Brando

ive been a member here for a long long time. but, have been away from the forums forever it seems...at least a few years. anyways. i own a 93 civic ex coupe 5spd.

since the weather has been getting damn cold, its been taking a little bit longer to start up lately...i can hear a few cranks then it will start. sometimes i get the common belt squeak all the sudden. a few days ago i filled car up with gas and it just wouldnt start. i had to mess with some ignition wire (will explain later)...to get it started again.

some guy at work was telling me, they change the alcohol content in the gas in the winter season...and that sometimes a lot of elements will clog the fuel filter, so that is a possibility. anyways, it was fine for a couple of days...4 or so.

the other night my brother borrowed my car, filled it with gas and as he was driving the car just died. we ended up getting it towed home. so we check the basics. my brother checked the plugs for spark, no spark, but fuel was there. a longshot after checking most basic things we got a new distributor to try out. the plugs still got no spark, and they were fouled bad...a lot of fuel on em. i put in some new ones and spark was back again. spark and fuel it should start at least...but, it just keeps trying to turn over..it doesnt start or sputter, just cranks.

this is sucking *** because i need a car for work, and my dad is taking me for now. about the ignitions wire thing i noted above. my alarm was ripped out a long time ago by some shotty mechanic, and they never put it back in right...a wire eventually ripped and i had to splice it back for the car to even start. at first i thought that this was the problem, but i put everything back and it looks fine...still doesnt start.

i checked all the fuses etc they are fine. im still thinking about the fuel filter, maybe something in there is clogged..and although its getting gas, maybe its not getting enough?

does anyone have any basic things i have overlooked?

thanks
brandon

Ricey McRicerton

I would say check on that fuel filter. How many miles are on that fuel filter?? And you werent joking when you said you had been a member forever (over 1200 days!!!)

Brando

yup, forever .

ya it may be the fuel filter somehow...it actually has been forever, honestly i think ive never changed it since ive owned this car lol. kinda embarassing really considereing my knowledge of cars and how i usually take care of them.

i will have to change it after work tomorrow, my nuts will freeze if i go outside and do it now.

anyone else?

tangb2023

if u got fuel in your engine.. why would u think it is the fuel filter..no spark,, and it still crank.. check the igniter..hondas have this problem,,get one at your local auto store.. and if it does not work.. return it.. keep us posted.

Brando

im thinking the fuel is residual, from before. it has a lot of symptoms of a clogged filter.

i changed the whole distributor assembly, its not that.

Ricey McRicerton

I would check to make sure that you are getting spark all the way to the plugs and then it can't be anything but the fuel system. Are you sure that your fuel pump is coming on?? I've heard that the main relays go bad in Civic's quite often.

Brando

ive pulled the plugs and got spark on each one. i will work on the fuel pump/system tomorrow...thinking about replacing the fuel filter tomorrow morning.

its too damn cold right now to do anything but think

Ricey McRicerton

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Brando &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ive pulled the plugs and got spark on each one. i will work on the fuel pump/system tomorrow...thinking about replacing the fuel filter tomorrow morning.

its too damn cold right now to do anything but think </TD></TR></TABLE>

That must suck...its like 65 degrees here right now. I think the high was like 82 or something like that.

Brando

yup, it was the timing belt...this will be fun

JDM-97CX

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Brando &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yup, it was the timing belt...this will be fun </TD></TR></TABLE>

yea have fun with that one man and good luck

Brando

found a cheap mechanic close by...dont have the tools here to do it by myself.

do you guys think any of the valves could be bent from the timing belt slipping and jumping the timing? or would the belt physically have to break off to do that.

the car seemed ok when it was starting to slip, it never made any sounds, and idle was fine. i dunno.

if the guy changes the belt, and ends up finding that one of the valves are bent, i might be out $300 bucks. guess i could just look for another used head on here or something.

any info is appreciated. thx