BlitzSix

Hey guys, this is a stock 00 Civic DX (D16Y7). The car has lately (past few months) been acting badly in rain... like on a cold start if it's rainy / moist outside, it would start but run horribly and misfire until warmed up.

Now it didn't start, on a rainy day, and I thought it was the distributor because it does those things and I've had problems with it before, so I replaced it but it still didn't start. The CEL was on and it was giving me code 0 (bad ecu / bad ecu ground), so I replaced the ECU as well and now there is no CEL but the car still doesn't start.

It cranks fine, and if I push the gas all the way down while cranking it feels like it almost is about to start (the engine starts to shake just slightly as if it's about to fire up, but doesn't). I'm not sure if it has spark, that's my next step (it was dark and it's in a parking lot so I just tried these fixes). But it has gas and I can hear the fuel pump. I assume it has no spark, but I'll test it.

What else could it be? Would plugs / wires do that and cause it not to start? Anything I should look for when checking the spark plugs? Thanks a lot

Former User

Click the Check Spark link in my signature.

Did your install a brand new distributor, including new cap, rotor, coil, and ICM?

Have you checked whether the timing belt snapped or stripped?

BlitzSix

Hey thanks for your help.

I replaced the whole distributor with a used one that I bought off someone on a local board.

I got a chance to test for spark, but I wish I read the link in your sig first because I wasn't sure what to look for... I tested it and it does have spark! But I only tested it on one cylinder (further from the distributor), and I wasn't sure how it's supposed to look -- it may have been weak?

Since it has spark, does that mean the distributor is okay?

I didn't check the timing belt, but I'll do that -- although the car was just parked and then wouldn't turn on, it didn't turn off while driving or anything.

I've pulled and checked all the fuses under the steering wheel, they're all good. I'm slightly lost since I thought if anything electrical (main relay, etc) that would go would cause it not to spark. And I assumed it was electrical because it was having issues in rain.

Not really sure what to do next.. Thanks again!

Former User

Spark should be bright white not deep blue or weak orange. How did your spark look?

If spark is fine, check whether the timing belt skipped a tooth or two, throwing off the mechanical timing.

eddies_ls88

check spark. tune up. wires cap rotor. maybe new distrubutor

R.coustom

Check for fuel .spray start fluid on your air filter and started if start and dies a minute later is your fuel but it sounds like is your main

esahic

I had the same issue with my 97 ex an it was the distributor