PLEASE HELP GUYS-Starting up/Ignition Problems (possibly Fueling)


on_jai

on_jai

Spoon Sports EM1
Joined
Nov 30, 2008
Messages
180
Hi guys,

Please advise as i'm stuck and don't know what to do or where to look.

Friday Evening:

Drove the car from work and parked the car at Tescos to buy shopping-trip took 5 mins.

Tried to start the car...it wouldn't start.:shocked: Turn key, and engine cranks with power (New Honda OEM Battery replaced Dec 2010), all dash lights working, stereo, headlights etc all fine, so battery shouldn't be the problem. When turning ignition, can hear the Fuel pump working.

After an hour of regular failed starting-i decided to call a friend to tow the civic back home:mad:

Whilst being towed, approx 5-10mph, i put into 1st Gear, and managed to jump start the car-engine ran and was able to drive home-occasional misfiring

Saturday Morning:

Car wont start again, same as last night:mad:

My friend came out again, and managed to start it up again to drive again as the previous night-only thing is, whilst driving approx 20 mins, and stopped at the lights-engine felt like it was choking, and died out again. :mad:This time wouldn't start again unless it was towed, jump started.

So getting back home, i decided to see what the problem was with suspected loose ignition lead or spark plug problem

Spark Leads were fine, but taking the spark plugs out this was found (picture shows exactly how from left to right, spark plugs taken out from relevant cylinders)

IMG-20110319-00009.jpg


Decided to replace all spark plugs
Did a Full engine oil service
New OEM Distributor was replaced 5 months ago
Ignition Leads were replaced under a year ago
Checked all Under Bonnet and Footwell Fuses-all in good order

Tried turning the key, but again same as before-cranking but not firing-just seems like there's no fuel going:angry2:

So i decided to look at the fuel rail, i took the fuel line out where it connects to the fuel rail turned the ignition key to START position, hear the fuel pump come on for 2 seconds, and see physically that the fuel is pumped from the line to where it should go (i.e Fuel Rail)-so this tells me at least it's not the fuel pump or relay problem (right?)

At this point, i stopped due to other commitments-yet i am so baffled and dont know where to look or what to do.....:(

Please advise guys whether you have experienced anything like this, or recommend what to do, as the last resort i have is to arrange a tow truck to take to garage to diagnose and attempt repair.

Many thanks in advance :bow:
 
Sounds very like a distributor problem. Get a loan of a distributor and try that to see will it fire up.
 
The fact the fuel pump is priming would suggest the main relay is working and the car does run once bump started.
 
mate im having the exact same problem at the minute and im stumped with it as well.
ive ruled out throttle body, iacv, dizzy cap, coolant temp sensors, plugs and leads.
only other thing i can think is distributor which i cant get off, and a compression test.
let me know if you get sorted and ill do the same lol
 
Looks to me like no 2 is running rich/not firing properly (dark gunk all over the electrode of the spark plug). As above, get a loan dizzy (off one that you know runs properly) and try it. If it runs ok...you know where the prob is. :))
 
Vtec6000 said:
Sounds very like a distributor problem. Get a loan of a distributor and try that to see will it fire up.
Click to expand...

I changed the Dizzy already a couple months ago and made sure that the timing was right also-wouldn't think that it was the dizzy-however i will take your comments on board and try out the Dizzy-thanks
 
on_jai said:
I changed the Dizzy already a couple months ago and made sure that the timing was right also-wouldn't think that it was the dizzy-however i will take your comments on board and try out the Dizzy-thanks
Click to expand...

How long has this been going on for?
 
jackhdc2 said:
mate im having the exact same problem at the minute and im stumped with it as well.
ive ruled out throttle body, iacv, dizzy cap, coolant temp sensors, plugs and leads.
only other thing i can think is distributor which i cant get off, and a compression test.
let me know if you get sorted and ill do the same lol
Click to expand...

Me too-i've also cleaned the Idle Control Valve in case that it was blocked which it wasn't but since i was at it i thought i may aswell.

A compression test was advised to me by a former mechanic but i have no clue how to go about that

Will get back to you once i have further updates....
 
Hmmm...you changed your filters recently (fuel+air)?
 
ek9ctr said:
Hmmm...you changed your filters recently (fuel+air)?
Click to expand...

Air filter is J's Racing Intake and filter had been cleaned out approx 2 months ago

Fuel Filter hasn't been changed approx 10 months
 
Filters SHOULD be ok then. Just try the dizzy next mate :)
 
The strange thing is that the distributors only 5 months old.... Well it could of been a friday afternoon special...
 
I know but you want to eliminate as many possibilities as possible :)
 
ignition coil?
ignition module?

kinda the problem im having except the gunk on the spark plug

im getting the above parts fitted to my car tomorrow and ill see if it starts
 
Vtec6000 said:
Sounds very like a distributor problem. Get a loan of a distributor and try that to see will it fire up.
Click to expand...


i had the same problem and it was the dizzie as said above once i changed it started first time and a oem dizzie is 500 new are u sure it wasent the cap u replace lol
 
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