Specs
1992 honda civic VX
b18c1
mild build.

p28 crome basemapped.

problem:
regardless of the weather i will go out to my car and go start my car, it cranks and everything, but wont fire. ill wait like 10 min. try again. it starts!! it doesnt do it at any specefic time. it will do it when the car is warmed up and it will do it when its cold. i can kick start it down a hill. (only done that once) i have a new distributor and it doesnt smell like its flooding. the motor was rebuiltt with OEM new everything. im thinking its my main relay. but any imput is welcome.

 

could be a variety of things. spark plug wires, spark plugs, low compression, distributor cap, distributor rotor. how old are you wires?

 

everything is new, wires.. Maybe a yr old. Compression is 280 across the board

 

what kind of wires are you using?

 

ngk. They're blue

 

is the rotor clean? stock coil?

 

brand new dizzy

 

how's the timing look? did you make sure everything is aligned. cams and crank pulley?

 

I could check that. But if that was the prob wouldn't it do it everytime? And why would I have to wait ten min to start again

 

don't know but it is always good to check everything.

 

true

 

do you hear your fuel pump everytime the key is on?

 

yep, everytime. just installed a walbro 190..

 

bump

 

engine ground are ok?

 

just cause the pump turns on does not mean its working right make sure that you have fuel at the rail when you turn the key to the on position it happened to me once.

 

clogged fuel filter or filter by your fuel pump? Bad gas? dirty gas?

Pull your plugs are they black? smell like gas or burnt smell? Look like they have been leaned out?

Do you have a wideband to see what A/F ratio is at?

Just trying to throw some ideas out there. Get a helms and test the coil and ICM. Just because its new doesn't mean it isn't bad.

When you did a compression test did you unplug the distributor or leave it plugged in.
If you left it plugged in and just removed the wires that could destroy your dizzy because of the built up charge not having anywhere to go and fries your coil.

 

I had the same problem, so I asked a tech at a local honda dealership, he told me to replace the pigtail from the keyswitch to the fusebox.

sometimes, the solder connections on the back of the ignition switch go bad and cause a hairline fracture on the circuit board, when its cold, it doesnt start, when it warms up just a little (key turning, friction), it will start.

the pigtail is about 30 bucks at the dealership. give it a shot. worked for my accord and civic.

its funny, everyone will swap out the motor and all that stuff, no one even looks at the ignition switch, which turns several times a day, for years.

 

Ok try this. Next time your car won't start, turn the key on so that the check engine light comes on briefly (light buzzing noise) and then turns off. When the light turns off you should here a click as the relay turns off. If you don't hear a buzz followed by a click, then your relay is bad. It is very common with older Honda's and is a very easy fix.

 

http://techauto.tripod.com/mainrelaydefine.htm

I'd at least pull the main relay and check the board on it