I have a 1990 honda civic dx hatch. its a 1.5L stock engine, i was drivin one morning and when i drove off from a stop sign, my car just shut off for some reason. i tried to step on the gas pedal a little before it died and there was no response. i tried to start it again and it started for a few seconds and died again. when i cranked it up once more, it cranked 2x and then made a choke sound coming from the intake/throttle body and then a lil smoke started coming from the intake. Does anyone no what might be the problem??? i checked spark and fuel and its has spark and i pulled the fuel line from the fuel filter and cranked it and its got fuel.

 

Long shot here. I had this happen once the screw for the rotor came off I would get spark but wouldn't start.

 

Does it sound normal when you crank it?
Like WORX said check the rotor to make sure it is attached properly I have seen that happen more than a few times.

 

so just that screw can cause it to not start??

 

yea it cranks normal, its just that it will only crank 1 maybe 2 times and then make a choke sound and thats it.

 

Could be a clogged cat

 

The screw comming out can cause the rotor to move on the dizzy shaft and then it puts the timimg out for your spark,it will fire but on the wrong cylinder so it wont start.
You could also try to start the car with starting fluid sprayed into the intake if it runs you have a fuel issue and it is sparking in time.

 

ok i will double check the distributor, thank you for the help.

 

and i will also check the cat, i was thinking off punching out the cat too

 

Time to inspect the timing belt and mechanical timing. May have jumped time. But check that rotor button first. If that's the culprit, install the screw with some thread-locker on it.

 

Aight thanks yall

 

Any codes? CEL while attempting to start?

 

Thanks for the help yall, i found out that it did jump timing and 2 of my plug wires werent good. Its being worked on now. And my throttle plate wont open even if i try to turn it manually so that being replaced also.

 

Good deal. Hopefully, no valves were bent.