.

This leads to a key indicator of a faulty Ignition Module ie no fuel or spark will be available while the Module is intermitantly not working. To fix the problem, you can buy a new Ignition Module or purchase a secondhand distributor complete with Ignition Module.

As a matter of interest, faulty Ignition Modules can be quite dangerous and I understand have been implicated in otherwise unexplained fatal highway accidents where faulty vehicles travelling at highway speeds inexplicably and rapidly deaccelarate without any brake light indication or warning and are hit by following vehicles. Food for thought. Hope this helps. :)
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Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 AT 7:48 AM
Tiny
LORD FARRINGDON
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
Further to this, the Ignition Module is repsonsible for sending RPM signals to the tacho. If the module fails while the car is running the tacho will drop to zero immediately even though the motor is still running down and the ignition is on. You will need to look at the tacho qucikly once you sense the problem. Hope this helps.
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Wednesday, December 31st, 2008 AT 4:10 AM

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