I thought the group might get a kick out of this ongoing challenge with my 1995 Honda Civic LX. The symptom is that anytime it rains the car won't turnover the next time I try to start it. It'll crank just fine but it won't turn over. I've done my homework and discovered a workaround is to put the key into the 2nd position, wait until the check engine light turns off and I can hear the fuel pump prime, and then it will turn over without a problem.

So far I've done the following:

1. Replaced distributor and gasket - No change in symptoms
2. Replaced distributor cap - No change in symptoms
3. Replaced the master relay, sealed the outside of the distributor cap with 100% silicone cauling, fixed the hood front seal gasket which had worked a portion of itself free from the installation brackets - Waiting for the next rain to see if any of this worked

If it still doesn't turn over after a rain then my next step will be to swap out the ecu and see if that fixes it.

As far as I can tell, there's no water intrusion into the cab or around the master relay or ecu. I've checked during a hard rain (always fun) and didn't see a drop of water in the cab anywhere.

It's a shame that I have to wait for a rain to test each fix. A garden hose does nothing. That slows down the process so it's taking months. It only happens after an actual rain so I suspect that it's more related to humidity than moisture but we'll see.

Wish me luck!

 

Ok, none of the things I mentioned above fixed the problem.

Here's what did.

There was a small crack in the body right at the lower corner of the windshield on the passengers side. Once I patched up the crack, the car starts up just fine rain or shine. I think the crack allowed just a bit of moisture to get into the cab (I missed it because it was very slight) and affect the ecu.

One problem down. Sooo many to go.

 

The EGs had a TSB about inadequate seam sealer...

 

Pics of what you did are always good!

 

Well, here's a pic of what I did but the bad news is that we had a hard rain last night and sure enough, the same symptom is back again and the passenger side floor is wet. The pic is where I put some silicone caulk to patch the crack. It extended up underneath the hood and I tried to spread the caulk as far under there as I could but maybe I didn't get far enough.


Clear silicone caulk in the corner of the windshield.

You might notice that I have the windshield trim off, which I did for a different reason. Maybe that contributed to it. I'll get that re-installed and we'll see but I'm not holding my breath. I think I missed another crack somewhere. I'm seriously thinking of just buying a another car at this point. I'm not great at this auto repair stuff.

 

Thank you for the response but ... I don't know what those acronyms mean.

 

Service Bulletin - see here:
https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-.../#post52806006

 

Thank you! Several weekends later, I've done what I think is the what the service bulletin requests. Pictures of what i did below. The white stuff is which I applied after prying off the original sealant and then using on all of the appropriate parts.

I've reattached the auto trim and am just waiting for it to rain again to test it.

 

This happened to me. Pulled out the ECU and was fried. I could've gotten it repaired but the 30 year old car deserved a new brain.

 

Thanks h0ndanoob and sorry to hear you had to deal with this problem as well. I'm hoping to avoid replacing the ECU since a "new" one would run me hundreds of dollars unless I can find one in a salvage yard somewhere. Where did you find yours?

Right now, my car runs fine unless it rains so I'm hoping this fix might have done it. Still waiting on that soaking rain for the final test. Cross your fingers for me!

Oh, I should mention that one other thing I did when I had the car apart with the hood off, front cowl removed, and side trim panel detached was clean out all the nooks and crannies of the car to make sure water was able to drain correctly. There was a couple decades of guk in there and it was definitely obstructing the water flow.

 

I bought mine from HAmotorsports. I use to have to wait until the check engine light would come off and the fuel pump prime. This worked for a couple months but the situation will get worse. I replaced the ECU and its been running like a dream.

 

Thanks h0ndanoob! Looks like I'm headed over to HAmotorsports then. After all the fixes I tried, my car is still exhibiting the symptom and literally the only thing I haven't done is replace the ECU so it looks like I'm going to have to fork over a few hundred dollars for a replacement. Wish me luck!

Oh, since my last post I've reassembled the car and silicone'd the windshield cowl to prevent leaks ... still doesn't seem to matter though.

Replacing the ECU is literally the only thing left to try and fix this ... apart from selling the car and getting a new one.

 

I've experienced the same exact symptoms with my 95 Civic LX. Any luck with replacing the ECU?