Hi all,

I need your help. As most of you know, my S2000 is on order and is due in sometime late January. Well, my current car ('87 Accord) has been acting up this past week. It died over a dozen times on the way to work this past Monday morning. To make a VERY, VERY long story short, I have taken it to over 3 garages this past week and weekend to get the problem resolved and have spent over $600 on this old car. Last night when I drove it out, it died AGAIN. On the way home, it was on the verge of dying again. (Of course the mechanics all drove it and it ran FINE for them). Anyway, it may be the carb, and if it is, I am out yet another $600. I am so stressed about this, that I can't sleep! (See time of this thread being posted). I really don't want to spend any more money on it. It has low miles (137,000), and obviously it is old, but it has been very well maintained. Should I:

a) take it to yet another place and try and get it "fixed" again? (I just got the name of another highly recommended mechanic that deals ONLY with Japanese cars) and dump (lord only knows how much) more money into it?

b) drive it as is now, until it completely dies and I can't get it started again so that I can get it towed and perhaps get the problem properly diagnosed? (It would feel like I am driving a time bomb then......gee, wonder if I will be stranded today?)

c) ...this one KILLS me....Scrap the S2000 (and my deposit), and buy something else RIGHT NOW that is reliable, instead of spending even more money on my old Accord.

Any advice you can give would be much appreciated. I want to avoid option "c" , but at this point I don't know what else to do anymore.

Thanks

 

Wendy,

I once had a car with a cracked distributor cap. Same symptoms. Other than that, I'm at a loss without more information. When it dies, what do you do to get it started again? Does it recover on it's own?

Have you checked your fuel filter?

Good luck!

Oh yea, DON'T cancel your order!!!

 

Are you sure it's the Carb.? Which shop did you take it to the first time? It really doesn't sound like the Carb.; how do you start it again? A motor is pretty simple. It is just a big compressor. All you need is fuel and air and spark to get it going.
Simple test, take the air cleaner off. (get you some starting fluid. Be careful, these thing are very flamable!) Spray it into the carb. and get in the car try to start the car. (you are putting very high combustion cool fluid through your carb. into your engine right now. If it still wouldn't start, it's not your Carb! It 's got to be other electric, timing or other controls.

Here is a shop I highly recommand. At least it worked for me. They are right on Hwy 29 in Liburn.
http://www.mahdavimotorsports.com/
I'm so confindent with them, I'll let them drop the B16 in my CRX next year.

As for the down payment for the S2000? I'm not sure what to tell you? I've always told my girlfriend that I must have at least two cars! If one broke down , I can drive the other. Or even just send one in for repair or tune-ups, I can still have another car the drive.

Are you going to trade in this Accord? If you are, you might as well fix it for a better trade in for later. Sorry.

If you want, may be I or some of the S2000 can come over and check it out on your car. I just can't tell without the car in front of me. to rebuild a Carb. is not really that hard! Basically just cleaning the carb. and replace some of the springs and diaphames in the unit. To adjust the Carb and finetuning is another story! Why $600 for the carb.? are you buying a new one? You don't need new ones. Just rebuild it. Carb. is very simple! It's just a device to mix the fuel and air at the right amount into the engine. To rebuilt it shouldn't cost you that much! The most is under $200. Give me a call later if you want. I'm going to Turner field right now! 404-406-3395 Dennis

Do a) and b) and do not do c). Because it is only 2 (3) month away!

 

Sue, since I've talked to you on the phone and in person I have a bit more info than what you posted.

Seems to me that the problem still needs to be rigorously diagnosed and the best place to do that (IMO) is a good tech at one of the Honda dealers. They should be able to narrow it down and either fix or replace the the correct part.

Good luck and let me know if you need a ride anywhere.

 

Wendy, When and where did you get your last tank of gas? Maybe you should throw in a can of dry gas just in case your last tank of gas had some water in it.

 

If it were my car, I would take it up to Hennesee Honda and ask to have Steve Holloman look at it. When I was 16, Steve was best friends with one of my best friends big brother and we all used to ride dirt bikes together. Steve worked at the Honda motorcycle shop back then and would always work on my bikes. About 20 years ago, he began working on Honda cars and has done nearly all the work on all my Hondas for years. Tell him I sent you and he will let you know exactly what is wrong.

 

Thank you everyone for all your thoughts, advice and help. I really appreciate it! I drove the car ALL DAY yesterday in an effort to make note of any weird symptoms it gave. It didn't die on me, so that's good in a way, but bad in that the problem remains undiagnosed. After all the work I have had done, it is better, but it's still acting kind of funny. At least it is driveable for now. I have indeed come to my senses and decided not to "scrap" getting the S2000. My father made an excellent point, in that I would absolutely DESPISE any other car I got, no matter how nice, and always regret not getting the S.

My Bad - when it dies, I CAN get it started again fortunately. I have to continuously give it gas though so it remains started. If I keep my foot off of the accelerator, it dies again. The fuel filter AND fuel pump have been replaced within the past year.

850 - I have sprayed fuel in the carb, and yes, the idle smoothed right out. Thus it is running "lean". We also put a rag over it, and the idle smoothed right out again....which again verified that the mixture of air is higher to that of the gas. So, it could be the carb. And I am not planning on trading in the Accord. I want to keep it, if at all possible!

S2kDude (and Sebring Silver and Dennis) - I think you (all) are right. I will need to take it to a Honda dealership or a mechanic that specializes in Hondas in order to get a proper diagnosis. Thanks so much for the offer of a ride...I may need to take you up on that.

Al - That's a good suggestion. It did start acting funky soon after I got gas at the BP by my house (actually by S2KTroup's house!). I plan on buying some dry gas tonight and trying that. The car HAS had a problem with condensation in the gas tank in the past, so this definitely may help. The tank was drained and all fuel lines cleaned after that happend.

SirTom - Thanks for the offer of help! That's very kind of you. I think I am ok for now, and I don't want to put you at an imposition, but I certainly do appreciate it!

Speed 2000 - I've made a note of your referral. Thanks much!

SilverStreak - Thx for the reality check and the offer of help as well.

I feel very fortunate to have all of you wonderful folks offer help and suggestions. Again, thank you so much! I REALLY REALLY appreciate it!

 

A distributor cap is a cheap easy to replace item and if you don't remember the last time it was replaced then it's time to replace it. It could account for your troubles. Also, on the carb make sure it is bolted down tight. They can work their way loose and start sucking air down around the base and cause intermittent problems. Make sure all the vacumn hoses are secure. You could also have a bad fuel pump. An ailing fuel pump will result in just the kind of problem you described.

 

Wendy,

I have had that exact problem, when I had my

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sietek
[B]Wendy,