well at least mine isn't. I'm not going to bore you with the details but here is my latest problem...

1989 Honda Civic dx 1.5 sohc dual port auto

Car sits in scorching heat all day long at work. Starts perfect and I drove it home (14 minutes@3:30 ) . Sits until 6:30am the next day and wont start. Turns over but wont start. I get to work on it and it turns over runs for like a second dies then all I hear is clicking. So I do some research and diagnose a main relay problem. Pay the 85 bux and replace the damn thing. Reset the computer and try and start my car. This time only my starter runs and the engine doesn turn over.

New main relay
New distributor
Rotor turns
Fuel pump vrrmmmmm
All gauge lights turn on, clock and radio

So I am stumped and beginning to hate my honda. Any help or suggestions would be very helpful.

-----Tyler------

 

Check your battery voltage. And if that's good then check your alternator...

 

seen u already replace the main relay and u are sayin that the starte runs mmm did u check ur timing belt if its broken. idk

 

dont bash hondas if you dont know what you are doing. as for the main relay you could have just resoldered the points n it and it would have been fine. cost $.02 if you have a soldering iron. as for the starter spinning but not the engine that would be the starter. if it is spinning fast and the crank is turning then it is your timming belt broke. if you need a stater i will take $10 for one. Hondas are one of the most reliable cars out there but everything needs a little maintenance.

 

be glad you dont own a vw...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyler QB &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Honda's arent reliable
</TD></TR></TABLE>
hmm... not many cars that are 17 years old are without alot of money put into them

 

Timing belt is not broken and hasnt slipped.

Battery is fine...unsure of the alt.

As for the relay. I needed my car fixed that day and didnt have a soldering iron and i dont know how. Although Im sure its not that hard. It also seems it wasnt the problem anyways.

I dont understand why it would go from turning over and almost starting to not when i just replaced the main relay?

could it be a coil?

 

if your starter is spinning but motor isnt your starter isnt engaging and turning it over

 

would the rotor is in the distr. spin if the engine wasnt turning over? maybe it is but it just isnt firing?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyler QB &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Timing belt is not broken and hasnt slipped.

Battery is fine...unsure of the alt.

As for the relay. I needed my car fixed that day and didnt have a soldering iron and i dont know how. Although Im sure its not that hard. It also seems it wasnt the problem anyways.

I dont understand why it would go from turning over and almost starting to not when i just replaced the main relay?

could it be a coil?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Alright, well to check the coil you'll need to see if you're getting a spark. This is easiest with two people. Pull out the #1 spark plug wire and stick a long screw driver and put the metal end down into the spark plug wire contact. Then put the remaining exposed metal next to a bare bolt head and then have someone crank it over. If it sparks then your coil should be fine, then move to the alternator...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SIRX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hmm... not many cars that are 17 years old are without alot of money put into them</TD></TR></TABLE>

word

 

check for spark, fuel pressure and go from there, the engine needs three things to run, spark, fuel and air. figure out what is missing.

 

how old are your plugs? you didnt say if you replaced them, the gap might be out of spec

 

i doutb the plugs would just quit. i will check the coil tomorrow for sure. This is making it very hard to get to work.

 

my 18 year old civic broke down on us once -.- (ECU or something died, replaced under warrenty)

almost everything is original

cept starter, timing belt, water pump, radiator, cv boots

as for the main components, engine and tranny are original and stilll running strong

only toyota can match honda's reliability....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ck123 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">my 18 year old civic broke down on us once -.- (ECU or something died, replaced under warrenty)

almost everything is original

cept starter, timing belt, water pump, radiator, cv boots

as for the main components, engine and tranny are original and stilll running strong

only toyota can match honda's reliability....</TD></TR></TABLE>

how the hell did u get an ecu under warranty on an 18 year old car?

 

when the car was about 4 years old

 

new developments...


car has spark on all cylinders.
and i can definatly smell gas out the end of the exuast after cranking.

the new relay now clicks like the old relay. on position click once. try to fire doesnt, back to on position click click click

this has me absolutely stumped. my engine throws no codes because of a reset. but the oil pressure light abd batt light stay on after i try to start it (because they think i just switched it to on posistion? or because they both need something.

i am stumpped completely could a fuse be doing this? i need help bad. thanks for your suggestions

 

you need four things to run
spark
fuel
oxygen (air)
compression

do you have all four?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cbrxgator &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">be glad you dont own a vw...</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by square_1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> </TD></TR></TABLE>x2

 

explain your problem more. the oil and bat lights stay on while cranking? after you take the key out?

first check all your ground. especially the negative bat. cable where it goes to chassis.

 

I am going to try and explain this again in more detailed manor.

Symptoms: Car Wont start.

Turn ignition to on position, relay clicks and fuel pump vrrrrrrrrs. Warning lights turn on for 2 seconds and go out.

Turn ignition to start. Sounds like starter is the only thing going checvrrrrrmmmm sound. But the car is infact turning over just not starting.

The good: All cylinders have spark.
Engine is getting at least some fuel. Strong gas smell from exuast.
Brand new main relay, and distributor.
Timing belt is not broken.

The bad: After the car is returned to the on position the main clicks like crazy sometimes.
The ECU blinks 20 times, thats right 20 times. I've counted.


1.Bad ECU? 2. Bad grounds? 3.Fuel Pump? 4. ????

Thanks again for the help

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Ash J. Williams &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">check for spark, fuel pressure and go from there, the engine needs three things to run, spark, fuel and air. figure out what is missing.</TD></TR></TABLE>

, cel codes?, maybe rig up an injector pulse light (forgot the name of em), clear dizzy cap, check plug wires, if you have cheap plug wires from what ive seen the clips that click onto the plug will recede into the sheath ( this one owned me on my mpfi swap). Dunno man hope this helps you. Crank over and spray wd40 into tb.