Engine start/stalling problem.

pbryant_knight · Post by **pbryant_knight** » Mon May 13, 2013 4:58 pm

Sorry to start off my new membership here with a problem but hopefully someone might be able to help.

Ok, here goes. Had the newest Prelude for just over 2 weeks and it's developed an issue. Went to start it first thing this morning and it was turning over but just wouldn't catch. It's a 1998 2.0i Auto/Tiptronic.

Left it for a few hours and tried again to start it. got it to catch after way more cranks than usual, but it started. Took it for a 10 mile drive and it seemed fine.

Left it for 2 hours and went to start it again. Took a while to catch again but when i did get it started drove fine for half a mile then stalled at a junction when i hit the gas to go. Managaed to get it started yet again, drove it for another 15 miles and stopped the car to text someone. Put it in Park for a few minutes and when i selected drive again, it spluttered then stalled when i hit the gas. Wehn to Halford and put some fuel system cleaner in and took ages to start again.

drove it home with no issues but then thought i'd put it in park for a few mins then Drive to see what happened, and it happened again.

In a nutshel, Seems to take a while to start, runs fine, Idles fine but upon moving from Park to drive, then hitting the gas, it stalls. There is no issue when you make the gear change, just when you hit the gas.

Any ideas?

Post by **Merlin** » Mon May 13, 2013 5:06 pm

Can you hear the fuel pump priming ok before you try and fire her up?

pbryant_knight · Post by **pbryant_knight** » Mon May 13, 2013 5:08 pm

Yeah, i think the fuel pump seems fine. I'm not really that mechanically minded but i'm sure i can hear it prime before tirning the key.

Post by **rob quilter** » Mon May 13, 2013 5:49 pm

I reckon its the dizzy or coilpack, both are easy cheap fixes.

mills · Post by **mills** » Mon May 13, 2013 5:57 pm

This used to happen with my old auto, turned out to be the ignition switch. Worth a check if you know where it is. If its fooked then the copper contacts will look burnt, and the white plastic tends to melt aswell

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Mon May 13, 2013 7:34 pm

yeah could be the ignition that would normally kick over then stop when you release the key or stop the engine while your driving
my money would be on the dizzy or a vac leak or a bad earth

pbryant_knight · Post by **pbryant_knight** » Mon May 13, 2013 7:38 pm

Well, the weird thing is, Just had the mechanic out to look at it and it started straight away to make a liar out of me. I took him for a drive to show him what happens when i hit the gas after it's been in park and then back to drive..........and it didn't happen??

Sods law this.

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Mon May 13, 2013 7:42 pm

what about the main relay? that would make it difficult to start when warm ?

Post by **Merlin** » Mon May 13, 2013 7:59 pm

mercutio wrote:what about the main relay? that would make it difficult to start when warm ?

Yeah. When the main relay was bad in my 4th it would start fine from cold but wouldn't when warm, but you could hear that the fuel pump wasnt priming.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Tue May 14, 2013 1:42 pm

Merlin wrote:
mercutio wrote:what about the main relay? that would make it difficult to start when warm ?

Yeah. When the main relay was bad in my 4th it would start fine from cold but wouldn't when warm, but you could hear that the fuel pump wasnt priming.

I was thinking the same, but main relay would have fully cooled down after 2 hours and they don't normally cut out on you once running?