I got a 2000 honda civic si. one afternoon, the car wont start. sounds like it might be the starter, but i dont want waste my time removing a part that is unnecessary. I checked the spark plugs for a spark and all 4 hard sparks. when i try to turn on the engine from time to time i do hear the exhaust shaking or making alittle noise. before this my car had an engine check light, i removed the check code it was the front o2 sensor didnt replace it but i dont think it could of caused my car to not start any ideas?

 

If you have spark then I presume that the starter cranks the engine, indicating that the starter is fine.

What color is spark at the plugs?

When you turn the key to ON(II), do you hear the low humming noise of the the fuel pump priming for 2 seconds in the rear?

Check for new CEL codes using the jumper wire method.

 

its kind of like a chugging noise, and the sparks are kinda blue coming from the spark plug, i beleive. i do hear and feel small amounts of exhaust coming from the exhaust, it sounds like the car is trying to start but nothings happening.

 

Did you use this method to check for spark at the plugs? Spark should be bright white rather than weak orange or blue. If spark is weak, then the coil inside the distributor is probably bad.

Does the fuel pump prime? Any CEL codes?

 

i really cant hear the fuel pump from under the car, because of the exhuast, but i'll recheck the spark plugs and no codes

 

Is there anyway it could be the starter , even though there are sparks coming to the spark plugs?

 

seems to be getting fuel, we can smell it when we test out spark plugs not plugged in, but it seems the compression is low like 50 to 100 psi any ideas?

 

check your fuses. cause it sounds like you have spark so now u need fuel.

 

low compression can cause it

 

when you get in the car does the cel come on then go off when you put the key to on.

 

when i put the key in all the lights come on fine.

 

You are slowing feedback by not answering questions.

Spark color at the plugs (white, blue, orange)?

Fuel pump primes?

CEL codes?

 

Sorry about that, i had a friend take a look at it and the sparks look white, fuel pump seems fine, no noise really that would make it sound like its not working, and there are no engine codes etc. the last one i erased was p0133 which was like an o2 sensor, but from what i can tell the compression is low between 50 to 100, and we removed the conpression device top and left the hose or something in it and pumped it with air using air compressor and air seems to be coming out of other cylinders, any ideas?

 

You put compressed air in one of the cylinders and came out the other ones?
Putting air in the cylinders is a cylinder leak-down test.
What makes you think it is going to other cylinders?
I would do the leak-down test in the cylinder that was leaking badly then observe the coolant overflow tank for bubbles, if none are seen, try removing the radiator cap and checking for bubbles. If there are alot of bubbles, you have a bad head gasket. If not, you still might have a bad head gasket.

The gasket may have let go and is allowing certain cylinders to leak into others or to leak into the crankcase or into the cooling system.

 

well i think its going into the other cylinders because when i put compressed air into one cylinder it is close to air tight, because i actually used part of a compression tool the hose part. so no air could of leaked through the same cylinder, in the past when i tried it it would not leak from other cylinder. i tried from right to left i felt little coming from the one next to it, and when i got to third it was really bad, air was coming from teh 4th alot. but thats just it, there were no bubbles coming from the radiator, no antifreeze etc in the motor oil. some think its a cracked head.

 

battery?

 

the battery is full i beleive, wipers, headlights, horn, and deck, works, but that doesnt explain low compression

 

when i had white spark i replaced my plugs and it fired up. but i still would look at that head gasket

 

Turns out it was the head, or valves. we switched out the whole head. one of the combustion champers had somewhat grinded something against the head or something, but it looks kinda beatup. works now though