1998 Honda Civic Car dies for no reason

Tiny
ELIZEB
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 92,000 MILES
My car dies periodically (twice a week). It has died when I stopped or slowed down and when I am driving along. There doesn't appear to be any consistent time that it dies. It dies as though I have just turned off the key. There is no warning and no other symptoms. I'm guessing it may have something to do with the gas being blocked somehow. Like if there is something in the gas line that blocks the line and then floats around until it is blocked again. Any ideas?
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Thursday, May 6th, 2010 AT 11:37 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Hi ElizeB,

Does the dash light comes on when the engine stallled?

If not, the ignition switch is faulty.
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Wednesday, June 12th, 2019 AT 5:15 PM
Tiny
ELIZEB
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I have always restarted the car without noticing the dash light. I will have to pay attention to that in the future.

Also, I just installed a new fuel filter. Whether this had anything to do with the problem or not, the car is running much more smoothly now. I'll have to wait and see if it stalls again.
Thank you for your help.
ElizeB.
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Wednesday, June 12th, 2019 AT 5:15 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
The fuel filter can cause performance issues but it would not cause the engine to stall unless it is very badly clogged or is leaking.

If the stalling is only when slowing down or stopped, then it could be the idling system that requires attention.
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Wednesday, June 12th, 2019 AT 5:15 PM
Tiny
ELIZEB
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
The stalling was anytime. Whether I was accelerating or coming to a stop or idling, stopped at a light. That's what has been puzzling, there was no particular time that it would do this. It has not done this since I installed the fuel filter just a couple of days ago, so I'm waiting to see if it will do it again and whether the dash light goes on. For now, all I can do is wait and see what happens next. Thanks.
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Wednesday, June 12th, 2019 AT 5:15 PM
Tiny
ELIZEB
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
It has been awhile since I installed the new fuel filter and it seemed to be running more smoothly and not dieing.

But now that's changed. It died about twice a week and now, today, it died about 10 times. It had been a while since it died so I was shocked and forgot to see if the light went on. But here's the news: Now when I try to start it back up, I have to try a few times before it starts. It doesn't crank over and over, it just seems like it's going to start and then doesn't and I have to try it again. Then it starts and runs fine. You mentioned the ignition switch and it seems to me you must be right since it doesn't want to start with the first try now. Can you tell me what I would tell a mechanic? I have a very low budget and that's why I didn't go to a shop and spend $100 for a diagnosis and was waiting to see what developed so I could be more sure about the problem. Thanks for your expert assistance.
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Wednesday, June 12th, 2019 AT 5:15 PM

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