Well I had to go pick some stuff for work at the local hardware store this morning and took my Ef civic. Started just fine from home but when I wnet to start it after shopping it did something really weird. Turned the ignition and then it backfired. Tried to re-start it and it wouldn't catch. It would almost catch but just didn't stay on, even if I pressed down on the gas pedal a bit. I am guessing it is one of 2 things. Lack of oil and engine just died or the head gasket. The funny thing is that the temperature didn't go over it's normal running level so I find it odd that it could be the head gasket. I haven't gone to see if the timing belt snapped but can it be any of these and which is it more likley to be?

 

Check the timing belt and make sure it hasn't broken or slipped. Check your oil and coolant levels.

 

How did you come to the conclusion it was lack of oil, timing belt, or headgasket?
OIL? Was your oil light on for a long time?
Lack of oil tends to seize the engine or destroy your bearings.
You would get "wonderful" noises if any of that happened.

Sounds like it might be something much more simple.

Check the ECU for codes.


Since are worried that it might be the timign belt, pull the upper t-belt cover off and check that out. I don't think that's the problem though. That would be a freak accident if it worked fine to the store and then just BROKE when you tried to start the car.

Check for fuel. It might be the main relay (my first guess).
Check spark. Might be something in the distributor (ignitor is my second guess).
Then check compression to see if it's something more serious.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4drEF &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How did you come to the conclusion it was lack of oil, timing belt, or headgasket?
OIL? Was your oil light on for a long time?
Lack of oil tends to seize the engine or destroy your bearings.
You would get "wonderful" noises if any of that happened.

Sounds like it might be something much more simple.

Check the ECU for codes.


Since are worried that it might be the timign belt, pull the upper t-belt cover off and check that out. I don't think that's the problem though. That would be a freak accident if it worked fine to the store and then just BROKE when you tried to start the car.

Check for fuel. It might be the main relay (my first guess).
Check spark. Might be something in the distributor (ignitor is my second guess).
Then check compression to see if it's something more serious.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Do what he listed and get back to us

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4drEF &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How did you come to the conclusion it was lack of oil, timing belt, or headgasket?
OIL? Was your oil light on for a long time?
Lack of oil tends to seize the engine or destroy your bearings.
You would get "wonderful" noises if any of that happened.

Sounds like it might be something much more simple.

Check the ECU for codes.


Since are worried that it might be the timign belt, pull the upper t-belt cover off and check that out. I don't think that's the problem though. That would be a freak accident if it worked fine to the store and then just BROKE when you tried to start the car.

Check for fuel. It might be the main relay (my first guess).
Check spark. Might be something in the distributor (ignitor is my second guess).
Then check compression to see if it's something more serious.</TD></TR></TABLE>

The oil light wasn't on but I just threw that out there as a possibility... I don't think it could be that but I'll check all the fluids just to be sure and then the fuel pump, spark and compression and the T belt.

 

make sure to check the rotor button. Thats sounds like symptoms that my friend was having. Rotor button had fell off.

Also as stated above Main Relay.

 

i would check the ecu or maybe somthin came loose (lack of a wire connection)

 

Well it's funny. The car started up on Monday night and I got it home. After I checked th fluids I was missing 1/4 liter of rad fluid and the car was low on oil but not dry so I filled the sucker back to required levels and started her up and again she started up BUT!!! with the a scary clickity noise. I think it's the valvs that need to be adjusted but I'm not sure. It sounds truly like a 80's diesel VW. I'm going to let the oil settle into the engine (I know it's useless but it was late when I tried the engine out), doing a compression test and seeing if the engine is smoking because it did smell like burning oil when it was clicking like diesel.

I usually check the oil one a week and have to top it off with a liter every 3000-4000km but ignored it over the last 2 weeks and have done a lot of running around for work.

If it's the engine that is shot I think I ain't going to replace the engine as the car is starting to really show it's age and the cancerous rust is getting pretty bad. It may be time to get an EK hatch as the daily driver. Anyone have one and have feedback on them?