So I'm driving home last night (12:15am) and I'm almost home and my car just shuts off...I turn the key (going 110 kph) and it starts again for a second and shuts right back off again!

So it's sitting on the side of the road now in a parking lot (after much grunting and pushing) and everything comes on when I turn the key, radio, dash lights, heater fan...but when I turn the key to start...it want's to start but there is almost a screeching sound and it won't start...help!

Jason

 

I used to have a problem like that with my hoopty ( toyota camry ) eventually it would start. I think it was something with the flywheel not catching.....toyota was notorious for that.

 

try making sure your battery is connected good cause although your other stuff works it still may not good enough for the starter!

 

Lost power to the car's CPU?
Main relay getting flaky?

 

Main relay ?

Check your connections and grounds.

 

Main Relay?

Remind me...where is the main relay again? Is that the one down behind the hood release?

I think mine is actually less than two years old...is there a way to be sure?

Lost power to the CPU...how do I check/fix that?

My first thought was the altenator...but that doesn't make sense with everything else still coming on does it?

So what would make the wierd screeching sound when I try to turn it over...it wants to start...but it makes that sound and doesn't???

Jason

 

Hi gang...thanks for all the replies...car is still sitting in the same place (crappy thing is it's a block from my house!)

So far I've attempted to get the old altenator out and get the re-built one in...which I haven't been able to do due to the bottom bolt being siezed...and I've been beating on it...dammit! The altenator will move freely in the mount so the bolt isn't siezed in the mount...it's seized in the alt!

Anyone know the best way to get out a siezed bolt in a car that is immobile?

Speaking of bottom bolt's, well screw's in this case, the bottom screw on the distributor cap is a real bitch to get at and for some reason I haven't been able to get that out yet...all my screwdriver's are too long or the handle is too fat. #$^#%^#$%&^&*^&*

So no progress on figuring this out and with fall now here we lose the light so damn early now...

Jason

 

so you figured out why it was shutting off on you? did you check to make sure you were getting fuel? spark? etc. as far as that siezed bolt, its gonna be a bitch. id spray it with pb blaster or wd40 and let it sit for a while, is the bolt stripped?
also what kind of car do you have?
is it dpfi or mpfi?

 

No I haven't figured out exactly what...I've had problem's with the alt before and my Dad had rebuilt one for me...so I figured I'd start there.

As far as the bolt...I've sprayed it...heated it...hammered repeated...a lot. It does not appear to be stripped...although there is no nut on it...wasn't when I went to take it off...

As far as the car...it's a 90 Civic HB Si with an STD engine in it 1.5 D15B with the Si MPFI...basically an Si with better mileage and an STD with more power.

Jason

 

if the charging light isn't comming on, it probably isn't the alternator.

What exactly happens when the car dies while running?
-engine cuts out completely and everything else still works?
-engine sputters and coughs then dies?
Describe what happens in detail.