crazed44

Looks like my thread got locked because I didn't follow the guidelines, so I'm going to repost it here, as annoying as that is.

I'm having a very, very bad day, so forgive my shortness. I'll chill.

I've been having a bad day, and I was just finishing it up and this happens.

A little background, I have a 1994 Civic DX, engine is completely 100% stock. About an hour ago I ran some errands for my mom. Everything was fine, car sounded great just as always. I came home, parked, and realized I forgot something. Got back in my car to head out again, made it about thirty feet and my car just DIED. The engine completely cut off, at first I thought I stalled it, so naturally I tried starting it again, it just turns over and over but nothing. No check engine lights, I checked the distributor, wires, and all the fuses and all seem to check out fine. It's nighttime so I can't really get into it and look at everything right now, but any ideas on what it might be?

I'm going to let the engine completely go cold and try starting it again. I had an integra that did the same thing, and it would run fine until it reached operating temp and then die exactly how this civic did. In that case, it's the distributor. A quick internet search has pointed me that way to. But are there any suggestions you guys might have that have had something similar happen?

HondaPartsHero

Timing belt?
Distributor (ignitor, coil, etc)?

Former User

Check whether the fuel pump primes and whether there is spark at the plugs.

crazed44

I can hear the fuel pump priming when I turn the key. So I guess that's all good. I'll have to work on checking the spark tomorrow afternoon, that would be the next step. It's just cold and dark out, so I should just wait. Any other tips/things/writeups/suggestions I should look at when I decide to get at it and give it the whole run through tomorrow?

Former User

Click the spark link in my signature. If you have bright white spark, then check the mechanical timing.



If there's no spark, then check whether the timing belt snapped and test the coil and igniter unit inside the distributor.

crazed44

I don't have a timing belt cover, so I can see my timing belt looks to be fine. Nice and tight like always, it's not that old, probably has about 5k miles since that was changed.

Former User

^This indicates that the timing belt did not snap but it could have skipped a tooth or two.

But start by checking spark as I mentioned in my earlier post.

crazed44

Will do, thank you for the info. I'll update tomorrow. Just so I can take a step from there without having to check my computer every five seconds, if I get a spark, what should I do? And if I don't, is it my distributor?

Former User

As mentioned earlier:

Bright white spark = check mechanical timing

No spark = test coil and have auto parts store test the igniter unit

crazed44

Thank you for the fast response. Will update.

Now to find a ride to work..

aavery

efi relay?

fuel pump will still work but injectors wont work, relay can go out of the blue, or can be intermitten, when engine is hot

crazed44

No spark on all four cylinders. Taking the distributor to be tested.

TheRappist

Did you replace your cap and rotor? This is what it usually is when this happens.