ok so im driving my stock DX hatch in 5th going about 45mph and out of no where the car doesnt turn off, but the gas doesnt have an affect anymore, i downshift to see if it might be the gear, nothing, no reving or anything, almost like its out of gas, only it has a 1/4 tank when it gets to stop the car the car shuts off and i cant restart it. I AM BROKE i dont have money to take this to a shop, what are my options? what kind of problem am i looking at? is it simple or am i going to have to go get parts to replace? if its not as simple as that, how can i trouble shoot this? ANY HELP you can offer is appreciated im stuck like 50 miles from my house and i dont have tow service. im freakin out and i dont know exactly what im going to do.

 

Does the engine crank but not start? Or is it not cranking?

If it cranks: The first thing to check for a no-start condition is spark. Are you getting spark at the plugs when you crank the engine? If not, the problem is likely distributor-related (or possibly a broken timing belt).

If you're getting spark, check for fuel. Make sure your tank has fuel in it. Can you hear the fuel pump run (a humming sound from the rear for a few seconds) when you turn the key to position II (on)? Are you getting fuel at the injectors when you crank the engine?

Did your check engine light turn on during this ordeal? Does your check engine light stay on when you turn the key to position II, or does it illuminate briefly and then turn off?

Does your engine have oil in it? Any odd sounds or smells? Have you checked the oil for signs of coolant, and vice versa? Is the alternator belt intact, and does it turn when the car is cranking?

 

well no on the light that i can remember, the car isnt exactly next to me so i cant really check it ATM, i know therse fuel in it i put 10 bucks in yesterday, when it first started (i know i forgot to mention it and its probobly important) but there was a LITTLE smoke in the middle rear of the engine when it first happened i opened the hood to see if maybe it was over heating but there was just a small trail of smoke comming from inbetween the block and the firewall directly in the middle. there was no oil on the ground and it didnt have an overpowering smell unlike its normal smells. The oil was changed around 1000 miles ago, along witht he filter. the engine wasnt leaking oil then and i havnt noticed any leaks, and from what ive noticed the engine doesnt run hot at all.

 

I can't really direct you any further until you check for spark and fuel.

You'll have to check those and get back to us.

 

sorry in advance to any admin but i had to create a second account because it wouldnt let me post anymore in this 24 hour period. i just went to check out some of the problems and everything and heres the run down.

the battery is not dead. it is trying to turn over, it smells like gas a little, but not overpowering, the throttle cable is attached. there is a small leak on the bottom left corner of the valve cover closest to the passanger side headlight. its very minute and its around the gasket. the timing belt seems to be attached, theres only one belt on there, but as far as i know thats all there is souposed to be (?). how could i check for spark other then listening for it? i have absoutly no clue how to check that. but from what i can hear it seems to be turning fine, just not.. i dunno.. grabbing? i guess thats how i can descibe it. the car turns but never gets to that point of fireing.... even during a push start attempt.

 

take your distributor cap off I bet the rotor screw fell off and the rotor is loose, check that first. it happened to me almost exactly as you describe , also you dont have to create a new account to post more, just use the edit button to edit your original post with the updated info

 

To check for spark:

- Pull 1 spark plug wire from any cylinder.
- Remove the spark plug from that cylinder. You will need a deep-well socket and a long extension.
- Plug the spark plug back into the end of the plug wire.
- Holding it by the the plug wire, touch the ground electrode of the spark plug (the metal prong that curves over the end of the plug) to an unpainted metal surface (a valve cover bolt head will work).
- Have someone crank the car while you look for a healthy blue spark in between the ground electrode and the center electrode. Be careful not to get zapped.

If you don't see a regular spark pulse, or if the spark is weak and yellow, or there is no spark at all, then the problem is likely a distributor component (bad ignition coil, bad ignitor, possibly a broken or loose rotor, or in the worst case scenario a broken camshaft causing the distributor shaft to not spin).

 

bump for input.

 

Everyone has given you quite a few things to check on - until you can tell us some more info about the situation, you're S-O-L.

Targa made a pretty good post, I would take some of this info and USE IT now

I'm not doing anything but working this weekend so i'll save the day!
Rywire.com - has a phone # on it, forwards to my cell, feel free to use it. I sleep from 1am to 9am Pacific time, any other time, call meh. LOL

 

are you sure your fuel gauge isnt working correctly and your not out of gas, In my old AE86 any sort of sharp turn with the gas low and the motor would cut out and not rev at all also

 

very cool of you peter!! the only reason i asked for more input is that i wasnt near my car last night and wasnt going to be able to check it out till today and i wanted to do as many problem checks as possible before having to run back over here to use this computer again and then run back (my car is about 10 miles from this computer) sorry if it seemed like i was just ignoring what you said targa that isnt the case at all!! lol. anyway. ya K20EF8 im sure im not out of gas i put 10 bucks in the tank and drove about 30 miles, if my car was sucking gas like that i would have noticed. lol, or at least i hope i would have noticed! but i will try and put a couple bucks in, who knows maybe thats all it is. i really hope its something simple i dont have any money to pay for parts and i hate being in this position. ya know?

 

Sorry man, I can't offer any more advice other than what has been given already. Any updates?

 

hey man no not yet, im on my way right now to check it out check the spart and the distributor. do you guys know what size socket im gonna use cuz like i said i gotta take this **** to my car. thanks guys.

 

how about a main relay??? when you turn the car to the II postion do you haer a click under the dash near the driver door? if not then you main realy is shot (common prob) if you can soldier you can fix it yourself i did.

where you from?

 

ok so the timing belt is not worn and present. the main relay appears to be working fine. fuel is being pumped to the engine. i havnt been able to pull an dcheck the plugs or the distributor cap yet because the car is still stuck 50 miles from my home (along with me, i cant find anyone with extended towing from triple A or anything) and i dont have the tools or the ability to take my engine apart. so untill i get it home thats all i can update. now that im fairly sure its a no spark problem, besides the distributor what might be happening?

 

i think at this point you need to worry about getting it home lol. just hhave a friend with a truck tow it back to your place with a tow strap or chain. then worry about fixing it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JJ’s civic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i think at this point you need to worry about getting it home lol. just hhave a friend with a truck tow it back to your place with a tow strap or chain. then worry about fixing it.</TD></TR></TABLE>
50 miles is too long for a flat tow with a chain or strap - that has disaster written all over it.

I'd at least rent a tow dolly for a few hours.

 

why i did it just go slow your be fine. i was tow prob over 50 miles either way it was though like 4 town with my gf in a ford explorer sport trac and me in the civic. use your clutch to keep you from hitting the tower plus you won't have to worry about no radio . no for real i did and i had no prob damn disterbor screw pop out like 5 mins till i locktited it in. not a prob since.

 

WTF is a "disterbor screw?!"

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 24TEN &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">WTF is a "disterbor screw?!"</TD></TR></TABLE>
Although he butchered the spelling, it's pretty obvious he's talking about the screw that holds the rotor onto the distributor shaft. It is not uncommon to see them back out if not tightened properly and/or held with a thread locker adhesive.

 

yes sorry forgot to use spell check my spelling sucks. i was towed up and down a hill as well. just hook it up to the tow hook on your car and to a proper place on the tow car. and your be fine just drive slow and the perosn in the towed car needs to be aware of the car in front of him.

 

tow dolly $45 bucks at your local u haul.... all the info sounds right.... damn sux doode! good luck!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sneakerfern &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">tow dolly $45 bucks at your local u haul.... all the info sounds right.... damn sux doode! good luck!</TD></TR></TABLE>

$45 buck saved for repairs

 

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

$45 buck saved for repairs </TD></TR></TABLE>
I'd rather spend the $45 than risk wrecking the car into the tow truck (or worse) during a 50 mile flat tow and having to pay for bodywork on both vehicles . . .

 

UPDATE:

couldnt find anyone with towing or a car that Could tow, so i had to break down and call my mom and see if i could use her trailblazer to tow it and she freaked out and was worrying about me not having a car and what not so she talk to a few of her friends and they talked her into taking it into some shop around where i crapped out (i was in an area that i used to live in when i was growing up, so my mom knows alot of people there too) the next day they tell us the igniter is bad... 250 bucks to fix. so now the car is stuck there, i STILL have no way of getting it home and she pressures me into just getting it fixed there, now i owe her 250 bucks on top of it all... I HATE HAVING OLDER CARS &gt;.&lt;

oh well. just out of curiosity, to replace that myself what would i be looking at time, effort and money wise?