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Okay guys… I’m really at a loss here… I have a 91 integra GS with a DOHC B18a1 (non VTECH). And I’m ready to go ape shit… HELP!!!
A few weeks back I managed to run out of gas and blew my fuel pump (it’s been an ongoing domino-effect from there on..). I dropped my fuel tank, replaced the pump with a Brand new Carson. She started up just fine, but the moment I got to the stop sign at the end of my road and braked my engine completely died…… I figured out if I braked too hard/fast and my rpm dropped too rapidly below 1000 the engine would just die.. But would restart no problem.
Until about a week later it died on me entirely (my friend couldn’t help me diagnose till the day after, go figure).. Engine cut out entirely and just died. Sounded like it wanted to start sooo bad but just wouldn’t. Barely coasted to my now-ex boyfriends where it has been sitting ever since (…….horray).
Fuel pump primes, but I had no spark, as well as my spark plug wells were flooded with oil. I drained my wells, replaced my SPs, as well as my valve cover gaskets… But still wouldn’t explain my loss of power? (Just replaced my batt in December, so it shouldn’t be that). So I then turned to my dizzy… And wow, quite the corroded piece. The seal had essentially stripped entirely so it was all rusted around my coil and the plate. So I replaced it entirely. JB kinda shit the bed and sent me 2 wrong distributors, so I FINALLY got the right one yesterday… Put it in and she started….. Idled ALL over, but it started..(WOO!!). My friend had me unplug my idle wire (forgive me I can’t remember the technical term to save my life, but the moment I unplugged it the idle issue ceased).
At this point I’m idling around 200rpm…. Not fantastic in any sense, and she cuts out whenever she feels like it now, and I get little-no response when I hit the gas. My dizzy was timed and everything, as well as being brand new, so I’m REALLY at a loss now.
I checked my spark and it’s amber, not blue.. So I’m losing power somewhere but have no idea where to look from here!!! I even went as far as sanding the rust off my old coil, and popping that in the new dizzy to try to see if Anything changed. Still the same. it’ll idle around 200rm, and no response when I hit the gas… I flipped the new coil back in, and same thing still.
As I mentioned before, it’s jacked-up and dead outside my ex boyfriends house… Making it that much more awkward and annoying to try to diagnose this damn thing….!!!! I don’t have the $150 to tow it to the other side of town, when I need the $ for parts apparently…. :S
Ideas?! Anyone?! Thanks in advance!!!
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I have a 91 Integra GS as well…
Why did you drop the fuel tank? The fuel pump is accessible from the rear seat, just take out a few bolts, pop the rear seat out, and it is right there.
It sounds like you may have clogged fuel lines, or possibly a bad/clogged fuel filter, when you run a car empty like that; it can suck a lot of trash into the system. You may want to see if you have fuel pressure. If you need help with that, and haven’t checked it yet let us know.
Other than that, it could possibly be your iacv. While it’s idling bad, Eric suggests that if you take the handle of a screw driver and tap it and if it changes idle, or gets somewhat better, then it’s possibly the iacv. If that’s the problem, you can clean it, but Eric has mixed emotions on that, personally I would clean it for now, and if that helps, possibly save up for a new/used iacv. A new one will be anywhere from 100-200 dollars, you can probably pick up a “new” one on ebay or somewhere, but make sure it’s the problem before going through the hassle. Here is a video that may help, “How to Solve Honda Idle Problems – EricTheCarGuy
Now as for the spark plugs, from my understanding, amber, or brown should be fine, not too rich, not too lean, if it’s in the light grey area, then it could possibly be being a tad too lean, but generally still good.
Re-reading your post, I believe the “idle wire” you are referring to is the connection to the IACV? If that fixed it, then I am almost certain that would be the cause. Do you get a check engine light? I assume it will come on when you unplug the IACV.
First, Honda fuel pumps hardly ever go bad. I’ve had fuel pumps in Hondas with over 300K on them with no fuel pump problems. Second, you don’t need to drop the tank to replace them. There is access under the back seat or in the trunk depending on the model you have. Aside from that, you should always check fuel pressure if you suspect a fuel delivery problem. You should also check system voltage anytime you have a performance issue.
Most of the problems I see with these cars are caused by modifications done by their owners. Acuras do not like aftermarket parts. Especially poor quality ones. I’m not saying that’s what you have, it’s just what I’ve seen. One common replacement part is an aftermarket distributor. I’ve seen all kinds of issues with those. I could go on about this but I did write an article on solving problems like this you might find helpful. I would suggest you read through it and see if anything applies.
http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-performance-issues
Good luck and keep us posted.
The pump I pulled was aftermarket.. Came with the car. Carson I believe? And I tried rear-seat access, and it lead me to nothing but a wire and my tank… After much digging and scraping, I couldn’t find any bolts or screws to access anywhere,. I even got a second opinion before I pulled it.
I had a guy check my fuel pressure and it read a dead-zero… I replaced my filter today, and I’m getting gas into my filter, but I don’t have the proper gauges to test the pressure again by myself. Thinking maybe a clogged line somewhere? After my pump blew it would kinda make sense……… Of course, I’m still learning,, so that’s why I’m here!
A clogged line is very unlikely. The access for the fuel pump is under a metal cover with a wire harness going into it held down with 3 screws. It’s there, trust me.
That said, you might want to read through this for information on how to solve your problem.
http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-performance-issues
I do trust you… 🙂 however, from my experience with my car, it’s entirely only there to access the wiring harness. Research has told me backseat access to the entire fuel pump only became avail in 94…. For integras anyways. I had a could friends double-check for me before I pulled it to make sure I wasn’t doing anything I didn’t have to.
I blew my main fuel line backwards from my filter with a compressor and quite a decent amount of pitch black fuel resulted… Not quite sludge, but not plain ol fuel.
I ended up taking a 1/2 full bucket of fuel and tested my pump by hand, by wiring it to my bat…… No where NEAR enough pressure to feed my engine. Not only that, but the pressure was decently strong in the beginning of testing, then died down pretty rapidly after a minute or so…. I Pulled out my old pump and it’s almost twice the size, so im thinking this is part of the issue… If not it entirely……………….. Fingers crossed!!!!!!!! Cause I’m not sure whistles to look into…
You know what, you’re right. You can’t get to the fuel pump on that vehicle in the ‘traditional’ way.
That said, perhaps your fuel system was contaminated at some point based on your description. Sounds like you’ll need a fuel pump and it’s likely not a bad idea to have your tank flushed out for good measure.
Good luck and keep us posted.
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