EphoraL

Start at second paragraph to see how the problem started
Start at third paragraph to see the actual problem.

I bought the car on craigslist and thought it was a good deal, a old car like that and it only had 160k miles with 2 owners and really good exterior/interior, and only 650$. The only thing wrong with the car at the time was that you needed to keep your foot on the gas when it was cold or it would stall which to me didn't seem like a big problem.

That was about a month and a half ago. Fast forward to 3 days ago and we have a whole new problem. I was doing about 80 on the highway, then I was approaching an exit so I slowed down, when I hit 50 the Idle went up and down (Between 1000-3000) real fast and the car just started slowing down, (hitting the gas didn't do anything) and slowly it came to a stop. Ended up needing it towed cause jump starting it didn't work.

Now the problem is that the car doesn't start and I don't know whats the problem. I just installed a new starter and that didn't do anything so its not that. when trying to start the car it just makes a loud screeching type noise and that's it, won't start at all. I don't know much about cars, and no one seems to know about a car that old, so this website is my last hope before I decide to just junk it and buy a new car.

0go-part

^ does it sound anything like that?

NW Classic Honda

It could be your water temp sensor under the distributor or main fuel pump relay. Start there.

letank

Carburetor or fuel injection....

Otherwise, pull the cap of the distributor.... crank and see if the rotor is turning, to make sure that the timing belt did not destroy the engine.

next you need gas and electricity to start the engine.... The fact that you needed to keep revving the engine to keep it running when cold suspect one or the other.... not enough fuel or plugged fuel filter.... this is why we need to know if carb or injection. Or as simple as a none working choke plate if carburetor... I only do carburetors... You can pull the air filter off and see if you get a jet of gas down the carburetor barrel when you depress the gas pedal.... ea press gives you a spray of gas.

As for spark gently pulled one of the spark plug cover put a spare spark plug in it and lay it on a good engine part such as the block or the exhaust manifold look at the electrode and while the engine is being cranked hope for a spark....

EphoraL

The car is carburated. We found out the timing belt got stripped so we replaced it thinking obviously that was the problem, put it on... Car still doesnt start and it makes the same noise.

We measured all the valves and stuff to see if any were bent but everything was perfect. When trying to turnover there's just a screeching kinda sound. No loud knocking or booming at all.

EphoraL

Not at all its not that bad of a screech