first the details: 91 civic DX sedan, 1.5L FI 5 speed.

last sunday i went to move it out of the driveway (thank god i didnt get any further $$$) and after running fine for a few seconds, i went to put it in reverse when it shut off. just off, like you turned the key off. I didn't start to let the clutch out, i didn't even get it into gear. Now when you turn the key it cranks but doesn't start.

It has spark, fuel and compression. Now I'm out of ideas, anybody got any?

 

If it has spark, fuel and compression it should run. If it doesn't you have an issue with timing of one sort or another. I would start by check to be sure you have good compression >125psi and that the cylinders are within 10-15% of each other and then I would look at ignition timing with a timing light (have someone crank the engine while you hold a timing light on the crank pulley)and if thats Ok check fuel pressure. If all of these items check out ok I'd spray a little bit of ether in the intake to be sure that the injector is deliverig fuel. If the car sputters and tries to start with the ether than you might have a faulty ECU.

Check your compression and Ignition timing first and let us know what's up.

 

ok i agree with everything that super chicken said, also you could try checking for injector pulse, this is a dx model so you only have 2 injectors. hondas sometimes have problems with the injector resistor (the little silver box on the fender well). try tapping this while having someone crank the car. if still noting take one of the injector wires off and probe it with a test light. one side should have either key on 2 sec power or constant power and the other should have a negative pulse with cranking, make sure to check the intensity of the light while cranking it should be pretty bright but not as bright as 12v normally the pulse is only about 5v or so. let us know what happens

 

i used a fuel pressure testing gauge to check the fuel pressure at the fuel filter, its within spec, and i got fuel out of the pressure regulator by disconnecting the return line and collecting it in a container, its flowing the correct volume.

today i was planning to look at the timing belt, its got 20k miles no it, so im doubtful its broken, though anything can happen. it may have slipped a tooth or something. its a major PITA just too look at it, the valve cover has to come off to get the timing belt cover off. My friend has a 91 CRX SI and he leaves his timing belt cover off all the time, would i be taking a risk by doing the same?

the injectors are getting power and they click when they get power. What i don't know is if they are spraying fuel or not. how can i test for this?

 

do the ether trick and see if it starts or tries to. Also check your ignition timing before you take off the valve cover, use a timing light, If you find that your timing is off check that your cap and rotor are OK and not something stupid like your rotor button breaking etc. causing all of this **** to happen