Heres the story on the car.

We bought a automatic civic ex sedan for my niece last week. We test drove it and it ran like a champ. The only problem was there was no reverse. Other then that the car was mint condition and has all records and carfax.

Now heres the problem:

When we bought the car, the gas gauge was on Empty. We drove it to gas station and filled up the tank. Got ready to drive it home and it wont start. It just keep cranking and cranking.

After a few minutes the car started up and I was able to drive it home but it wouldnt go more then 10 mph.. Lucky I was only a few blocks from home.

I cant seem to figure out what the problem could be. I checked all the fuzes the dizzy, spark plugs, wires, timing, and fuel. When I got turn the key on it primes and everything. The car almost sounds like its gonna start but just keeps on cranking. I'm stuck and out of ideas.

I'm thinking it might be a bad fuel filter, fuel pump, or relay. Any help is appricaited.. Thanks in advance..

 

It deffinetly sounds like a fuel problem, You can do a fuel pressure test, But id say replace the fuel filter first, because it probably needs one anyway, and its easy. if your still having a problem, fuel pressure test it, and then id say its the fuel pump

 

Ditto the above.^^^

Fuel filter first, [same reason] then a fuel pressure check.

If you know how to solder, remove the PGM-FI Main Relay and do a "fix"... http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/mainrelay.html to make sure that the problem is not just cold solder joints.

Unplug the spark plug leads from the spark plugs and make sure there is no moisture in the leads or down in the spark plug "tubes", pull the plugs and inspect them for gap and condition, [color]...
http://www.autolite.com/pdf/PlugTips.pdf 94

 

I might be speaking non sence but....

Have you tried removing your gas cap then starting it?
Or do hondas have a separate vent hole for gas tanks?

HondaMotive

 

Actually a loose gas cap will get you a CEL on most cars, "EVAP pressure"
But good thought if the tank has built up a vacuum in it for some reason.94

 

Thanks for all the input guys.. I'm lending toward the fuel pump. I'll keep you guys updated.

 

Its possible the rotor in the distributor broke or fell off.
You can check your fuel pump by removing the fuel rail from the fuel filter and turning the ignition on and off real quick. It should shoot gas out of the line, and if it does come out that means the gas pump is good. Its easier to check with two people. (be careful because it does shoot gas out)

 

I had an issue like this once on a 01 or 02 (whatever the first year of the "EP" body) it ended up being an ECU and main relay issue...make sure your getting 12v to the fuel pump while the engine is cranking or running

 

Its your main relay. Mine did this all the time bang it around and itll start.. Their 50 bucks at the dealer. IN STOCK!

 

[QUOTE=burton450r;37084734]Its possible the rotor in the distributor broke or fell off.
QUOTE]


I took another dizzy off my friend and it did the same thing. Took the original one and swap and it started on my buddies so its not the dizzy for sure.. i'm aiming towards the reply and fuel pump.. I'll know for sure this weekend. Thanks again for all the input.

 

Got it. It could also be the spark plug wires. The engine spudders when they are cracked. I think it is the relay. You should swap out the relay with your buddies. When I had a problem with the fuel pump, the car wouldnt start at all so I dont think its the fuel pump. When I had a problem with a relay, it would randomly turn on. I think you found your problem

 

Dude did you take off your spark plugs and wires to see if your getting fuel to your motor...if you are then its not your fuel pump...lmk if you need help..i should be free this weeknd

 

I'm aiming towards the fuel pump but i'll switch the reply's and see if it helps..

 

Alright guys. So I work on the car today but again had no luck. I bought a new fuel pump and main reply but still nothing. I'm stuck now.. There is fuel, timing is dead on, I have spark. I check all the ground wires and fuses. They all look good.. Any other suggestions??

 

any other ideas??

 

car jumped time and now wont start..or timing belt broken, how many miles

 

Are you absolutely sure there is fuel and a good spark, pull a plug after trying to start the car, it should be wet with fuel and smell like it.
Also check spark at the plug, ground the plug and have someone crank the engine and see what kind of spark you get at the plug.

Installing new parts is an expensive way to troubleshoot for a problem, although it will work, eventually, the defective part will be the last one you swap out and that only works if the first part you swap is the bad part, making it the last part. 94

 

try a another ecu

 

I'm positive there is fuel and spark. I switched the dizzy with a working one and same thing. I losen up the fuel line and turn key to on and had a friend see if it shot fuel and it did.. I even switched to a different fuel pump and same thing. I changed the main reply with a working one and nothing.. I re-checked timing and its dead on the marks. I re-checked all fuses, and ground and everything checks out.. I'm out of ideas now. A few buddys suggest that it might be bad gas but I just fill it up the day we bought it. Do you think it might be that since the gas tank was empty while the owner had it in winter and during that time there might of been vapor or ice in the gas tank??

 

Help!!

 

Changing the distributor does not mean spark is not the problem, it only means the distributor and it's "guts" are good, how about power to the distributor or the spark plug leads, pull a spark plug, ground it and see what kind of spark you are getting.

It makes no diff. if the fuel pump and PGM-FI Main Relay are working and "shot fuel out" of a loosened connection if the injectors are not working.

You need to confirm that you have a good spark at the spark plugs, and you need to confirm there is fuel getting into the cylinders.

If timing, [and firing order] is/are correct, and there is a good spark, and fuel the engine should start and run, something must be missing or wrong for it not to. 94

 

have you checked the timing belt as stated before?

 

I've check the timing belt and all marks are dead on both at cam gear and crank pulley.. The reason why I'm crossing out the dizzy is because its from a running car and when i grounded a spark plug to the wire it had good spark. Another reason to believe the injectors are working is because i pulled the spark plugs out after countless cranks and there is fuel on the tips. I'm stuck with the only asumption that it might be bad gas?

 

just because you can see a spark on a plug doesnt necessarily mean you have good spark.

 

That would have to be pretty bad gas if the engine will not even fire now.
If it is "bad gas" your only option would be to drain it out and replace it with new gas.

As for the spark, how good is it, how far will the spark jump if you move the plug away from the ground, what color is the spark? 94