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Shut off while driving?

Tiny
MICHAEL DU
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 HONDA CIVIC
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 85,000 MILES
Last month my car just shut off on the road and the usual lights on the dash came on, lights/indicators you see when you turn the key just before starting the car, except for the battery indicator, and the car won't start, but it is cranking so starter's good. About 10 minutes after, I turn the key and indicators appear, including the battery, only then will the car start. Just tonight the same thing happened again, but the battery indicator was just not lighting up and now the car won't start, I had to have it towed home. What can be the issue with this? I've replaced the fuse box under the hood already.
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Thursday, December 22nd, 2022 AT 7:23 AM

20 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,877 POSTS
The fact that the battery indicator was just not lighting up is telling us the ignition switch can be bad, but we should do a CAN scan first to see what comes up. You can get a CAN scanner (Controller Area Network) from Amazon from about $32.00.

Here is a video to show you how:

https://youtu.be/u-4syLc-ifQ

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/can-scan-controller-area-network-easy

Amazon CAN scanner link:

https://amzn.to/3sX8MCX

This guide can help as well:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-stalls

Here is how to change the ignition switch in case you need it. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.
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Friday, December 23rd, 2022 AT 10:52 AM
Tiny
MICHAEL DU
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Do I have to check anything on the engine? Like wires to the computer box or maybe something connected to the battery?
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Friday, December 23rd, 2022 AT 1:36 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,877 POSTS
If you upload a short video of what is happening, I can tell what's going on. Please check the battery cables and wiring in general. The CAN scan will check the computers for you.
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Saturday, December 24th, 2022 AT 11:36 AM
Tiny
MICHAEL DU
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Unfortunately, the car's with our mechanic, about 60km from me. I'll ask the mechanic for a short video so I can try and upload it here. Battery cables were fine and tight when I checked before it was towed though. Something did smell burnt on the front passenger side cabin the night my car shut off, just wasn't sure if it was my car or just something outside on the street.
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Sunday, December 25th, 2022 AT 1:20 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,877 POSTS
This could be the MICU inside the fuse panel has gone out which I have seen before, they will give off a burnt smell when the they fail. The fuse panel may need to be replaced. Here is how the job is done in case you want to see what will fix the problem. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Monday, December 26th, 2022 AT 11:15 AM
Tiny
MICHAEL DU
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
When replacing the fuse box, does the replacement have to have the exact part number as the one removed from my car?
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Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023 AT 6:51 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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Only if there is a part update from the dealer can you have a different part number, if not the part numbers must match.
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Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023 AT 11:37 AM
Tiny
MICHAEL DU
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Just an update to what happened to my car, changed the MICU or interior fuse box, car still wasn't fixed. Now I don't know where else to look.
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Thursday, January 12th, 2023 AT 4:31 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,877 POSTS
Did you get a CAN scanner? We need to run the codes to see what comes up.
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Friday, January 13th, 2023 AT 11:24 AM
Tiny
MICHAEL DU
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
They told me they scanned the car but nothing comes up, they can't replicate stalling the car, but when I got it back last Wednesday, drove it home from work at night, the car jerked once on the rode then went back to normal, then it finally stalled again when I was reversing on my parking at home. It always happens at night. Can it be the fuel pump? My traveling at night is longer due to traffic.
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Friday, January 13th, 2023 AT 3:10 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, intermittent problems can be tough. It could be the fuel pump or the fuel pump relay, crankshaft sensor, EFI relay, ignition switch, main ECU, connections to ground or power anywhere in the main electrical system. So, we need a clue as to the direction needed. With the engine running grasp the main wiring harness under the hood and move it around to see if the engine reacts, due the same with the ignition key. Let me know.
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Saturday, January 14th, 2023 AT 5:09 PM
Tiny
MICHAEL DU
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Just an update, there were no codes when they scanned my car when it stalled and not starting. Then they checked and replaced the relay, main relay (#3 on the pic), and the car started. But the problem is, when the car was with me and it stalled and did not want to start, I changed the main relay and ignition coil relay, and it did nothing. Is this still a relay problem or is it the connection? They've checked the wiring and fuse box both inside the car and under the dash and everything's working fine.
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Sunday, February 5th, 2023 AT 7:10 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,877 POSTS
Okay, when the engine will not start, we need to see if it is fuel or ignition system related.

Here is a video to help you test the spark:

https://youtu.be/baq_aEWNQ0Y

If the spark is good get a can of starting guild and spray it into the intake to see if it runs for a couple of moments. This will point us in the right direction, please let me know.
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Monday, February 6th, 2023 AT 5:34 PM
Tiny
MICHAEL DU
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I've been using the car for two days now after the main relay was replaced with a brand new one. Seems to run fine now. Note that the relay I used before wasn't new, it was used when I bought it because it's hard to find a brand-new main relay here. Will this be considered solved?
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Wednesday, February 15th, 2023 AT 6:51 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, if you are not having any more issue you are good to go.
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Thursday, February 16th, 2023 AT 4:58 PM
Tiny
MICHAEL DU
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
From the symptoms my car had, was it really possible that the main relay was the reason my car was shutting down?
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Thursday, February 16th, 2023 AT 7:17 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yes, the relay contacts can overheat due to high resistance, or the relay coil can get warm and stop working.
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Friday, February 17th, 2023 AT 11:48 AM
Tiny
MICHAEL DU
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I guess I'm getting scared of using the car because the symptoms my car had points to the ignition coil relay, well that's what I got from browsing the net, haha.
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Saturday, February 18th, 2023 AT 4:59 AM
Tiny
MICHAEL DU
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
But it was the main relay that was changed.
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Saturday, February 18th, 2023 AT 5:00 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,877 POSTS
Sounds good, thanks for letting us know. Use 2CarPros anytime, we are here to help. Please tell a friend.
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Saturday, February 18th, 2023 AT 7:14 PM

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