Honda Civic (2001 - 2005) Coupe / Sedan / Hybrid (Includes Acura EL)

car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

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Old Nov 13, 2009 | 05:09 PM
  #1  
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Default car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

Tried to start car this am, started up then died all of a sudden. Tried starting it another few times and just made the starting noise,but no starting. I have no other car, so I need to fix this by tomorrow. Any help please.
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Old Nov 13, 2009 | 05:55 PM
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

Could be numerous things. No check engine light? Check your fuses, make sure theres nothing blown. Could be fuel pump, no spark ,ecm... Try tapping on the bottom of the gas tank with a hammer. That used to work when old cavalier fuel pumps would quit. Like i said could be numerous things.
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Old Nov 13, 2009 | 06:06 PM
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

when you turn the key to the ON position does the cel come on? Are you getting fuel and spark?
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Old Nov 13, 2009 | 07:42 PM
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

Fuel pump is less than a year old. No check engine light. When I put it in the on position, no other lights come on besides brake light
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Old Nov 13, 2009 | 07:43 PM
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

How wilL I know if there's spark?
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Old Nov 14, 2009 | 07:18 AM
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

take one of the spark plugs out, leave it plugged in and have someone turn the car over while you watch the plug. If you see the plug sparking than its working. Just dont hold it or youll get shocked.
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Old Nov 14, 2009 | 07:33 AM
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

What kind of car is it? It might be the fuel pump relay. when you turn the key to the on position can you hear the pump make like a humming noise?? It wont be very loud just listen for it. If you cant hear that it could be either your relay or the pump itself... good luck
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Old Nov 14, 2009 | 07:38 AM
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

Also check your fi ecu fuse in the fuse panel under the hood
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Old Nov 14, 2009 | 09:25 AM
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

make sure all your wires are plugged into your battery harness. Mine wouldnt start lastnight and i thought it was the battery, so i charged it overnight and nothing. Then i looked closer at the battery and i saw a wire unplugged from it. Put it back in and it started right up...

Probably not whats wrong with yours but it doesn't hurt to look.
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Old Nov 14, 2009 | 09:37 PM
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

Originally Posted by RHD-EG2
What kind of car is it? It might be the fuel pump relay. when you turn the key to the on position can you hear the pump make like a humming noise?? It wont be very loud just listen for it. If you cant hear that it could be either your relay or the pump itself... good luck
Absolutely no humming from fuel pump. I ordered a fuel pump relay, sadly it wont come til tuesday so I wont know til then if thats the problem.
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Old Nov 15, 2009 | 07:15 AM
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

The same relay is used on multiple applications on your car, just find one that matches and install it in the fuel pump relay cavity and listen to see if the pump engerizes.
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Old Nov 17, 2009 | 03:07 PM
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

installed new relay today, still not starting and still no humming.
any more ideas to what it might be? i really don't want to bring it to a shop and have them charge me my whole pay check.
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Old Nov 17, 2009 | 03:10 PM
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

no blown fuses
fi ecu fuse good
fuel pump relay good

if i try to see if the plug sparks, do i keep it connected to the ignition coil?
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Old Nov 17, 2009 | 04:14 PM
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

Run 12 volts directly to your fuel pump to see if it works. Could possibly be a problem with your immobilizer circuit, as this prevents power reaching your fuel pump.
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Old Nov 17, 2009 | 04:30 PM
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

Originally Posted by eviee1973
Run 12 volts directly to your fuel pump to see if it works. Could possibly be a problem with your immobilizer circuit, as this prevents power reaching your fuel pump.
how would i fix the immobilizer circuit.

I've had this problem about 5 years ago, but the technician didn't tell me what the matter was. I saw him run a red wire from the fuel pump all the way to the fuel pump relay. It's still there, but i don't know whats that for.
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Old Nov 18, 2009 | 02:02 AM
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

try to rewire(the red one) it, maybe it already busted. Do u have fuel?
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Old Nov 19, 2009 | 08:45 PM
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

Originally Posted by jivi
try to rewire(the red one) it, maybe it already busted. Do u have fuel?
loooong day. Just got off work. Im going to re-wire it in the morning. It has a little over a 1/4 tank of gas.

i hope it works.
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Old Nov 20, 2009 | 10:15 AM
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

I rechecked all my fuses and found a blown fuel pump fuse. I changed that and car started right up. I thought the worst has ended. I drove the car around and went back home. I then turned off my car and tried to restart it again, but no humming noise once again and car wouldn't start. I checked the fuses and they're fine. Now i have a blown fuel pump relay... what's causing all of this.........
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Old Nov 20, 2009 | 02:46 PM
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

Possibly a dead short in the harness or nfg fuel pump, did you replace the fuse with the same amperage as what was in and blown, or did you increase the fuse amperage? Trying running your fuel pump on a seperate circuit from your battery with a manual toggle on/off switch (be sure to have a fuse in the circuit) to see if it is the pump or a harness problem. Any idea of why/what a previous circuit bypass/repair was made? Immobilizer circuits usually have to be diagnosed by a dealership with the HIM or PGM tester. Invest or borrow, a genuine Honda shop manual these will have the harness schematics in them. Not sure what problems are local to your environment in California, here in Canada road salt is used in the winter and it makes a real mess of harnesses and connections.
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Old Nov 21, 2009 | 09:10 AM
  #20  
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

Originally Posted by eviee1973
Possibly a dead short in the harness or nfg fuel pump, did you replace the fuse with the same amperage as what was in and blown, or did you increase the fuse amperage? Trying running your fuel pump on a seperate circuit from your battery with a manual toggle on/off switch (be sure to have a fuse in the circuit) to see if it is the pump or a harness problem. Any idea of why/what a previous circuit bypass/repair was made? Immobilizer circuits usually have to be diagnosed by a dealership with the HIM or PGM tester. Invest or borrow, a genuine Honda shop manual these will have the harness schematics in them. Not sure what problems are local to your environment in California, here in Canada road salt is used in the winter and it makes a real mess of harnesses and connections.
i used the same amperage as the one that was blown. Do i have to bypass the the fuel pump relay as well if i run the fuel pump separate with a toggle switch?

thank you for helping me
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Old Nov 21, 2009 | 04:00 PM
  #21  
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Default Re: car won't start. HELP PLEASE!

Yes totally bypass factory harness by unpluging harness where it goes into the fuel tank. Ensure pump has been grounded, then run a wire from the battery (no need for a relay for this test) with a inline fuse holder and a toggle switch to manually turn on and off the pump when the car is running or shut off. If you fuse blows then you have a dead short in your pump or the harness that runs through the fuel filter assembly. If everthing continues to function, then you would have a harness/circuit problem, you could choose to spend money to hopefully have the problem properly diagnosed and repaired, or get a relay hooked up to a circuit that is live with your ignition switch in the on position and run relay switched power from your battery or another circuit capable of handling the current draw off the pump, or stick with the manual on/off switch. A friend used the manual on /off switch for his Audi which was broken into later on to be stolen, yet could not be driven away by the thief, we joked that it was the immobilizer, because he still had his car because he never got his fuel pump circuit fixed.
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