hey guys, i know you have alot of no-start threads but i was hoping someone could help me out. my (pretty much stock) '88 civic was having body work done to it for the past few months, so it hasn't been driven in a while. During those months I have installed a brand new oem honda fuel pump, optima yellow top battery, new NGK spark plugs, and new distributor cap. I can't figure out why this thing doesn't start, it cranks all day long.. the timing belt isn't broken.. I have fuel (I can smell it coming out the tailpipe), and I pulled out a spark plug & wire and grounded it.. it sparks, but it doesn't seem that strong.. if anyone has any advice i'd greatly appreciate it.

 

samething happened to me a few years back. after hours of checking everything possible, i was told to try and release the gas line pressure (honda said) at the fuel filter. did that and it started up. Not saying that'll work for ya, but worth a shot/

 

how do i release the pressure? do i just loosen the banjo bolt on the line going to the fuel filter? thanks for your reply

 

My civic started real hard after 3-4 months storage, I diluted the old gas and it started up real quick. Next time I'll remember to add stabilizer.

-Dustin

 

what did you dilute the old gas with? just put new gas in it? I've got about 3 gallons or so of new gas.. is there some additive that i may need?

 

put alittle oil done ur cylinders via the spark plug tube.. i'm talking a cap full tops.. crank it over for about 10 seconds.. if it doesn't start, then have someone disconnect all the injectors till it sounds like the engine has compression again.. then try reconnecting them, ur just gonna have to play with the injectors, whats happening is the engine is getting flood with gas, and its eating up oil in the cylinder and this not making enough compression for the motor to start

 

should i try a thicker weight oil, being that it's an older motor (160k)? i've been using mobil 1 10w30 for the past 40k miles, maybe it's time to try dino oil? thanks for ur reply

 

alright, i got it so that the car will run for a couple seconds but it won't idle, and it won't continue running if i step on the gas. i installed a new fuel filter on it, and when i did this i had jumper cables hooked up to the battery. what else could be wrong?