..it will hit more and more and almost start, then rumbles to nothing.

it's not fuel, because I can smell gas after a bit of trying.

any ideas? Thanks.

edit: seems like I had a car with a bad coil that did that?

 

Most likely coil or ignitor.

Most of us have learned atthe first sign of ignition trouble just buy a rebuilt dizzy. It's cheaper in the long run.

Tried replaceing just the ignitor, only to have the coil go month's later and take the ignitor with it.

Think about how old the parts are.

 

true that. this 94 has 200k+. I used to work on mustang, but not a civic. (yet)

Dizzy = the complete distributor? The coil and ignitor are inside the distributor?

edit:I called the parts store to price a distributor. He said, the way it cranks more and more but dies when you release the key, sounds like a fuel filter, or maybe pump. He said you could smell fuel at the rear of the car, but have insufficient pressure to crank.

Anyone know where this bicycle looking valve, test point is at on a 94 v-tec?

is this the fuel filter? I don't see a bicycle valve like test point near it anywhere. :-(

nor on the fuel rail

 

Top one is fuel filter.

 

The top pic is the fuel filter. The line on the left in the pic is the line to your fuel rail. There are two bolts where the line connects to the filter. One bolt screws into the other bolt. You remove the small bolt, the larger bolt holds the line on the filter, and you screw the pressure gauge into the small bolt hole.

 

ok. I installed a new fuel filter. If I turn on the key with the small bolt removed on top of the fuel filter, a foot tall plume of gas shoots into the air. Not fuel.

I had someone turn it over while holding a screw driver in a spark plug wire end, above the head. Saw bright blue spark, so it's getting fire. I don't think I need to replace the distributor.

I found a pin hole in the upper radiator hose that had appearently sprayed the engine with anti freeze, but that was over a week ago. Everything looks dried out.

It's trying really hard to crank, hitting, kinda like its a wet dist cap, but just won't start... Can you guy think of anyhting else to check before I get to towed?

Thanks, Russ

edit: I added booster cables and held the gas down as it hit, and it finally started, .. Yay! I guess something was wet?