Dies randomly 88 carb

[Demon1024]

Not sure where to go on this one, so im asking for help.

First thing each day the car starts and drives fine. Maybe for a 1/2 hour maybe for 2 hours. the outta the blue just dies, getting no spark.
I've swapped the coil back and forth with another one. Even while it wants to run the coils made no difference.
Takes the time to cool all the way down before it'll start again 2 or 3 hours

I though main relay on carb? ( My first Carb'd 3g btw)
Look'ed up the fuel cutoff and resoldered it.

Any suggestions?


http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs404.snc3/24472_106516956051775_100000804139367_59285_513331 1_s.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs404.snc3/24472_106516986051772_100000804139367_59291_782772 3_s.jpg

[2oodoor]

anything else stop working when this happens? there is an issue with ign switches

what condition is the dist cap and rotor? simple maintenance and not a waste of $ to replace in case it isnt the issue

what do the plugs look like? an excessive gap in the plugs, or wear, would make the igniton module overheat and possibly open a circuit

[Demon1024]

Had disassembled the dizzy looking for something, cap looked ok. Thanks for the tip on the plugs. i'll look at that

Everything else seems to work fine when this happens. Lights are good and cranks as normal

[Demon1024]

Changed cap / point
spark plugs where actually a little low like 30 or so. fixed that, same problem....


noticed when it dies the tach straight drops. Not with engine speed. Does that mean the distributor's bad?

[Demon1024]

im gonna pick up a dizzy from j/y tomorrow

[Demon1024]

:cheers: The new j/y i went to has 6 3g's and 2 2nd gen ludes :cheers:


Got a carb'd dizzy. gotta clean it up tho... only carb'd dizzy left

Im gonna get those upper control arms after i get this crap cleared up

[Demon1024]

kk after a rough start it's running now.....just gotta see for how long lol

gotta love intermittent issues

[Demon1024]

Now it dies if i give it gas lol

Sat in my drive way idling for 2 hours and didnt die. take it 1/4 mile down the road (running great) at the end after turning around it wont GO. I can slowy press the accel down to go but any effort results in bogging

[jlebr549]

First of all, I too have had a battle with my 89 Honda Accord carburetor, but it has been a great way of getting a better understanding of what makes my car tick.
What your problem sounds like to me is the primary jet is clogged, or it’s not getting enough fuel in the carburetor bowl, or not getting enough fuel to the carburetor.
Check fuel bowl level.
Check primary jet that it’s not clogged.
Disconnect fuel line from carburetor then turn the key switch on and check fuel flow.

[Demon1024]

well i took most of it apart lol

shouldn't the secondary have close to or more flow than the primary?

Just blowing threw them the secondary was much harder to blow threw. The spray cleaner came out the other side tho

Is there supposed to be a brass fitting in the secondary venturi? has like half a flat head mark on it (adjustable?)

[swiftymorgan]

Changed cap / point
spark plugs where actually a little low like 30 or so. fixed that, same problem....


noticed when it dies the tach straight drops. Not with engine speed. Does that mean the distributor's bad?

The tachometer gets it's signal from the coil. My coil crapped out when hot and the symptom was the tach got erratic then quit sometimes and the engine ran rough. I could precisely control the failure with a heat gun and infrared thermometer, coil failed at exactly 138 degrees.

How do you know it's losing spark?

[Demon1024]

i tried at each plug and the coil wire, i went and got another dizzy at j/y. Got a accel coil at same time. Now it just craps out at more than partial throttle.

Did the mechanical secondary and vacuum removal, just cleaned the carb, resoaking the venturis now to make sure there clean. the secondary has more resistance. not sure if this is right

[Demon1024]

STILL very curious about the flathead looking peice inside the venturi. never tried to unscrew it for fear of breaking. hell i'll see if i can grab one from j/y and mess with it

[Demon1024]

was a bad pickup coil in dizzy btw

[Dr_Snooz]

Jeepers. How did you ever figure that one out?

[Demon1024]

Looked worn and throwing parts at it lol. Anyone got any input on the venturi's? Secondary supposed to have more resistance? Runs fine now... so far lol. Just sold it to my buddy today. First car I've ever sold. Usually I run them till they're "dead" and being I buy 3geez they all still go or were part to begin with. Hell im still driving one of the parts cars atm

[Dr_Snooz]

Yup. Takes some doing to kill these cars.