My civic will randomly die on freeway

602 Views 17 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Georgia Eg, 15 d ago

McFly509

Discussion Starter · 22 d ago

So this has happened 3 times now and don't really know where to go from here... I'm driving down the freeway and the engine will randomly die, still have all power to dash, radio ect. I'll pull over and 2 of the 3 times it would start right back up. The last time it wouldn't start and only crank over acting like it's not getting spark/fuel. Waited about 10mins and it started right up. No CEL or overheating or anything. Pretty stumped at this point. Not sure if it's a fuel or ignition problem. Anyone else have this issue? Where should I start first to diagnose this issue?
Thanks!

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

dfb399

· #2 · 22 d ago

Likely, your PGM-FI Main Relay.
1. Remove glovebox, should be to the right, mounted with one 6mm bolt.
2. Google around about "re-flowing" the soldered joints on the board, inside the housing of the relay.

I'd recommend picking up a spare (think junkyard), and practicing on that, even if you can solder well already, it won't hurt.

Reactions: 2

McFly509

Discussion Starter · #3 · 22 d ago

Okay ill do that, does it get too hot and fail? I'm assuming so cause it only does it when it's a operating temperature.

mattliston

· #4 · 22 d ago

next time it happens, open the passenger door, smack the side of the dash. You will see the lone 10mm bolt head in the middle. If the car starts right back up like nothing happened it is the main relay loosing connection.

If that doesnt work, go to a junkyard, and teach yourself to remove the ignition control module and ignition coil.

transzex

· #5 · 22 d ago

but the main relay is on the drivers side of the car....

Reactions: 1

dfb399

· #6 · 22 d ago

transzex said:
but the main relay is on the drivers side of the car....

Maybe, on a RHD shell?
You made me double-check, and at least on my '99 EX Coupe, its on the Passenger (Right) side.

McFly509 said:
Okay ill do that, does it get too hot and fail? I'm assuming so cause it only does it when it's a operating temperature.

It could, sure. But I've also had them act up in Cold weather only.
Point to be taken: Solder joints get small cracks, causing the connection inside the Relay to be intermittent. So small, that yes weather/temp./humidity will affect them.

Reactions: 1

McFly509

Discussion Starter · #7 · 22 d ago

Okay awesome 👌 thanks for your guys help it's appreciated!

Reactions: 1

TheToaster

· #8 · 21 d ago

Ignition cylinders in these cars have been known to fail .

I rewired the entire car and had it running from a shoebox only to find out it was the ign cylinder losing contact.

Reactions: 1

mattliston

· #9 · 21 d ago

Id guess at the ignition switch, but he says the dash lights stay on, and it cranks without firing. Ignition switch would act dead?

Reactions: 1

Oldcivicjoe

· #10 · 21 d ago

If main relay checks good my next suggestion for inspection would be the distributor, checking resistance across the position sensors cold and after a good warm up, too much of a difference between the resistance from cold to hot and the ecu thinks the engine stopped rotating.

Nasty_Canasta

· #11 · 20 d ago

Did you figure this out?
Is the car socketed / chipped?

You can fix a failing main relay with a hot soldering iron in most cases. Usually, the solder cracks..which
causes the main relay to malfunction.

I had a similar issue for a while. But it was completely random. Happening every two or three months
right after startup.

Reactions: 2

McFly509

Discussion Starter · #12 · 20 d ago

Nasty_Canasta said:
Did you figure this out?
Is the car socketed / chipped?

You can fix a failing main relay with a hot soldering iron in most cases. Usually, the solder cracks..which
causes the main relay to malfunction.

I had a similar issue for a while. But it was completely random. Happening every two or three months
right after startup.

No I haven't yet, my family is going out of town for the weekend. When we get back I was thinking of buying a new pgmfi relay and swapping it out to see if that's the culprit.

Nasty_Canasta

· #13 · 17 d ago

If you don't want to spend the money...or take a part back, try hitting it with a hot soldering iron if you have one. You can use a jeweler's loupe, magnifying glass or even a USB microscope if you really want to check it out up close. Sometimes the cracks are really hard to see.

Here is a pic I found from a Google search. All my pics are on another hard drive.

Circuit component Hardware programmer Electronic instrument Indoor games and sports Electronic component

When you turn your key to "on" position, you should hear the fuel pump prime for 1-2 seconds. And hear the relay click from underneath the dash. There is an eerie silence in a Honda when those things don't take place. That is usually a dead giveaway.

Once you check out the main relay, like Oldcivicjoe said , check out the spark and fuel. Once that is out of the way, there are some "weirder" things to check.

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Reactions: 2

colbybingham4

· #14 · 15 d ago

Had this exact issue a couple months back on one of my civics. (98 coupe hx) it was 100% the main relay, $15 on Amazon. Haven't had a single issue since. YouTube has a easy to follow video too.

Georgia Eg

· #15 · 15 d ago

Happy anniversary, congratulations on your first post...

Reactions: 2

colbybingham4

· #16 · 15 d ago

Georgia Eg said:
Happy anniversary, congratulations on your first post...

Thanks!

Reactions: 2

slo_eg8

· #17 · 15 d ago

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2

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Georgia Eg

· #18 · 15 d ago

What can I say, long enough with a D will influence the amount of D in your life😂😂
And now I'm at 500🤣

Reactions: 3

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