ParistsCP

I drove my car to work, and it drove fine. When I went out in the evening, it wouldn't start. It turns overs, but won't fire up.
So far I replaced the distributor cap and rotor, no help. I'm on my way out the door right now to get some new spark plugs. Anything else I might want to check out?
Fuel filter maybe?
I don't think it's the ignition control, I've had that go out in an EF Civic before and there were none of the same symptoms in this car.
In fact, there were no symptoms at all until it just wouldn't start.
any ideas?
-thanks!


Modified by ParistsCP at 9:16 AM 9/28/2008

utistudent

have you change the alternator??? it might be that

ParistsCP

A bad alternator would not keep the car from starting. As I said, the engine does turn over.

I just put in a new set of properly gapped NGK plus and still, it won't start.

I think I can hear the fuel pump running when I turn the key to ACC, but it's hard to say.
Any pointers?

esean93

ur air filter could be clogged,pull it out and try starting it.also gass it a little when u crank it.

ParistsCP

The air filter has less than 10k on it and still looks brand new.
Took it out anyways and gave it a shot, no luck.

I'm thinking of trying the fuel filter, but that doesn't seem to be something that would stop working so suddenly. I don't want to just throw money at it till it starts if I can avoid it.

Looking at past threads, people have had problems with the coil before.
As I mentioned, I have had ICU problems in another car, and it gave very distinct symptoms. Can a coil die all-of-a-sudden like this without any prior symptoms?

esean93

never had a coil problem before so wouldnt know but just borrow a dizzy from a working car and see if it works.

esean93

btw when u turn the key in on position u should be able to hear the fuel pump loud and clear.

ParistsCP

I hear a humming sound for maybe a second after I turn it to ON, coming from the general area of the gas tank. I assume that's the pump.

esean93

yeah ur fuel pump and relays fine.did ur car idle wierd before this?it could be ur iacv valve.

ParistsCP

No, it ran fine until after work, and then it just wouldn't start.

I took the coil and ICU down to AutoZone and they both tested OK, it would appear the ignition system is not at fault.

I'm thinking fuel filter. I've never heard of one plugging up just sitting there, but I'm not sure what else to check out. It seems like there would have been some warning signs getting progressively worse with a clogged filter...

Any thoughts??

esean93

did u put any kind of engine treatment fluids in ur engine?i put some in my old d engine any all the gunk got stuck in a bad place i guess and it would fire up after that.other than that ur car might be cursed lol.

DoWnfall

take it off and empty it then put it back on, my car recently did this but make sure to not crossthread the one that goes into the fuel filter or you have some work gettin a new line ahead of you :<

ParistsCP

no, nothing like that.

I think I'll give the fuel filter a shot...after that, I don;t know where to go with it.

javierasous

Do you get spark? If not, it might be the distributor. If you changed rotor, cap and ignition wires and still no spark, change the whole distributor. It happened to me once, I even changed the distributor's coil and ignition module, all to no avail, but when I replaced the entire thing, it worked fine.

.:::I'm Fantastic:::.

It's you ignitor.

Had the same problem before, just replaced mine with a spare integra one and it worked.

ParistsCP

The ignitor tested OK. Plus, I never had any of the usual symptoms of it going out (crazy tach, bogging down around 2k) I've gone through that before in another car. I think it's OK.

I think I'll try the distributor.