Car dies when it's hot out

CANTINA

MEMBER
HONDA CIVIC

I have a 98 Civic with 150,000 miles on it, automatic transmission. It's been dying without warning and it's always after it's been parked in the sun for a few hours. It'll start, and sometimes even run for about 30 seconds, but then it just dies. After that, it'll start up and then die again immediately. Yesterday, after trying to start it 5 or 6 times, I opened the hood, and let my car sit for a few minutes, hoping this would help cool it off. After a few minutes, it started up just fine. Also, if I turn on my AC, it makes it even worse. It never happens early in the mornings or at night when it's cooler outside. I've read something about vapor lock but this is happening all of a sudden and pretty often. I had a diagnostic test done on it and it checked out fine, and I had the battery checked, and it's still good. What could it be?

3 Replies

BRUCE HUNT

MECHANIC
3,753 POSTS

I offer the advice of when it does not start, check the vehicle immediately for spart to the plugs. Is it there?

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Monday, August 6th, 2007 AT 2:33 PM

CANTINA

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Yes, the spark is there. The car will start, but it just won't stay on any more than a couple seconds before it dies again. Once I let it cool down, by parking it in the shade and opening the hood, it'll start up and stay on just fine. I had it checked out, and they couldn't find anything wrong with it. They said everything seems to be working and they don't know what's wrong with it.