I have a 1991 Honda Civic,4 Cylinder, Standard 5 Speed Transmission, 4-Door, not an SI, with 95,000 miles on it. I just recently purchased it. It will crank but will not start. I have a friend who is a mechanic, and he has been trying to get it running for me (for free) but I am getting frustrated because he has had it for almost two months now with no results. He claims to have tried a different fuel pump, tried switching out the relay, and has checked the wiring to the fuel pump. He is convinced it has something to do with the fuel pump. Obviously I am not totally convinced of his opinion. My question would be 1.) if he tried a different fuel pump, relay and checked the wiring, wouldn't that have ruled out the fuel pump? 2.) What else should be checked that would allow it to turn over but not start?
Oh, by the way, the distributor has been changed out previously.

Like your site, and thanks for any help you can provide.
Michelle

labman

Several things can keep a car from starting. The basics are, pull a spark plug wire and see if you have spark, and remove a fuel injector and see if it sprays gas. Be careful where you spray gas. If you have spark and gas, look at the timing. Pull the distributor cap. Turn the engine to where the line on the pulley lines up with the scale next to it. The rotor should now be pointing to the contacts for either #1 or #2 spark plug wires. If not, it is out of time. If the rotor doesn't move when you turn the engine, the timing belt is broken. If so, $$$$$$$$$.

Check other threads here on Hondas for more details.

CroCivic91

First thing you should do is listen to labman. Have your mechanic make sure the car gets both fuel and spark. If there is no spark - there might be a problem in the distributor assembly (igniter unit, ignition coil, spark plug wires, spark plugs), and if there is no fuel - there might be a problem in delivering fuel, or fuel injectors. Fuel pump gets electricity through a Main Relay, so if the relay is faulty, the fuel pump won't operate. If fuel injectors have too much resistance between the two pins on them, they won't open and let the fuel through. If both fuel and spark are present, you only need the right timing to start the car.

Your ECU stores error codes for errors it found. Have your mechanic check for errors - it might lead him in the right direction. For all of the above - you have more detailed instructions on other posts in this forum. Just search for "Honda Civic" in this forum, you'll find everything.

Just a small note - if your ECU shows error code 16, it means you have a problem in the fuel injection system. Just bare in mind that Main Relay is a part of that system, and that it should be double checked as well.

MFM

hey ok i have no idea how good your friend is at fixen car but the 3 thing you need to start a car is spark, fuel, and compretion. so make sure you have spark and compretion.

ShadyLady

I'd send it back to Japan

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