Honda Car Forum

All of a sudden today, several times the car stalled as I was driving.
Subsequently, the car couldn't start and appears after several attempt the
plugs got flooded. It seems that there is an issue with that which
regulates the rpm's as before the car stalled the rpm went to 0 suddenly. I
change plugs and gas filter today so after the car stalled once I could
drive it. The tank is full of gas. The starter is cranking fast The
battery helps the starter crank fast. What could it be?

"RG" <nobody@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:uRAmi.2434$ai5.1565@newsfe12.lga...
> All of a sudden today, several times the car stalled as I was driving.
> Subsequently, the car couldn't start and appears after several attempt the
> plugs got flooded. It seems that there is an issue with that which
> regulates the rpm's as before the car stalled the rpm went to 0 suddenly.
> I change plugs and gas filter today so after the car stalled once I could
> drive it. The tank is full of gas. The starter is cranking fast The
> battery helps the starter crank fast. What could it be?
>
The sudden drop in the tach while the engine was still turning is a vital
clue: the problem is ignition related rather than fuel. There are three top
suspects: ignition switch, ignitor and coil. Others here can tell you if
your 2000 RL was part of Honda's ignition switch recall. If the warning
lights (oil pressure, charging, high temp) don't come on when the engine
quits it looks real bad for the switch. The other two parts - ignitor and
coil - are harder to diagnose.

Mike

Thanks for your help. Could it be main relay or fuel pump relay?


"Michael Pardee" <michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote in message
news:BY-dnVK85bVf_QbbnZ2dnUVZ_j6dnZ2d@sedona.net...
> "RG" <nobody@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> news:uRAmi.2434$ai5.1565@newsfe12.lga...
>> All of a sudden today, several times the car stalled as I was driving.
>> Subsequently, the car couldn't start and appears after several attempt
>> the plugs got flooded. It seems that there is an issue with that which
>> regulates the rpm's as before the car stalled the rpm went to 0 suddenly.
>> I change plugs and gas filter today so after the car stalled once I could
>> drive it. The tank is full of gas. The starter is cranking fast The
>> battery helps the starter crank fast. What could it be?
>>
> The sudden drop in the tach while the engine was still turning is a vital
> clue: the problem is ignition related rather than fuel. There are three
> top suspects: ignition switch, ignitor and coil. Others here can tell you
> if your 2000 RL was part of Honda's ignition switch recall. If the warning
> lights (oil pressure, charging, high temp) don't come on when the engine
> quits it looks real bad for the switch. The other two parts - ignitor and
> coil - are harder to diagnose.
>
> Mike
>
>

"RG" <nobody@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:0gQmi.79$Rc.30@newsfe12.lga...
> Thanks for your help. Could it be main relay or fuel pump relay?
>

If you are correct about the tach suddenly dropping, it isn't the main
relay. If the fuel pressure dies the engine will run down over a period of
half a second or so while cruising down the road or over a couple seconds
while idling or coasting (the voice of experience!) In fact, just the time
it takes for the engine to stop spinning is a lot longer than it takes for
the tach to just drop, so when you see the tach drop like a stone you can be
certain the ignition is dying.

You don't mention whether it is an auto tranny or manual gearbox, so I'm
assuming it is auto. The difference is even more pronounced with a manual,
since the engine keeps turning until you depress the clutch. In that case,
the tach just follows the engine speed down if the ignition is working and
the fuel quits.

Mike