i've got a 90 crx si with a dohc zc swap. i've never had starting problems with my rex, even in -40 C (when i lived in north bay, ontario). the other day i went out to start my car and the thing would just crank and not start. the engine is turning the starter is turning and the fuel pump is priming. i took out the spark plugs and everything looks ok. i could smell fuel so i removed that from the list of possible things not letting it start. i took out the main relay and swapped it with another one, still no start. i had resoldered the main relay before so i put it back in. let the car sit for a bit with the plugs out and came back and tried again. still no start. was getting fed up and left it for a while again. cam back took the distributor cap off and it looked good. put it back on gave the ignitor a tap and then tried starting it again. this time it started. drove around abit and did some errands (started the car several times no problem).
this morning i go to start and no luck. took the distributor cap off and then tried giving it a love tap. still no start. gave up and decided to take the loser cruiser to get to work (half an hour late... but oh well).
got home after work today and it started up no prob. stumbled abit but starts no problem (i tried several times). what is wrong with my car? it had been rainning here today and yesterday. could the moisture be the problem? i wanted to check if there is spark, but i dont know how without a second person to crank it over. anyone know how to do this one man?
anyone know whats wrong with my car?

 

Pull the ignition module out and have it tested or if you have the specs test it yourself. It is easy to check for spark by yourself... Take out the number one spark plug and wire. Then lay it on the core support or valve cover ground so the threads on the plugs are grounded out. Then don't get yourself all the way in the car but just enough to press the clutch. Then crank the car and watch for fireworks... I check for spark all the time this way.

 

I would say definately yes the moisture could be a problem. Sounds like a spark issue to me, but can say that for sure. A quick way to check spark is to pull the plugs and ground them on the intake manifold or on something bare metal that you can see in the car. Then hold your gas pedal wide open so you don't flood out your cylinders with fuel and see if you've got spark. That's the way I do it, but a better way is to get a spark tester. Those you can adjust to the right plug gap and will show you if you're getting weak spark.
Check that next time it fails to start and see what ya get.

 

thanks i'll try that

 

turns out all i needed to do was replace the cap and rotor.... i changed the plug wires first because a mechanic friend of mine told me this is a common problem relating to no starts with moisture issues. turns out the gasket on the cap was missing from my distributor and thats most likey the cause that my car wouldn't start. it burned the metal contact point on the rotor.