HELP!! Engine stalls when clutch depressed

My car is 98 Accord, 5-spd, 120K miles, 30mile/gallon
Sometimes when I slow down (approaching a stop sign, exiting highway or
making a turn) and depress the clutch, the idle speed drops quickly and
engine stalls. It happens very quietly that I can not notice it until I
feel my steering wheel locked and see all lights come on. This issue
used to happen once a year, then once a month, now once a day. It's
really scary and dangerous!

I wonder what problem this might be, and why it happens just
occasionally?

Thanks!

 

The '98 Accord was subject to a recall of the ignition switch. Failure
of the ignition switch can cause the engine to stall. Has you car had
the ignition switch replaced?

 

It seems the recall doesn't include Manual transmision cars.

 

I wonder if the clutch itself isn't releasing completely. It may be
slipping and resulting heat distorting the disc enough so that it
doesn't release.

 

If the steering wheel is locking when the engine stalls, it would seem
that the ignition switch is the first place you should be looking
anyway.

nate

 

I guess engine stalling always cause steering wheel locking. It's by
design, right?

 

I put shift into neutral at the same time. Also, I can feel it's
releasing completely.

 

Is your steering wheel actually locking or just turned into 'armstrong'
due to lack of power assist?

If it is really locking, you for sure have a dead ignition switch
although I sure can't see it 'fixing' itself enough to let you start it
up again.

Otherwise if you have an EGR valve you are giving the classic
description of a carboned up one. They get sticky and slow to close so
cause stalls after deceleration.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

 

Oh, also there is 1,000,000 1998 Honda Accords out there with bad
ignition switches that cause engine stalls. Maybe yours is one of
those?

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/results.cfm

Mike

 

OK...that's good information.

The sensation of the steering wheel being locked should be from the
power steering pump being off because the motor is stalled. You should
be able to turn the wheel, if stiffly. The steering should only lock
completely if the key is turned to off. Is the key in the off position
by any chance?

If it only happens when you depress the clutch pedal, it could be
related to a switch on the clutch. Some manual shift transmission cars
require that the clutch be depressed for starting. If there is an
intermittent problem with that switch it could cause the engine to
stall.

 

No, that would be dangerous: Image stalling at high speed and not being
able to coast to the emergency lane because your steering wheel is
locked. When the engine stalls, you obviously lose power steering so it
will be harder to turn the wheel, but it shouldn't lock. Are you sure
it indeed locks or just becomes harder to steer?

If your car randomly locks the wheel, I'm with the other guys: look at
the ignition switch first as that is very dangerous.
Since it happens at the same time as stalling, it is most likely
related anway.

Remco

 

I think it's indeed locks.

 

No, the key is not in the off position.

Yes, my car requires the clutch be depressed for starting.

 

Mike, your link is invalid.

There're two recalls about Ignition switch: 03-088 and 02-031. But none
of them covers manual transmission cars.

I called my local dealer. They said it's hard to confirm if my problem
is really an ignition switch problem since the problem is intermitent
that they can not duplicate.

Then I called Honda USA querying the possibilty of the recall issues
being a risk to manual cars too. The guy asked me to bring my car to a
dealership. I told him what the dealer just told me. The guy said he
can only discuss facts but not spectaclations, then he hanged up the
phone.

 

Sorry about that I forgot you have to drill down to the results
yourself. Use this link and drill down to the recall:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls//Index.cfm

Here is a copy of it, it says nothing about automatic or standard
tranny, the automatic has it's own recall for not staying in park.

The dealer you talked to was a Jerk who really doesn't want to do the
recall because he doesn't think he gets paid enough for the work.

I would use the phone numbers provided below by NHTSA.

------------------------------------------------------------

Make : HONDA
Model : ACCORD
Year : 1998
Manufacturer : AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 02V120000
Recall Date : MAY 13, 2002
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 1000000
Summary:
ON CERTAIN SEDANS, COUPES, HATCHBACKS, AND SPORT UTILITY
VEHICLES, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN DEGRADE
DUE TO THE HIGH ELECTRICAL CURRENT PASSING THROUGH THE SWITCH
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED.
Consequence:
WORN CONTACTS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WITHOUT
WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION
BEGAN JUNE 14, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN
AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT
RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT
HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009 OR ACURA AT 1-800-382-2238.
Notes:
CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC
SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT
(1-888-327-4236).

 

Thanks, Mike!

Yes, I called that number already. The guy who hanged up the phone was
from USA Honda.

The dealer entered my VIN# in their system and didn't see the recall
for my car. I logged in Honda owner's link and don't see the recall
there either.