Hey everyone!
Okay so I'll get right to it. I have a 1996 Honda civic ex D16y8 vtech 5 speed manual. 216,000 mi
It has been a awesome car so the whole time I've owned it. I bought it 2 years ago with 195,000 and it's run like a champ ever since with the exception of last year when it was super cold. I was driving to work when I started hearing the relays clicking and then my turn signals stared flashing and my horn stared randomly honking and this continues for maybe 10 minutes till I got to work and shut it off. It did that one more time to me that year it was around -8 or -10 degrees Fahrenheit so I kinda thought it might have been a frozen relay? Anyway I didn't have any trouble out of it till this last month when it started getting colder.. (50 d F) in the mornings...now it has done this off and on for a month and I'm not even sure where to start! So it will turn over for 10 or 15 seconds without firing or trying to start the gages flick and the relays click. If I turn the key off and pull it out and then try again it will do the same thing...but on the third or forth try normally it will fire up like it always used to. When it's being especially problematic it will crank and crank and then after I give up and let off the key and the car quits cranking it will fire once or twice and kinda jerk and stutter even with the key out of the ignition. It's got good gas in it. Battery voltage resting around 12.3-12.4 but the car cranks fine? Any help would be super appreciated! Thanks so much!

 

Anti-theft system? Ordinarily the turn signals and horn are separate except for an anti-theft box has control of both of them.

 

Okay that actually makes sense. The guy who had my car before me had a anti theft auto lock system installed and it quit working right before I bought the car so I never thought anything of it...could that be the whole problem?

 

Uninstall the security system.

 

Okay awesome! I'll find it and remove it and then get back with an update! Thanks for the help so far!

 

Security box

 

Okay guys I removed the aftermarket security system and repaired all the wires and then with great anticipation tried to start it up...and it cranked for 6ish seconds and then I quit. When it cranks like that it sounds a little strange...like it's to fast just a little? After turning the key back it bumped/fired or something once...kinda jerked the car....then I tried to start again...Click the key to run and I hear relays clicking randomly and the rpm gage flicks and then I clicked the key to start and it fired up that time. Any ideas on what could be failing? Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

Have the brake handle pulled up. Watch the "BRAKE" light on the dash while you're trying to start. It should stay on the whole time. The light is connected to the same circuit as the ignition.

 

Okay so sorry I've been slow about getting back.
yes the BRAKE light on the dash does stay on while trying to start. It and the rest of the light dim slightly but other than that and the rpm gauge flicking the dash looks normal.

 

Is this the result when the engine won't start (<-- only time that mk's brake light test is relevant)?

 

Yes the light stays on when the engine will not start. I tried to start it this morning maybe 20 times and it wouldn't start so I had to give up and take my truck.

 

When engine will not start, turn key to ON(II) and listen for whether fuel pump primes. Do the test several times.

If the pump consistently primes, check for spark.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-...blems-2919450/

 

Yes the fuel pump does prime for maybe 2 seconds when the key is clicked to run. and I can smell fuel at the tail pipe after trying to start for a while.

 

I'll check for spark tomorrow when I get a spare spark plug. thanks so much for the help!

 

Okay everyone! So I know it's been a long time since I posted this thread...sorry for the long delay! I've been out of town for work and am just now getting a chance to work on my civic! So today I checked for spark and seem to have a strong blue spark in 2-3-4 but in cylinder number one just an occasional orange spark. Sorry for being a nubie but what's my best course of action? Thanks for any help!

 

test sparkplug wire resistance.
should not exceed 25k ohms iirc.

 

Spark should be bright white.

Remove the distributor and Ohm test the coil.

Also replace the cap, rotor, plugs, and plug wires, if they are old.

 

Hey guys! Okay do I tested my spark plug wires (measure ohms and then multiply by length in feet) and I came up with 23k 19k 18k 19k. As far as I know that's within spec? What should I check next?

 

okay will do! I'll check my coil tonight and start getting parts! Thanks for the help guys! It's much appreciated!