S2000 Engine stalls

[playboymonk]

I just got my s2000 3 weeks ago. Bought a 2006 with 10 miles on it. I live in Ct, and purchased the car in MA. After picking up the s2000 I had to make several other trips up there to pick up the honda fit as well (my dad's car). When i drove up there to pick up the fit with my brother, the salesman thanked us for driving up there and for being so patient with paperwork etc. So he offered to fill up my tank. The guy took the car and filled up the tank with 87 octane gas. When this happened I've been driving the car for over a week, and have had filled up the gas tank twice. He filled about 5 gallons. Thinking that the guy wasn't that stupid to pour 87 octane into the tank, I gave him my car...I mean with gas being so expensive who would turn down free gas. After he gave me back my car i ask if he poured 93 and he said he poured 87. Well, I drove the car back to CT and the next morning I was going to NYC. Before doing so, I filled up my gas tank, and filled it up with 93 gas. When i got to my friend's house and was waiting outside, the car stalled and died. I started it back up, and it took an extra 2 to 3 seconds to start up. I rev'ed the engine to check it out, and it seemed like it was choking on the gas, so I took it on the highway and drove it for about 10 miles and got back to my friends house. Driving to NYC I thought the throttle response was not as responsive as normal. But driving back to CT that night everything seemed ok. I just figured that with the 87 and 93 octane mix, the ECU probably got confused and choked. Last week, I drove the car until the empty gas icon came on and I poured 93 into the tank. Well, this past Saturday i drove the car to NYC again. before I got home, I filled up the gas tank with 93 gas. Sunday morning as i drove down the hill from where i live (yesterday morning) the engine stalled an died again. Can someone shed some light on why this is happening? Is the ECU really that smart and sensative? Should I unhook the batter and reset the ECU? I ask a guy at work with a s2000 and he said you probably just got bad gas on the second time the engine stalled out. It has been really cold the past 2 weeks in CT this might be a contribution, but I had an rsx type s before and a STI and nothing like this has ever happened. Can someone help me out? This is really annoying sine I just bought this S2000 and other than this problem the car is sweet.

[spa01s2k]

I'm thinking the octane rating has nothing to due with your problem, the car should be able to adjust itself and not stall with a lower octane gas. However, it does sound like you are having fuel system problems. My dad had a 2003 Ford Lightning that only had 6000 miles when something similar to your situation happened. The truck was not idling correctly and tried to stall several times. Took it to my work scanned the computer, everything seemed ok, but still ran horribly. Filled up the tank the next week and the truck ran considerably better, but still not right. I replaced the fuel filter which was packed with a ton of sediment (unusual for 6000 miles), and it took care of the rest of the problem. Maybe your dealer used some bad gas from a local station?? The filter is in tank on the S2000 and isn't easy to change, maybe just run a few more tanks of 93 and see if the problem goes away.

BTW- sorry for my random story, just tyring to give some insight into your problem.

[Java Junky]

Well, lessee now . . so far you've taken it through a car wash which mother (Honda) specifically said to avoid, n' you've managed to put less than 91 octane in the tank . . which mother also said to avoid.
Play, 'd'j'ever hear the ol' sayin' "Ain't mama happy, ain't nobody happy"?
We all godda doo whut we godda doo ta keep mama happy Play.
All bustin' aside though, a half tank r' so of 87 shouldn't keep comin' back to haunt you.
It's not runnin' badly r' anythin' so it doesn't appear that any damage is bein' done by your continuin' to drive it (n' "revvin' the engine" does not constitute "checkin' it out")
N' you are still drivin' it in "break-in" mode, right? You're aware'a how seriously mama takes break-in, right?
Provided that it's performance doesn't deteriorate n' barrin' any unusual sounds comin' from the engine, I'd jus' pay attention n' keep drivin' it.
If it clears up, you're aces. If it continues r' gets worse, put your tail between your legs n' go fess up to mama.
Be well.
Java
Oh . . n' spa . . don't go apologizin' for a related story. With all the stories I'm pumpin' out, do you realize the spot you put me in?

[playboymonk]

Honestly, does anyone here with an s2k, really go through and read the owner's manual? I sure don't. Anyways, I've always use 93gas, on my rsx-s and my sti, it just this stupid salesman being the dumb arse that he is slipped in 87. I do not go rev crazy on the enigine. For the first thousand miles I was keeping all my revs under 4k, it's just recently that I've been reving it up to 5k. I figure I won't go rev crazy until after my first oil change. I was only reving it after it died, to see how consistent the throttle response was, it wasn't consistent, that's y I took it on the highway, thinking it would clear up the gas...kinda like a hicup. I hope all is well with my s2k, she's pretty damn sweat.

[S2000dude]

I had a similar problem of the engine not running right but it was after about a year of driving my new (then) '05.

I took it to dealership but they were unable to figure it out. So I tossed in some Techron fuel system cleaner. It took at least 3 or 4 tankfulls of gas for the problem to clear up. I'm quite confident that I got a bad tank of gas. Oddly enough, my neighbor had the same problem with the same station near our house. More than a coincidence.

So . . . why not try a diff brand of gas? I'm currently using Shell V-power (93oct) and have found the car runs best with the Shell brand. I mean it's really that noticeable.

Good luck with your new ride Mr Monk !

[playboymonk]

It's been bitterly cold the past 2 weeks in CT. Before then it was unseasonalbly warm. Do you guys think this being the case, there could have been moisture in the gas tank at the gas station to cause it? I'm talking about my second encounter with the engine stalling, not the first? Then again, i tell myself, hell, the F22c is far superior to my K20 in my RSX-s. This shouldn't happen to the pride on honda...

[spa01s2k]

You MIGHT have gotten into some moisture in the gas tank. I doubt thats the case though. You or your dealer probably got into some bad gas. Just go through a few more tanks and see what happens.

[S2000dude]

I would try a bottle of Techron. Can't hurt. That and a few tanks of gas should make you a happy motorist !

I would also go with a diff brand for a month or so.

Good luck!

[rooneyjn]

Yeah I'm kinda having the same problem. Mine only stalls in the morning when I start it to warm it up. I figure mine is just the weather just cause the cold weather, because it runs fine after i restart it. I did have an idiot saleman fill it up with 87 about a month ago when i first got it... I don't think that is the problem though

[S2000dude]

rooneyjn - I think you're right, 87 octane shouldn't casue difficulties in starting. When I picked up my new '05 from the dealer I had a 90 minute drive home. Car ran fine on the Jersey Turnpike and some local roads.

Out of curiousity one day when I was talking to my sales rep I asked what octane they put in the S. She said 87. That surprised me but it proves that you can run a tank of regular without doing damage to the engine.

I have noticed however, that changing to a diff brand of gas can make a difference. My car doesn't like Gulf or Citgo but it loves Shell.

[Java Junky]

Play, ya might have somethin' with the water-in-the-fuel thought. You're sayin' that you've had a roller-coaster temperature ride. If you've had even a partially full tank of fuel durin' that time, all the available air space is gainin' condensate on the sides of the tank not covered by fuel.
Try a container of DryGas r' somethin' similar. N' don't allow the tank to sit with less than a half tank'a fuel.
They don't fill the tanks on aircraft when they land because they got no place else ta put the fuel. Probably has somethin' to do with the ungoodness of stallin' while you're wheelzupp. Y'think?
It's certainly easy enough to find out if that's the problem, ain't it?:
Be well.
Java

[playboymonk]

so I guess conclusion is, jus drive couple more tanks with 93 and obsvere engine habits. plus driving with 5 gallons of 87 mix with 93 cannot be damaging.

[MattG]

As Spa01s2k says ...I would suggest a full service - eg replace all filters, oil etc. It is possible a faulty or bad fuel filter is causing the problem.

Or else...
Try taking note of where/when etc this occurs. Eg The only time it doe sit is when it is early morning when car is cold, driving around a right hand corner with part throttle.

[Vezna31]

I was thinking moisture in the tank as well. Could have been bad gas too. Pouring 87 will not damage the car. The ECU will retard the timing to adjust to the fuel. By you mixing the 87 with 93, you just averaged it out to 90.

Also, the fuel filter is non-serviceable. I asked about this about 2 years ago when I was having some maintenance done on the car.