Not sure what to check. Suggestions? I have a 90 Civic sedan with the 1.5 stocker and a few weeks ago I pulled it into my garage and turned it off. Ran perfectly. Now I go out and it will not start. Turns over perfectly but won't start. I checked the main relay and it's OK. No blinking lights on the computer. Half a tank of gas. Any ideas on what can go from perfectly OK and running to won't start? Any ideas is greatly appreciated!

 

well if your not getting anything when you turn the key its probably the battery, could be dead from not being run

edit: didn't read about the turning over my bad

 

Yeah it could be the battery. How old is the battery? I have had old ones just up and die during the night. Check the terminals for corrosion also.

 

it turns over perfectly but doesnt start? i think you mean it cranks perfectly but doesnt start?? anyways check for fuel and spark...the battery is most likley fine if its cranking nice and fast,,but maybe you should check that also just to make sure,,autozone check for free

 

Yeah I meant cranks perfectly and fast. No problem with the battery and its getting gas because I smell it after I crank on it awhile.

 

ok, check spark next. while someone cranks it remove 1 spark plugs wire from the distributor and hold it like 1/2 inch away and see if there is no spark or a really weak spark

 

Will do. That's kinda what I was thinking. I'll check it as soon as I can get someone over here to crank while I check. Thanks.

 

The coils go bad on these cars.See if you can find a good one and try it.

 

Good idea! I have a parts car on here for sale so if the spark plug check doesn't result in a spark, I'll pull the coil out of the parts car and see if that does the trick. Will a bad coil kill the spark at the spark plug? I guess they go bad without warning. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

yes, a bad coil will cause a weak spark and sometimes no spark at all.

 

Bag, clarification. As I recall the actual place inside the plug wire is way in there. Will the spark travel down the rubber part far enough to make it out the end of the wire?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dbailey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Bag, clarification. As I recall the actual place inside the plug wire is way in there. Will the spark travel down the rubber part far enough to make it out the end of the wire? </TD></TR></TABLE>

yes..when working 100% you can hold it even 1" away from its point and you'll still see a bolt of "lightning"

 

Awesome! Thanks dude! Just for curiosity, if there IS a spark but it's still not starting, any idea what to check next? I can't believe though if there is a spark AND there is gas (I smelled it) that it wouldn't start.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dbailey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Awesome! Thanks dude! Just for curiosity, if there IS a spark but it's still not starting, any idea what to check next? I can't believe though if there is a spark AND there is gas (I smelled it) that it wouldn't start.</TD></TR></TABLE>


there's only one other thing to check: Timing. rare but sometimes the timing belt skips a tooth or 2 causing the timing to be so off that it will not start.

Fuel,spark,timing,ecu,air,power...

 

Hmmm....well I hope like hell that's not the case! Hopefully there'll be no spark and I can r&r the coil and it'll crank right up.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dbailey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Bag, clarification. As I recall the actual place inside the plug wire is way in there. Will the spark travel down the rubber part far enough to make it out the end of the wire? </TD></TR></TABLE>
You have to actually have a spark plug in the wire - you won't see any spark without it. Hold the plug's ground electrode against an unpainted bolt head somewhere (valve cover bolts work) and look for a solid blue spark between the ground and center electrodes while someone cranks the engine. Be careful not to get zapped.

If there is no spark, the most common causes are distributor component failure (ignition coil, ignitor, cap, rotor) or a broken timing belt (distributor shaft not turning).

If there is spark, check timing and fuel.

 

yeah, I was gonna suggest what he said......igniter?.....good luck

 

Thanks guys for the directions. I plan on going home for lunch today with a friend of mine that can turn it over while I look for a spark.

 

Well I flipped the coils around and walla! She started right up! Thanks guys for the suggestions/recommendations! I love this place! There is one thing I noticed different between the two rotors though. The one in mine is like a flat disc looking thing that kinda flops around and the one in the engine that I took the coil from is the old American made looking type that kinda forms a T. Any particular reason why they look different other than manufacturers? The cap on mine also just has a nub sticking out inside that fits into the coil and the other cap had (had because I broke it off) a rod in it that goes into the coil. Anything there? Thanks again guys!