So i was stopped at a red light and my car suddenly idled at a very low rpm, and suddenly turned off on me. I tried turning it back on and No go. It cranks and sounds like it's about to turn on, but never turns on. I tried pop starting it and all i can hear is the sound of the (i think it was the starter) starter spinning but nothing happens other than the spinning sound. I checked to see if the starter was loose, and it was fine. I have a 97 honda civic, Single cam motor (stock). I tried checking fuses, but i couldnt find anything that was blown. My friend thinks its the timing belt. The belt is really loose... When i try starting up the car... it cranks but the cam sprocket doesn't spin, it doesnt move at all. The only thing spinning on the timing belt is the bottom pulley. Can someone please give me some suggestions on what might make my car turn on>!? Thanks a lot guys. Brian.

 

how many miles on the car????

 

The motor has about 90,000-100,000. it's a 99 motor.

 

Yah, sounds like your either siezed your cam, and sheared the keyway off the cam gear

or the timing belt broke.

either way, now that you've cranked your car over a few hundred times your screwed

Honda motors are intereference motors, meaning the top end (valves) can collide with the pistons if they are not kept in perfect time with the timing belt

long story short, look for a new motor

good luck

 

bump... someone please help...

 

dam thanks for the info. so there's no way it could be something else?

 

If the crank is turning and the top end isnt, that is likley the problem.

You may have gotten really lucky and the valves might have been closed and might not have tagged a piston, but either way, you need to atleast pull the head off and take a closer look.

Or tow it to a shop, and have them look at it.
If its not worth your time just find a used motor locally for cheap, or just go all out and do a motor swap

 

do you think if i try and tighten up the timing belt, the cam might spin?

 

sounds like a broken timing belt if the crank is spinning but the cam is not. theres only 1 thing that connects them and thats the timing belt.

pray to god you didnt mash your valves. if you did, new engine time.

 

If the timing belt broken there no point in tighting it