1989 Honda Civic LX won't start

greeg32 · #1 Feb 12, 2006, 07:01 PM

Read your FAQ and am at a dead end.

It had been not starting on moist days due to bad distributor gasket and/or old rotor. The other day at a gas station it would not start (very cold day). It turns over but does not start

1. Replaced the Distributor Cap and Rotor - still did not start, so I:
2. Checked for spark, there is good spark on all plugs.
3. Checked for gas delivery, there is gas.
4. Checked the timing, that is fine too.
5. Checked the main relay, just for the heck of it. It's fine.

Next step? (CroCivic, any ideas?)

Thanks in advance.

CroCivic91 · Feb 13, 2006, 12:22 AM

Are you getting any error codes?

You saying "it wouldn't start on a very cold day" makes me think there could be a problem with the battery. If you connect your battery to another car's battery with cables, can you start the car? Does it turn over slower than usual?

greeg32 · Feb 13, 2006, 11:43 AM

It had started twice easily on the same day before the problem started and I was only stopped at the gas station for 5 minutes. It turned over well at that time but would not start.

The LED blinked continuously the day after it wouldn't start (no numbers of blinks, just kept going). Then I disconnected the battery to clean the terminals and such. When I reconnected it gave only the quick "hello" blink and nothing else.

The battery is relatively new, and it turns over well on its own. After 3 days of trying to start it after adjustments I would connect my other car to it with cables and kept a charger on it over nights.

greeg32 · Feb 15, 2006, 05:15 AM

Any other ideas?

unclejohnny · Feb 15, 2006, 01:55 PM

Have you tried checking for shorts in the ignition switch? Checked for shorts in the starter wiring that could cause the battery to discharge? Checked connections on starter? Is starter pinion engaging flywheel? Any of these could cause it not to start, if engine is turning over, disregard that last one. it could be the flywheel has some broken teeth on it that would cause it to turn over sometimes, but not all the time

greeg32 · Feb 16, 2006, 05:09 AM

It always turns over, never starts. I really don't think the battery is the problem.

What are the symptoms of a short in the ignition switch?

greeg32 · Apr 17, 2006, 05:35 AM

Well, I pulled this car out of the garage this weekend, low and behold it gives me an error 16 message (no message previously).

Another recap: turns over, doesn't start, there's spark, timing is fine, compression is good, main relay and fuel pump are fine.

What are my next steps?

CroCivic91 · Apr 17, 2006, 02:58 PM

Check if it's getting gas.

Error 16 means problems with fuel delivery. Might be your fuel injectors, if it's not your main relay.