Need Mechanic's Advice

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hilliardfan

Senior Member

193 posts
Jul 8, 2013 10:31 AM
I have a question for the OC gearheads. I have a 2003 Honda Civic EX Coupe with approximately 111,000 miles on it. It has the 1.7L engine with a 4-speed AT. The car has been in the family for about 5 years and has had minimal mechanical issues. However, ever since we got the car there has been intermittent stalling and hesitation when first starting out in the vehicle. The car will start and take off fine but will immediately start acting like it's getting no fuel and just won't go. It hesitates and even occasionally stalls. It usually does this for 15-20 seconds and then takes off as it should. It always occurs when the car is first started. Usually once it gets going there's no issue. It also appears to do this more frequently during warm weather.

It's seems to me that it's just not getting any fuel during this time which suggests it's an injector issue but I suppose it could also be computer related or perhaps it's not getting the air it needs to burn the fuel. I haven't taken it to a shop yet because it's so intermittent that I'm sure it wouldn't happen while I was there. Any ideas on what the issue may be, and no, the solution isn't to get a Ford. lol
Jul 8, 2013 10:31am
vdubb96's avatar

vdubb96

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2,210 posts
Jul 8, 2013 10:36 AM
Our shop charges a $69.95 diag fee. Hope this helps! :)

Sounds like your on the right track though. Fuel pump, plugs/wires or injectors.
Jul 8, 2013 10:36am
M

MontyBrunswick

Jul 8, 2013 10:38 AM
Spark plugs, wires, and fuel pump all come to mind.

Has it thrown a code yet?

On a semi-related note, my car started hesitating a little bit when I do a warm-start. Only trade-off is that my car only has 24k miles on it and is under warranty.
Jul 8, 2013 10:38am
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Jul 8, 2013 11:23 AM
Injector, fuel pump, spark plus and wires ... check the air filter ... all seems to be good suggestion to check

This sounds crazy but don't tight down the gas cap ... some gas caps have a hole or small screw that let air out of the tank. If those are clogged it can cause pressure to build in the tank a fuel will not flow eazy. Whne the weather get hot this become a bigger problem.
Jul 8, 2013 11:23am
said_aouita's avatar

said_aouita

Banned

8,532 posts
Jul 8, 2013 11:37 AM
Could be egr valves or some sort of temperature vacuum.
Jul 8, 2013 11:37am
TedSheckler's avatar

TedSheckler

Emporium Entrepreneur

3,974 posts
Jul 8, 2013 12:03 PM
Blinker fluid, most def.
Jul 8, 2013 12:03pm
DeadliestWarrior34's avatar

DeadliestWarrior34

gooby pls

3,101 posts
Jul 8, 2013 12:05 PM
Have you checked and made sure that there's gas in the car?
Jul 8, 2013 12:05pm
W

Wally

Senior Member

481 posts
Jul 8, 2013 12:24 PM
Sounds like you need to open the choke.
Jul 8, 2013 12:24pm
vdubb96's avatar

vdubb96

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2,210 posts
Jul 8, 2013 12:49 PM
Googled 2003 Honda Civic problems: number 1 issue is Rotary Gurters! Start there!
Jul 8, 2013 12:49pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

49,363 posts
Jul 8, 2013 1:06 PM
I've had 8 Hondas and 7 with higher mileage than yours.....never had that problem. My carpool ride has a 2004 Civic and it did what your are saying.....but didn't do it until about 185,000 miles. She just bought a new Fit and uses it as a secondary but she never got it fixed.
Jul 8, 2013 1:06pm
IggyPride00's avatar

IggyPride00

Senior Member

6,482 posts
Jul 8, 2013 1:39 PM
Check for any vacuum leaks or holes in hoses.

I had a car that hesitated/stalled occassionally and it was because this little plastic elbow had disentegrated and the car was just sucking in way too much air, which was causing it to stall/hesistate.
Jul 8, 2013 1:39pm
said_aouita's avatar

said_aouita

Banned

8,532 posts
Jul 8, 2013 9:48 PM
Ironman92;1469310 wrote:I've had 8 Hondas and 7 with higher mileage than yours.....never had that problem. My carpool ride has a 2004 Civic and it did what your are saying.....but didn't do it until about 185,000 miles. She just bought a new Fit and uses it as a secondary but she never got it fixed.
What part of "Need Mechanic's Advice" didn't you understand?

you're
Jul 8, 2013 9:48pm
Trueblue23's avatar

Trueblue23

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7,463 posts
Jul 8, 2013 9:58 PM
vdubb96;1469301 wrote:Googled 2003 Honda Civic problems: number 1 issue is Rotary Gurters! Start there!
Very good point vdubb. Probably needs to check the end line specs.
Jul 8, 2013 9:58pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

49,363 posts
Jul 8, 2013 10:03 PM
said_aouita;1469253 wrote:Could be egr valves or some sort of temperature vacuum.

Are you a mechanic?
Jul 8, 2013 10:03pm
Tigerfan00's avatar

Tigerfan00

Senior Member

3,427 posts
Jul 8, 2013 10:08 PM
said_aouita;1469557 wrote:What part of "Need Mechanic's Advice" didn't you understand?

you're
Oh yeah, his daughter can name all 50 states so suck it.
Jul 8, 2013 10:08pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

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Jul 8, 2013 10:18 PM
Tigerfan00;1469577 wrote:Oh yeah, his daughter can name all 50 states so suck it.

What is your problem?
Jul 8, 2013 10:18pm
said_aouita's avatar

said_aouita

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Jul 9, 2013 4:21 AM
Need Mechanic's Advice
Ironman92;1469310 wrote:I've had 8 Hondas and 7 with higher mileage than yours.....never had that problem. My carpool ride has a 2004 Civic and it did what your are saying.....but didn't do it until about 185,000 miles. She just bought a new Fit and uses it as a secondary but she never got it fixed.

Ironman92;1469572 wrote:Are you a mechanic?
More than you.
Jul 9, 2013 4:21am
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

49,363 posts
Jul 9, 2013 9:21 AM
said_aouita;1469706 wrote:More than you.

Based on what....you guessing?

My best guess is take it to someone who works on Hondas. Any Honda Dealership could fix it for probably twice the price but find someone local and let him have a look at it.
Jul 9, 2013 9:21am
TedSheckler's avatar

TedSheckler

Emporium Entrepreneur

3,974 posts
Jul 9, 2013 9:56 AM
Buy a Mac.
Jul 9, 2013 9:56am
said_aouita's avatar

said_aouita

Banned

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Jul 9, 2013 10:23 AM
Ironman92;1469734 wrote:Based on what....you guessing?
No.
Hope this helps.
dlazz;1469200 wrote:
Has it thrown a code yet?
This. If the "check engine" light is on, take it to Auto Zone and they'll do a diagnostic for free.
Jul 9, 2013 10:23am
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

49,363 posts
Jul 9, 2013 11:09 AM
said_aouita;1469761 wrote:No.
Hope this helps.


This. If the "check engine" light is on, take it to Auto Zone and they'll do a diagnostic for free.

Man....you must've had some serious schooling for that wealth of knowledge.
Jul 9, 2013 11:09am
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Jul 9, 2013 11:10 AM
You must be mistaken. Honda's don't have problems.
Jul 9, 2013 11:10am
LJ's avatar

LJ

Senior Member

16,351 posts
Jul 9, 2013 11:25 AM
Probably the muffler bearings going out.
Jul 9, 2013 11:25am
V

vball10set

paying it forward

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Jul 9, 2013 11:32 AM
Ironman92;1469572 wrote:Are you a mechanic?
No, but he stayed at a Holiday Inn Express recently ;)
Jul 9, 2013 11:32am
vdubb96's avatar

vdubb96

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2,210 posts
Jul 9, 2013 11:33 AM
said_aouita;1469761 wrote:No.
Hope this helps.


This. If the "check engine" light is on, take it to Auto Zone and they'll do a diagnostic for free.
I wish I had a dollar for every vehicle that comes in to our dealership that was at Autozone/Advanced etc for "free" diag and it ends up being totally wrong. Take it to someone who knows what they are doing.
Jul 9, 2013 11:33am