redsidriver

i have a 99 civic si and just got back from vacation now the car wont start . i switched out a bunch of stuff to try and make it work but no luck i am completely stumped . here's a list of thing i did to try and figure it out .

changed starter
checked the fuses all in good working order
changed distributter
changed spark plugs
changed fuel filter
switched the ecu

so i checked all these things the car cranks over has spark and has fuel but wont start . checked spark plug wires to make sure they are in the correct firing order .I know i have fuel because i have fuel pressure gauge and it reads around 40 also the spark plugs were covered in gas when i checked em .I was able to switch all these parts from another running civic si i have . Whatever suggestions you guys can give me i would greatly appreciate it

canadaek

check the timing belt if you have fuel and spark you need compression . are the injectors actually squirting fuel ?

redsidriver

yes timing belt just popped in my head as well although its only been about 2 1/2 years since i had it changed . and yes injectors are squirting fuel . I just hope i didnt cause any damage trying to crank the car over so many times i guess we will see.

ADuffett

I didn't see a battery was checked/changed.

How old is your battery? Try filling it up with distilled water, clean the posts and trickle charge it. The cranking Amps need to be there. I had the same problem. No start, even with a car being jumped with another car. But a new battery in, and BAM she started. I prolly had a bad cell in my battery.

redsidriver

the battery is maybe 3 months old its and oem acura battery and it has plenty if power . i tried maybe a dozen times maybe more to start the car and it cranks really good every single time .i even charged it a little bit with a battery charger and it still put out the same power.when i changed the battery i also replaced the positive battery cable with oem honda because it had corrosion . terminals are super clean and no corrosion is present at all .

i will get time to check the timing belt tomorrow late afternoon and maybe ill have my answer

one more thing i forgot to mention when i checked the oil it was really low . didnt even register on the dip stick . the engine has been burning oil since i got it . but i lost track of when the last time i did the oil change . usually pretty good at that . I did add more oil but who know if that was part of the issue . right now im just hoping for the best because i really don't have money to rebuild an engine or buy another car .

redsidriver

well just checked the timing belt and it looks to be in tact from what i could see no missing teeth and it had tension.

brandenmet

maybe a kill switch if it has one you might not know about?

canadaek

it's got to be compression or timing then if you have spark and fuel . try a compression test roll the engine over by hand with the valve cover off make sure everything is moving

jdmcertified909

Since you were burning oil im guessing your piston rings went. Do a compression test

94civiccupew/b7

coil maybe? spark too weak possibly

redsidriver

yeah i need to get a compression tester to check that out . the coil should be good i had that replaced a few years ago already and like i had said i replaced the whole distributor off a running car .

redsidriver

tomorrow ima check the fuel injector relay luckily i have en extra this is basically my last guess . i ordered a compression tester just waiting for that come in soon. anybody else have any ideas

redsidriver

alright finally got it to start . im guessing it was because it was low on oil that it just didnt have enough lubricant for the pistons to move up and down smoothly . also it now blows black smoke out the back not a lot but obviouslly didnt do that before so im guessing rings are really fried and possible scratches to the cylinder walls . i do still plan to do the compression test and that will hopefully give me more evidence that i need a new block

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

I think the black smoke should be proof enough.

canadaek

black smoke usually means it's running very rich . rings would blow blue smoke . i did see an old eg civic that was so flooded that it washed the rings out and had no compression till we put oil in the cylinders . you should check your oil see if it smell's like fuel

2007Alvinr

I agree

I think the black smoke should be proof enough

redsidriver

i following the instructions here are the numbers for my engine ith 4 cranks on each cylinder and i triple checked them and numbers came out consistent .
#1. 170
#2.160
#3.150
#4.175

what are your opinions on how healthy the motor is . It already burns oil that i know i guess i can drip some oil in the cylinders and redo the compression test see if the numbers rise .

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Doesn't look too healthy to me. A leakdown test might tell you more.

canadaek

ya do a wet test but it's not good

Nateborko

its burning oil really bad if its blowing out black smoke, buy some engine treatment and a local autozone and change your oil. my em1 burned horribly when i bought it and its running fine now. ive used bars 2 in 1 engine treatment and seafoam. id try one of the two.

Rvkeg6

Timing belt jumped out of place or main relay maybe

Rvkeg6

My bad didnt read the last post

williamZ

People!
Black smoke is FUEL
Blue smoke is OIL

Next time it wont start hold the accelerator pedal to the floor when cranking. It shuts off the injectors and will usually start if it was/is flooded.

Gmez469

IM WITH WILLAIM Z ON THIS ONE , POSSIBLY FOULED OUT THE SPARK PLUGS FROM TOO MUCH FUEL GOING INTO CYLINDERS , CHANGE OUT SPARK PLUGS ONCE MORE AND PERFORM AN SEA FOAM INJECTOR FLUSH TO CLEAN OUT ANY CARBON DEPOSITS