Ok, I just got this car from a buddy of mine, but it wont start. you turn the key and it turns over but wont start. I check the fuel filter and its still getting fuel. But Im not real sure where to go from there. can someone help me? Thanks

 

Generic Search would help... look for won't start, etc... Fuel, Spark, Air, timing... etc

 

you need 2 people >stick a screw driver in spark plug wire to see if you get spark and see if it shocks you when him/her cranks it

 

Ill try that in just a second.

I tried searching no start but I only came up with like 5 or 6 threads.

Also, maybe i should mention that the timing belt is intact, and that after I crank the car there is a ticking noise inside the car after i release the key. everytime. I think its the fuel pump? but im not sure. Is it supposed to do that?

 

ok. Its got spark. It shocked the **** out of me.

 

I have done some searching and I am getting severely frustrated because everyone keeps saying it could be the thermostat housing ground. But I dont see a ground anywhere and I dont know where its supposed to be. Does anyone have any pictures of what it looks like? or tell me where its at?

 

That clicking could be the main relay. It is very common for it to fail in these cars

Although, usually it is intermitant

 

take the 3 nuts holding your fuel rail on, off. pull the rail with injectors still in it away from the manifold. Unplug your distributor, and crank teh engine. Watch closely to make sure fuel is psraying from each injector. Also there is a relay that tends to go bad on the 88/89 rex that will cause it to have problems starting. try searching main relay in the archives. If you are getting fuel and spark and the timing is correct, it SHOULD start, assuming there is no catastrophic failure.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Creator &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That clicking could be the main relay. It is very common for it to fail in these cars

Although, usually it is intermitant</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

would the car still turn over if the main relay was bad?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by buugiewuugie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">would the car still turn over if the main relay was bad?</TD></TR></TABLE>

yes....

Main relay is under the left side of the dash....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by buugiewuugie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the thermostat housing ground. But I dont see a ground anywhere and I dont know where its supposed to be. </TD></TR></TABLE>
do you know where the thermostat is? folow your lower radiator hose to the motor bam theres your thermostat housing. now theres should be 3 10mm bolts on it 2 of them hold the thermo housing spout thing on there. and the other holds the ground this is the ground for the engine harness so it will be coming out of the engine harness. car should start with out it though it will run like crap. its not your main relay if your getting fuel and spark. is there a cel (check engine light)?

 

Always check for four things: Timing, Spark, Fuel, and Compression.

 

Did you try the ignition switch?

 

This is randome, but have you checked all the fuses under the dash?? Take a look at the Alternator soliniod valve fuse, it might be blown. It was the case with my 88 hatch and it would continuosly crank and never turn over. turned out to be that fuse. But hey its worth a shot!

 

That same thing happened to me once. I was pissed for like 3 days. I thought I checked them all but I overlooked that one.

 

I made a mistake its an 87 CRX not a 88. I dont know if that makes a difference

I still dont see a wire on the thermostat housing? I do so a single wire that has a small connector that pushes over what looks like some kind of sensor right in front of the housing though? is that it?


Also I tried spraying starting fuel into the throttle body but it still didnt start.

 

No. It should look like a thick black wire near the connection that splits into several wires. The ground *should* be on the top of the T-Stat housing. Look for anything like this around that area. It can't be far away. Did you check that fuse yet? I think its fuse 11 or 13...

 

i checked the fuse. its fuse 4. its still good. I found the ground wire. Its connected. Still no start. A buddy of mine even tried spraying some starting fluid into the throttle body and starting it but still nothing

 

make sure your spark plug wires are on in the correct order..

 

check timing, you can almsto try moving distributor while cranking to see if theres a lil start , or if not since it cranks run a compression test and see what you get

 

Ok, I did a compression test on 2 of the cylinders and they read 50.

Played with the timing and nothing.

And the red lights in the ECU dont come on. I dont know if they are supposed to or not? But I just found out it got wet due to the windows being left down in a storm. so are those supposed to come on when i turn the key?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jchung &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">make sure your spark plug wires are on in the correct order..</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by buugiewuugie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ok, I did a compression test on 2 of the cylinders and they read 50.

Played with the timing and nothing.

And the red lights in the ECU dont come on. I dont know if they are supposed to or not? But I just found out it got wet due to the windows being left down in a storm. so are those supposed to come on when i turn the key?</TD></TR></TABLE>

50??!??!

 

50 is super shitty. Either your timing belt is way off or you got some bent valves. Make sure, when your crank is at TDC on cylinder 1, that your cam is aligned properly. What was the compression in the other cylinders?