fortymcpants

I have a 93 civic with a b18c. Last night when i went to start the car, it had a real rough start and died after a few seconds. after a few times it wouldnt start at all. now it still wont start and i have no fuel pressure or spark. the tach wont even move when i crank the motor. I began checking fuses and none are bad. I must have went through every fuse 7 times. I checked the main relay and it was fine, but i replaced it with another anyway. I even replaced the ecu. Everything else on the car works fine, gauges headlights, radio all of it. but the fuel pump and ignition dont work.

The only thing i can think of is that there may be a bad ground, but it would have to be a ground for only fuel and spark. I have checked the grounds on the engine and transmission,water neck and on the drivers side floor.

any help with this would be appreciated because i am lost.
thanks

tonylor89

did u replace ur main relay with a new or used one....u should check the grounds...there is three main grounds for our hondas....starter...ground to the battery....and the tranny.....umm....how was it when u drove before u drove it last.... it might be ur ignition coil for some sort

fortymcpants

thanks for the reply,

the new main relay is used but definitely good.

I didnt realize there was a ground on the starter, ill check that out.

It ran great, this was after a very spirited drive with an STI

I dont think its the coil because the the fuel pump also does not work

keep em coming
thanks

Mikej425

could your fuel pump be bad? if you can get power to it then turn your key one click and if you hear it priming it's something else but if it doesn't even begin to prime then it could be bad.

i could be wrong tho

fortymcpants

Ill try that too.
thanks

1992Si

Take the ground off the water neck and attach it to the head. Directly to a empty bolt hole, don't attach it to anything that may have a gasket to insulate it.

Worked for me once after the mechanic spent hours trouble shooting.

fortymcpants

sounds good. thanks

So I take it this does sound like a ground problem to everyone?

fortymcpants

1992si called it, it was the ground on the water neck. i cleaned it up with some steel wool and a wire brush, and the fuel pump ran, but still no spark. I did it again and it started.

thanks to everyone who replyed

1992Si

Great where can I send the bill to.

delhondasol6

where is the water neck? is that a different name for the thermostat housing?

1992Si

Yes, it where Honda attaches the ECU ground.

Former User

1992Si: Nice call on the no-start being caused by a bad ground wire on the thermostat housing.