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zmasterflex
User
May 6, 2010, 9:13 AM
Post #1 of 6
(3503 views)
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Honda Civic won't start
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98 Honda Civic Lx 150k. I just picked up this car and it won't start. Yesterday after much cranking and hitting the gas pedal it started, ran it for 10 minutes. At times the idle dropped really low. After the car was warmed up a bit I turned it on and off a few times and it started right away. I changed the fuel filter and put in some fuel injector cleaner but today the car won't start. I used a noid light and it was blinking while cranking and the plugs are sparking also. I smell the gas as I crank it. I changed the coolant temp sensor but no luck yet. The tool rentals here don't rent fuel pressure gauges and the cheapest one here now is 42$. Before I buy this thing, is there any other thing to check? If I do buy it what pressure should it be at? If its at the wrong pressure then its the fuel pump the right pressure its the regulator? Is this correct? any advice would be appreciated thanks
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Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran
/ Moderator
May 6, 2010, 5:39 PM
Post #2 of 6
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Re: Honda Civic won't start
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zmasterflex; This 'smacks' of an overfueling problem. When the engine did start and run, did it run rough? Any trouble codes stored? With a scanner, you can 'see' what the computer is seeing. You could be right on the money with the CTS, but a scanner would tell you. If it was the CTS, the system could be flooded so badly at this point, you may need to clean or replace the plugs and change the oil and filter due to fuel contamination. It's also possible that cam timing is off a tooth or two. Once you have checked the basics/common faults, you may have to check for a jumped belt. All this is assuming that you are not losing spark.
Loren
SW Washington
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zmasterflex
User
May 7, 2010, 11:43 AM
Post #3 of 6
(3484 views)
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Re: Honda Civic won't start
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Thanks for the quick reply. The first thing I did when the car started was take it to autozone and check the codes (nothing). After I changed the cts the car still didn't start but eventually it did and drove fine except for a few brief times it idled really low. Today it started up fine and I drove no prob all around town to get the fuel injector cleaner through the system. I just have to wait for it to act up or not start again. A dealer I called said that there never are fuel pump problems on the civics and its probably an igniter (?) or distributor cap. The first thing I checked for though was spark. If the igniter (or whatever ignition component he's refering to) is bad, would that prevent the car from starting sporadically and then dropping to a low idle? thanks
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Loren Champlain Sr
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/ Moderator
May 7, 2010, 4:56 PM
Post #4 of 6
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Re: Honda Civic won't start
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zmaster; The ignitor and PGMIF relay are common causes of stalling on Honda. But, they either work, or not. Yes, can be intermittent. Sounds like the CTS may have fixed it for you. Don't overlook the oil. If it was overfueling, the oil is probably contaminated with fuel and should be changed. Agree with the dealer. Can't ever remember having to replace a fuel pump in an injected Honda.
Let me explain about the oil. The PCV system picks up crankcase vapors and reburns them. If the oil has been contaminated with fuel, it introduces that fuel contaminated oil vapor into the combustion chamber making it run rich. Not to mention, dilluting the oil, and causing a lack of lubrication to the engine. Kind of a 'domino' effect.
Loren
SW Washington
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zmasterflex
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May 8, 2010, 7:23 PM
Post #5 of 6
(3476 views)
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Re: Honda Civic won't start
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tyvm this has been really helpful.
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re-tired
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May 9, 2010, 7:21 AM
Post #6 of 6
(3469 views)
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Re: Honda Civic won't start
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Good work Loren. Another happy customer.
LIFE'S SHORT GO FISH
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