1999 Integra dies while driving...

[D-Mo]

hi all!

Well...wasn't today a fun day! I get up to go to work and start up the car. Everything is fine! Then on the way to work I notice that the check engine light is on. I get totally freaked out and slow down and just listen to see if there is any weird noise. Nothing.

I park the car at work and stop the engine. Restart it and the light stays on. Hmm... I was upset but didn't think anything of it.

After work I have this great idea to take her to the shop and see what code I get, but I just barely get down the road from the parking lot and...DEAD. I was going ~ 35-40 mph.

I pull her to the side. Now weird thing is i could have sworn I smelled some sort of smell... kinda like if your brakes are on fire... that is another problem all together I suppose... Anywho, it could've been the construction site I went by.

The car gets towed home and I check her out. The motor turns, but won't ignite, I think I did the spark check correctly ( putting a screwdriver in the socket and grounding then having someone try to start the car.) I took the distributor cap off... doesn't really look bad under there...

I have a hayes?? manual and I checked it out. Says it could be the fuel pump, the FI relay ( forgot what it is called ) and a couple of other things. I really have no clue where to turn. Never dealt with this kinda problem before. Any help will be appreciated... Thanks all!

D-Mo

[civic_punk]

check the whole ignition system not only spark plugs, maybe its the cables that dont connect in one point it might as well be a fuel delivery problem either pump or one of the supply lines might be stock

[8695Beaters]

The easiest way to check if you have spark is to pull the plug, plug it back into the wire, and ground it to some unpainted engine part. If you turn the engine and it sparks, it is working.

How many miles are on this car? A 1999 sounds like it is closing in or past 90K. If this is the case, you might have broken the timing belt. If you have had it doen recently, then it might have broken again and if that is the case then it was installed improperly and the shop that did it is liable for the work (ie if they have any ounce of reputation they will repair your car for free).

Other than that, you are probably looking at a fueling issue. Probably an old fuel pump. It could also be a clog in the fuel line, but something wearing out seems more likely.

[civic_punk]

beaters isnt it true that when your timing belt brakes you gotta replace valves and sometimes pistons because it all brakes?

[PrimeTimeV6]

If it was a timing belt it wouldn't throw a code while running. It would kill then throw a code with no chance of a restart.

[dre5491]

It doesn't sound like a timing belt or an ignition problem. If it was an ignition problem I doubt it would throw a code. If you get the car running again and the light is still on take it to Autozone and have them hook it up to the tester.

[TnTRice]

I'm going to have to agree with Civic_Punk. Check your fuel delivery system from the front to the rear. Sounds like a similar problem I had with a Cevy S-10, turned out to be my lead wire to my fuel pump was bad, none the less check it out. I also agree to find out what code is being given as soon as you can, might make things simpler, or worse depending if the code is related or not.
Good Luck!

[D-Mo]

Update...

Just got home from work and did some tests...

I checked all the fuses in the engine bay, they all seemed good and none were burned. I checked the input to the distributor ( i dunno if i spelled it right!! haha) and with the key in the on position... i had power. Now my little book says to check the resistance of the distributor... I guess i'ma have to get an ohmeter...

Oh, another thing that the wife noticed. When we got the car home she noticed that with the car on the D4 ( ya... it is an auto...bleh) was blinking. And I no longer hear the fuel pump whiz up...but i do hear the relay... hopefully this will help with more brain storming?? I hope so. Thanks for all the help so far

[PrimeTimeV6]

Usually when the D4 light flashes it means there is a tranny problem. I don't see that as being the engine problem for killing. It is possible that it has jumped time but who knows. It is really hard for me to diagnose a problem like that when I can't get my hands on it.

[8695Beaters]

If the fuel pump is no longer coming on then it has either died or one of the leads has gone (like TNT said). Best to get that code cheked out soon so you know better where to look.

Yes civic_punk that is true. The valves drop out of the head and everything goes to hell. Some of the newer engines have been designed so that doesn't happen, but it's still not worth the risk.