Rough start..
 

Hey guys.

2000 GS, bone stock except for a SRI
227,000 KM on it

Recently replaced: Spark plugs, cap & rotor

Today I went to start the car after leaving it parked for about 20 mins.. and it struggled to start. It would start right up on the first crank, but would struggle and stay between 400-600 rpm... I gave it some gas and revved it at 4000 rpm for a few seconds, and then let it back down to idle, and it was better. Not perfect, but much more stable (less shaking, RPM's relatively stable). To see if it would happen again, I turned off the car, and started it. This time it was perfect. For the rest of the day the car started fine 3-4 times, and hasnt given me any problems since. Car was not low on gas (a bit over half a tank)

Now I had the SAME thing happen to my last integra, and I thought it was a random thing so i left it..but it only got worse. So iIm trying to fix this asap. It gets me pretty nervous when I start my car and it wants to die out on me. Any ideas?

By the way, the check engine light is on, but it's been on for a while now for "Catalyst Failure" which I am assuming is my secondary O2 sensor. Then again, it could be a clogged cat and these problems *may* be related.

It sounds like a clog to me or also seems as if the gas delivery was a bit off. In your last integra did it do the same thing and then choke and turn off or would it stay on and just be at low idles?

The old one would do the exact same thing..just struggle, but never die. I'd always rev it up so it never really got a chance to. Ughh i wanna get this fixed I hate car probs
:(

anyone..?

This used to happen to my old motor until I adjusted the ignition timing. Problem went away. Not saying it will fix your issue, but it's a possible cause. I would get that CEL sorted out first though.

hey, thanks for the response
how do you adjust the ignition timing?

distributor my friend. loosen the 3 bolts on the side of the dizzy and clock it back or forth depending what its set it.

^To add to that, turning it towards the intake advances, turning it towards the exhaust retards.

I doubt that will fix the issue though. Distributors don't typically go out of adjustment on their own over time. But checking the timing with a timing light isn't a bad idea.

And yes, get the CEL taken care of. Does the car seem down on power at all? Poor fuel consumption?

Thanks for the responses guys.
The car doesnt seem down on power at all, and i get about 350 km to the tank (and I'm usually revving up to 3-4 a lot).

that is still a little low you should be getting more to the tank.

Yea ive done spark plugs, cap & rotor, seafoam, but still am getting only 350..im gonna try babying it for a tank to see what I get, but its hard breaking the habit of driving like an -------.

But yea, since that one time it wanted to die out, It hasn't occurred again. Fingers crossed for a one time occurrence!

did you buy some shitty gas...from some no name gas station by any chance?

Nope, always fill up at Esso, dont trust those run down stations. Im wondering if it could be fuel pump related because its exactly how a car acts when you forget to switch off the killswitch, but just doesnt die.

Hmmm could be. And well esso ya I heard no good stuff from them I only use petro and shell.

Try running Sunoco ummmm sratch that - i guess Petro Can now - their Ultra 94 for 2 tanks and maybe a tanks worth of good F.I. cleaner.

A combination of a poorly working o2 sensor and clogged injectors could be giving you bad idle and poor fuel economy..... Even in the city only I have never had mileage that bad before. Mixed I would get 600+. City 450+.

How about your ignition wires? Check them for resistance. Should be about 12K ohms per foot.

Strongly suggest a good set of NGK wires.

Don't recommend running 94 fuel (if you have the b18 non-vtec). Increasing the octane won't really help.

OP: When was the last time you replaced the fuel filter? ...and did you get the CEL taken care of?

i'll second that. these honda engines we're all running aren't designed to make use of the higher octane.

you'll end up with less power since its still attempting to burn the fuel when the exhaust valves open, dumping burning fuel into your exhaust, plus its a waste of money.

(unless you're running a boosted or tuned car)