Hey guys, hope this is the right spot to post a question like this, but I am in some major need of some help....

My daily driver is a 91 Honda Civic Hatch. Yesterday, I got of my car to run into a gas station. When I got back out, I tried to start the car, and it wouldn't start. I have had wierd problems with my battery before, so I tried hooking up the jumper cables and that did nothing. I wound up having to push it and dump the clutch in 2nd to get it started.

The engine is running fine, and there is plenty of power to the battery (most everything electrical seems to be working fine), but it just won't start or turn over at all.

When I turn the key, it is doing pretty much the same thing it would do if I didn't have the clutch pushed in, and I am thinking it may have something to do with that.

What should I look at possibly replacing or trying to fix right off the bat? This is fairly urgent, cause I will have about 12 hours to get it fixed when I get off work today, before I need my car.

Also, if anyone knows where I can find a wiring diagram/schematic for the dimmer switch also, that would be nice. There is some security feature that was built in where you have to flick the brights before it will crank also, and while I don't think that is the problem this time, it has acted up in the past, so I would like to be able to look at that while I am at work, before I go buy a haynes or chiltons manual today.

Thanks for your help!

Edit to add: it is the DX model

 

One thing that comes to mind is the clutch interlock switch, which you also mentioned. It's operated by a little plastic stopper mounted up at the top of the clutch pedal arm (ABOVE the clutch pedal arm's pivot point - WAAAAYYY up there so it's really hard to see or get to. )

Anyway, look around on your driver's-side floorboard for some little crumbled bits of blue plastic (or they could be white; the new part Honda sells as a replacement is white). If you find those, you know where to start looking...

I just had this happen with my '91 DX about 4 months ago, and it did pretty much what you said. Until I could get it home, I just used a jumper wire to "hotwire" the car!

Mike

 

I think kwicko is on the right track, if that wouldn't be it then maybe your ignition switch or bad starter wire.

 

also check out your main relay

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CLICC916 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">also check out your main relay</TD></TR></TABLE>

i bet you didnt read all the way down.

next time ur car wont start try tapping the starter with a hammer it sounds like its bad.

 

Fix the known problem first. I don't see how the dimmer switch is connected to the brights. Just find the relays they used for the starter kill. Should be about four of them for that. Then it will be obvious how to put it back to stock.

 

Thanks for all the responses so far.....as soon as I get home, I will take a look at all those things, but by all means, keep the responses coming!

Also, one last question...would you recommend a haynes manual or chiltons?

 

Helm over Haynes, Haynes over Chilton's. The Helm manual is a page-for-page copy of the original Honda Factory Service Manual. Pricey at about $56 new, but well worth every penny. They turn up on eBay pretty regularly, usually for under $40.

Mike