rol1in0n20s

Ok, so... Weird situation. Last time I drove my car, I got stranded in the Wal-Mart parking lot for like an hour cuz when I came back out it wouldn't start. After like an hour I had cranked the battery almost dead so I got someone to jump me and it finally worked. Drove it home, shut it off, and started it again just to check. Next time I tried to drive it, it wouldn't start. Pulled a plug and arced it off the head, no/weak spark. Replaced the cap, rotor, and plug wires, still nothing. Was going to replace the coil but couldn't get it off so I replaced the whole distributor. Still doesn't start. I'm out of ideas.

rol1in0n20s

Also, the battery is fine and I have cleaned up the terminals.

turboah

I know you said the battery's fine but I still bet it's the battery - esp. because you're able to jump start it.

Does a bump start work?

jbpnoman

How do you know the battery is fine? Go buy one from Walmart, slap it in in the parking lot. If it doesn't fix the problem, return it. 30 minutes to either solve the problem, or knock a possibility off the list.

rol1in0n20s

I know the battery's fine because it still takes a charge when it's jumped and it still cranks the starter even without being jumped. Ever since the last time I drove it I've been trying to start it both with and without jumping it off my roommate's car. It cranks but won't fire. It's not getting spark, but it's not because of the battery.

jbpnoman

When you jump a car, the other battery is starting your car, not your own.

Replace the battery. Get back to us when you do.

rol1in0n20s

I realize that, but even with the 90A alternator on my roommate's 3.0L V6, my poor little 1.6L isn't getting spark. Anybody else have any suggestions?

96electronH

did you pull the plug out put it back in the wire and hold it to a ground to check spark?

rol1in0n20s

Yes, on more than one cylinder.

hidesertrat

Could be the ICM. Ignition Control Module. No spark or weak spark condition....

rol1in0n20s

That's what I was thinking at first, but turns out the ICM is inside the alternator, so automatically got a new one when I replaced that.

jbpnoman

Wait, you said it was starting when you jumped it, now you're saying that your roomate's car isn't giving it spark either. Is it starting with a jump, or not?

rol1in0n20s

The last time I drove it, it didn't start for like an hour and then I had to jump it because I cranked the battery almost dead. Ever since then, it will crank under its own power, because there's nothing wrong with the battery, but even with extra juice from a running car it won't fire.

thelaoskid

did you check if theres any fuel or if the main relay could of gone out ?

rol1in0n20s

Half a tank of gas, fuel is getting to the cylinders, checked all fuses. I have never heard of a main relay.

Hondasarekewl

maybe its your battery terminal, has happened to me

rol1in0n20s

Any other thoughts?

Who reckons what the odds are that this guy's resolution is the problem I'm having?

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/no-start-weak-spark-2982457/

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Read this. Do what it tells you to.
No Start Diagnosis Basics

rol1in0n20s

Ok, update:

Haven't done any work to the car since the last post. Just got it to start. It has been ALMOST starting ever since then, but not quite. Well just now it was the closest it had been since the last time I drove it, it was firing and sputtering for a couple seconds then dying out. Kept cranking it while playing with the pedal, eventually got it to rev and it evened out. Let it idle for a little bit, after a few minutes it was doing this thing where it would almost die out and then catch itself and keep running. Got more frequent until it was happening at about 2 second intervals. Shut it off, started it again, seemed to go away. I'm gonna let it cool off and go try to start it again in a little while and see what happens.