96hatch

I've been having this problem for a while where my car has trouble starting after it rains or snows. I try starting it and it just chugs and doesn't start. This usually doesn't happen on dry days. If I do manage to get it started after a few tries, it will chug on me as I drive for about 10 minutes and then be fine for the rest of the day. I've tried changing the spark plugs, but that didn't help. The wires and distributor look ok.

It sounds like water or moisture is getting in somewhere it shouldn't, but I don't know a whole lot about this stuff, so I'm not sure. I've made a 30 second video of me trying to start the car to give an idea of what it sounds like. It can be found here: YouTube - Car Trouble

Does anyone have any ideas or advice on this? Thanks a lot!

Poland12

Well I dont think pumping the gas will help any. Your car might be flooding due to cold weather, ->the thermostat may be stuck open -> the ECT sensor would be getting a very cold reading -> sending too much fuel to the combustion chambers = FLOOD.
Try pressing the gas all the way down to the floor and crank it for a little bit, may take a few minutes even ( if this is the problem )but try to crank in 30 sec intervals -> Release the gas pedal fairly quickly when it starts

Good luck
Honda Acura Ignition (spark) Troubleshooting - How to <- Useful info.

chris_v2

Replace the ignition cap, rotor and spark plug wires.

96hatch

Thanks guys, the feedback I've been getting tends to point towards the rotor, cap, and wires. I'm picking the stuff up tomorrow and will let you know how it goes!

JDMej1

yeah good call. even the smallest crack in the dizzy cap can cause bad spark or your car to not start.

96hatch

Well, after replacing the distributor cap & rotor, getting new wires, and cleaning the corrosion from my battery terminal the car started right up! Thanks for the help!

ferrelchild

hey man my 98 dx was doing thsame thing what was happening was the spark plug wires were cracked and shorting out due to the moisture the cylonoid case that the wires conect to (not sure what its called sorry) was also creating an arc to the wires when it did that it made my car stall or chug or only let me go 50kmph it even blew fuses lol i replaced the wires and the cylonoid cover and has been fine since. to make sure it is the same thing use an air compressor to dry the wires an case then start the car get a spray bottle with watter only and spray the wires and cylonoid cover it should start acting up (providing that the test works , it might a little water though) after they are wet you can touch the wires to see if they are cracked same with the cylonoid case if you get a small shock (nothing too bad dont worry) if this works then replace wires and cylonoid cover not very expensive 150 for both