Hello,
My wifes civic some time just will not start...
This all started after I replaced the timing belt.
A freind told me it might be the timing.. The other day
it did this and he removed the second plug wire and turn the engine over.
Then Replaced the plug wire and the car started right up....
When it is trunning it runs fine..
DOES THIS SOUND RIGHT??

I looked in the book for the correct proceder to set the timing
But was unable to located the wire they say to disconnect that is suposed to be next to the ECU.. (its not there)
Whst do you think??
Thanks Ron

 

What year is the civic?

 

Oh sorry,,
It is a 1994 Civic

 

What happens when you try to start it?

 

The book should tell you to jump a connector not remove a wire...

It's not entirely important though... It's just so that the idle stays EXACTLY the same... which it normally will do after warmed up anyway...

I don't know of a single service shop who jumps the service connector when doing the timing...

Hell I set it without a timing light... so the wire is not that important.

Just loosen the distributer bolts (JUST LOOSEN DO NOT REMOVE) and turn it towards the firewall to advance the timing or towards the radiator to retard it.

If it runs fine though chances are it's not the ign. timing...

You may have set the Cam timing wrong... which would be a totally different procedure for adjusting it.

What engine do you have and what marks on the cam gear did you use to set it.

My car was brought to the dealer when I first bought it to do a timing belt and when I did it again almost 2 years later I found out the cam was off by a tooth... IE the dealer set it wrong...

I had loss of power and sometimes hard starting but never wouldn't start... although I keep everything pretty new in it so that could account for that... I changed the plug wires/plugs cap/rotor like 4 times in between timing belts... So that could've kept it running moderatly well where as if that stuff was old it probobly would've had much worse problems.

 

The engine turns over ,,,, But does not even try to start..
No spitting, poping- nothing.

When this guy pulled the plug wire..
What made it start when he replaced the wire???
Lucky??? Or did it trigger somthing in the ECU??

Once the car is running it runs great..
and will strart up the rest of the day,,,
This problem only happens about once a week...

 

The car runs strong..
I put the belt on and know for sure the cam is lined up correct..
I set the timing myself by just getting the dist. where the car runs the smoothest.
Timing light shows the TDC about 3/4 from the timing mark.
there are no degrees on there to know where it is exactly..

To me it does not sound like a timing problem.
But I am confused as to what it might be and why it only happens when the car is cold and so intermittent....

 

when's the last time you changed the plugs and wires?

could be something simple...

Pulling and replacing the wire won't do anything to the ECU.

My car ran pretty strong too... I was expecting much from a 1.6... but when I changed the timing back to where it was supposed to be it was MUCH stronger...

What engine is this?

 

It has been awhile since I last changed the plugs and wires...
But seams like if they were bad it would miss a little....
IT has good power when running,, It will just about turn the tires on concrete.

I guess the guy just got lucky when the car started for him after pulling the second wire.
My wife thinks he really knows what he is doing now...

When it dosent crank, The car acts like it isnt getting fire (I havent checked yet).
And then when it does it turns right over.... Just hit the key

 

What engine do you have?

What manual are you using?

 

hey check your main relay...


sounds like you have a similar problem to what i had...

my symptoms... car would start fine sometimes and other times it would take forever to start because the fuel pumping wasn't engaging.. the relay was going bad.

this is common in eg's

 

If it's been awhile since plugs or wires I would replace those.

Start with the plugs .....I suggest a set of NGK V-Power....they are cheap and are excellent plugs

 

I will check the relay... Maybe it has bad contacts or somthing..
That is about what it acts like..

Problem is I have to wait untill it screws up before I can check it out..
Most of the time it is in the morning and I dont feel like working on it..

I will let yall know when I find out ... Thanks for all of your help!!!!!!!!!

If ya think of any thing else I would like to here from you!!
Thanks Ron

 

Main relay

Actually what ya need to do is listen for the fuel pump to come on whever you turn the key on, if you dont hear it and the car wont start then it is probably your main relay, but could rarely be a fuel pump problem.

The main relay is usually near the drivers side kick panel, its function is to turn on the main power and kick the fuel pump on when the key is turned on.

The problem with Honda main relays is that the solder joints go bad, this creates an intermittent no start problem, which usually gets worse in hot weather, heat causes the joints to expand.
Most of the time you can resolder the joints and save yourself a few bucks.


Modified by Hurricane at 6:56 PM 5/13/2005


Modified by Hurricane at 6:57 PM 5/13/2005


Modified by Hurricane at 6:57 PM 5/13/2005

 

OK I will be sure to check that out..
I am an electronic tech so that is right up my alley..

 

May be a bad ignitor starting to go. Check for spark when the car doesn't start. If no spark, you know you have an igntion problem.

 

I will watch out for that also...
We are on the third model since we have had the car. (6years)
Its been about a year since we replaced it so it might be time for another module.
Thanks