"Jeff" <jeffscomp@sbcglobal.net> wrote in
news:0HsEg.9502$9T3.8117@newssvr25.news.prodigy.ne t:

> it's an '88 civic sedan. where is the regulator located? i got the car
> to start yesterday but it only ran for a few quick seconds and
> shutoff. it backfires while trying to start sometimes.



"Backfiring" through the throttle body or through the exhaust?



> i did
> disconnect the fuel line from the filter under the hood and put it in
> a milk jug and turned the car over and went to see how much gas was in
> it and it wasn't much for the time i tried starting it. i was thinking
> maybe it should be more. i then reconnected that and took the line
> going to the throttle body and put that in a jug and turned the car
> over again and it put out about the same amount of fuel. then when
> reconnecting the line i tried starting the car and it fired up but
> shutoff real quick as if no gas. i'm hoping i just didn't run out of
> gas.


Your symptoms sound exactly like the Main Relay. If you don't get that
THIRD CLICK from the Relay, the system will run off residual pressure in
the line on startup, then stall.

You need to view and read this:
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/start...html#mainrelay



>the gauge reads about 1/4 tank and the gauge was working fine.
> when it died on the expressway now that i think about it it was as if
> it just ran out of gas when it shutoff on the expressway it lost power
> then the dash lights came on in a short while wehile i coasred to the
> side of the highway but then when trying to get it started again and
> having it backfiring i was thinking the timiing got messed up and so
> did the tow truck driver but he just took a quick guess. thanks for
> your help tegger.



Have you checked for spark? Do you have a helper available? One would be
very beneficial.

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/