I just changed the Fuel filter on my 98 civic with the d series engine, the 1.6 non vtec, I disconnected the fuel pump connection as indicated in the book, and went to start the car to bleed off pressure, the car wouldn't start at all, reconnected the pump, and started the car, the second the pump was disconnected the engine died, I know this system is supposed to hold residual pressure, and even when taking off the fuel pressure fittings,it had zero. Would the first place I should look be the fuel pressure regulator? I'm assuming it's bypassing all pressure back to the tank, car runs and drives,but is down on power. I don't have access to a test kit that would work, the one I can get needs to screw into the top of the banjo bolt, and mine has a one piece bolt,not the two piece with the service bolt.

 

The engine will die instantly when the pump stops. There is nothing compressible in the lines that would store a reserve of fuel.

Generally when you starve for fuel it will be OK driving gently but will misfire badly at high speed / high throttle. If it runs smooth without misfiring you should look elsewhere for the loss of power.

 

maybe a bad main fuel relay??? pull off and check the solder points on it

 

I never bother to relieve the pressure on the fuel lines when I replace the fuel filter on the Civic. With the missing service bolt, is there a welded bolt on the bottom of the filter? You can use that bolt or use something to hold the whole assembly similar to channel locks to remove the banjo bolt.

 

what i was talking about on this car, some of them had another service bolt that screwed into the top of the banjo bolt, this allowed a test gauge to screw in for checking pressure, If i could find another banjo bolt, i would put it in the lathe and drill and tap for a pipe thread plug on top, this would let me hook up a standard pressure gauge that would let me check fuel pressure. couple of AN adapters out of my junk and a piece of some of my -4 line and I could make up a decent gauge set for this car. Everything I had said I had to relieve fuel pressure before working on the car. I'm used to working on vintage Honda's with carbs not fuel injection.

 

Well, my Civic is a 97 and I don't bother relieving the pressure before replacing the fuel filter. Now I understand what you are talking about the banjo nut. B&M has a kit that includes the hardware that allows you to do this. Click on the link. http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=c...hihtnZOqNyoyqg

With the loss of power, what have you done so far?

 

I can't believe B&M actually said to use teflon tape on a high pressure fuel fitting!! There's a reason they don't allow that crap to be used on aircraft fittings, I wouldn'r put teflon tape on anything, if you seal something get one of those small white tubes of permatex High temp thread sealer, it comes in a tiny white tube for about five bucks, a little tube will do a lot of threads, thats the stuff we use on airplanes.