car dies while driving, please help.

[sick95eclipse]

Alright, about a week ago I was driving and my car died out of no where. No sputtering before it died or anything. Then when I try to start it again it cranks but wont start for like 15 to 20 minutes. When it doesn't start the fuel pump doesn't make the "vurrr" sound, then once it does I can hear the fuel pump. Would that be the relay, or the fuel pump itself? Please help.

 

[95talongirl]

Could be a relay, pump, or the wiring to the fuel pump is corroded and thus causing it to randomly "cut out". Check your wires for corrosion; which will have a greenish hue to it on the copper wires.

If you rule these out, then look at the wiring to the crank and cam sensors, or those sensors themselves. Check your main grounds as well for corrosion.

 

[sick95eclipse]

Thanks. Ill keep you updated when I check it out tomorrow.

 

[fast90eclipse]

Id check the relay to the pump or ## anti theft. I had the anti theft in my car go out n would shut down the car while driving

 

[sick95eclipse]

Where do I find the anti theft?

 

[95talongirl]

The easiest way to tell is have the local dealer (parts department) run the VIN on the car to see if it was equipped with it in the build list. The PCM is different in those cars that have anti-theft than those without. The ones with anti-theft looks for a signal before letting the car start and/or stay running. If it doesn't see this it will shut the car down. Usually it does this within a minute of running, however.

 

[keith2g]

Usually an anti theft device will be located under the dash/steering wheel. The only issue is normally an anti theft device will totall kill the ignition switch power source. Meaning the car wont even crank let alone start. 95talongirl seems to have pointed you in the right direction with some useful information.

 

[sick95eclipse]

If its the pump itself would it work sometimes and just cut out sometimes or just completely be out?

 

[Macurts]

i had a honda prelude that had a bad fuel pump and would get under the car, beat the gas tank and it would start right up......dont know if it would work with a dsm tho......

 

[Dave4g63]

i was having a similar problem with my 96 rs a lil while back, it was doing the same thing and then finally decided to not start again. i looked at the relay and the black plastic on it was cracked letting moisture get in and it corroded it up and never worked again, i would check that first, it should be hanging on the firewall right behind the driver-side strut tower.

 

[2ga4gb]

Short in the wiring possibly. My friend had the same exact issue in a single cam Honda, turns out he had a short going to the fuel pump.

 

[Smitherz]

Any luck with finding the problem?

 

[spoolingreen20]

@ 2ga4gb- If you had a short wouldn't it pop the fuse? Maybe you mean an open?

 

[sick95eclipse]

Well, I swapped the ecu and it started right up.

 

[Smitherz]

Realllly... well that's cool. Did you a rebuilt one or find another one at a dismantling yard? Still running ok?