What is wrong with my car?

Question

I have a 98 Honda Civic...and nobody can seem to tell me what is wrong. When I put the key in the ignition, the car starts...but shortly after it just cuts right back off. It only does this when it is hot or warm outside. During the winter it rarely did it, sometimes if you tap the key quick enough it will cut back on, on its own. I have to make sure the air is on full blast before I pull off because if it isn't my car will cut off again, Sometimes we have to hold they key in place to prevent it from cutting off. My car was doing this last year..and it turned out that the thing on the battery needed to be replaced..so we did that, and was ok for a few months but the car is cutting off again, so I am definitely believing it has something to do with the ignition...I took it to a mechanic and they plugged it up to some machine..but they didn't find out anything. What do you think it is so that next time I go to the mechanic I tell them exactly what to look at.

Answer 1

It sure sounds like a defective ignition switch to me.

Answer 2

I can not give you a certain explanation, but your problem resembles one that I had on my vehicle, which is an entirely different vehicle! The problem with a quick cutoff was traced by my independent mechanic to a "camshaft sensor". I wondered how something that seemed to be heat-related could in fact be in a sensor related to engine-part movement. The mechanic did not offer any guess. I did tell the mechanic to put that problem aside and go on to the other problem I was having... At the very same time I had a heater-core leak that vented hot water and hot air into the engine compartment. When the mechanic shut off the coolant flow to the heater the other problem stopped! I figured this was because a mechanical (camshaft) sensor (almost all sensors are electronic when you get down to it) was not doing its job right when it got hot. I'll bet you anything that there is a sensor that is either getting too hot (as in hot weather), or is defective and is showing sensitivity to heat that it's not supposed to, and this sensor is screwing with your ignition. A mechanic who knows your car model AND has a good service manual may find my guess is correct, but I don't know which sensor to look at. A mechanic who DOES know which sensor(s) to look at is a factory-trained dealer mechanic, whose services cost more.

Good luck.

Answer 3

1st off if you look anything like your anime avatar you are beautiful!
2nd off you are somewhat correct that it has to do with the ignition. your idle speed control (crankshaft) may be too low. your car will naturally shut off when the crankshaft is stationary. the crankshaft drives your serpentine belt, which drives the alternator (which gives your car voltage) and other accessories. this is my first solution provided your spark plugs, wires, and gapping are good. as a last resort, get some HEET and put it in the fuel tank before you fill up and see if that helps.

Answer 4

Sometimes! the the temperature affects the acids in the battery; when things freeze there electrical resistance decreases, and they conduct more energy, that is why the battery, conducted more energy in the winter and it was easier to start the car; but there could be other problems.

Answer 5

it is one or two things.... ignition switch which on honda's do go bad or the main relay... i am leaning more tword the ignition switch than the main relay though

that is my guess
good luck

m

Answer 6

faulty ingintion switch

Answer 7

ck your fuel pump & fuel filter

Answer 8

it might be your engine or something stuke

Answer 9

time to buya new one