98 civic ex 5spd. The car cranks but won't start.

The car ran great but I bought another car and didn't drive it through the months of October - December. Once during that time I started it and it started fine.

There is 3/4 tank of gas in the car.

I checked spark by putting a flat head in the spark plug wire and it sparked from the screwdriver to a bolt.

I pulled the spark plugs out after I tried to start it a few times. They smelled a bit like gas. The strange thing was they came out with little to no resistance so I just put them back and tightened them down. I wonder if they loosened because of how cold it's been?

I put a good battery in the car and it still cranks and won't turn over.

The belts rotated when I attempted to start the car.

The fuel pump primes as normal, did not sound different at all.

What do you think the next thing I do is?

 

Change plugs and change dizzy cap and rotor... cross fingers and crank it up.

 

This sounds unconventional, but give it a shot.


Remove spark plugs.
Pour a tiny amount of oil into each cylinder, like about as much as a teaspoon's worth.
Put new plugs in.

Get in the car, turn the key to the ON position, but don't start, wait about 5 seconds.
Turn ignition OFF and then ON again for another 5 seconds.
Now crank the engine over.

Does it start? If it does, it'll smoke for about 2 minutes.

 

Definitely unconventional but it won't hurt to try. Before I do, could you advise why this route?

 

Cap and rotor replaced, no start, still cranks. Tried the oil as well in the cylinders and still nothing.

A friend of mine thinks it might be the engine crank sensor, but I don't know much about it or if it fails the car won't start.

 

you may have to drain the gas, the **** they call gas today absorbs water like crazy, and the water sinks to the bottom, chances are there is a layer of water that the pump sock is sitting in, it's probably in your filter now too, it's called phase separation, all it takes is a couple of teaspoons of water and the ethanol and water will end up on the bottom of the tank and the remaining fuel floating on top,

 

Is the CEL on? Does it work? What color is your spark? How much fuel pressure do you have when measured at the filter? Basic crank/no start diagnostics.

 

90 days is about the maximum limit for corn gas to sit before you have issues

 

These^

Check for CEL codes and test spark quality using a spare spark plug. Click the Spark link in my signature.

 

No CEL light and it does work. I haven't yet checked fuel pressure at the filter but will do so. I'll also look at your link, Ron, and see how it goes.

The spark I saw when I used the screwdriver was orange.

I know on an EG there is a plug on the gas tank where I can drain the gas from, but is that also the case with an EK?

 

Orange spark = weak spark.

 

Test the spark by pulling a plug and grounding it to the chassis (laying it on the valve cover works)

Now what color is the spark

 

Because your cylinder walls are dry and there isn't enough compression to start which will usually result in gas soaked cylinders that makes it even worse.

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Probably bad gas and may have to replace the fuel filter as well.