91 Honda still won't start

sizl37 · #1 Apr 6, 2006, 03:35 AM

Need help. 91 Honda civic wagon still won't start. No crank at all. I have replaced the main relay(new) and the distributor(new). When I turn the key all the lights come on and I can hear the fan. checked the ECU for codes and it shows only the first blink. Checked the timing and looked for bare wires. Not sure if the fuel pump primes when I turn the key not sure what I'm listening for. Going to check for spark and fuel but after that not sure what to do. What else could be preventing it from starting??

CroCivic91 · Apr 6, 2006, 12:40 PM

It doesn't turn over at all? Or it does turn over but will not start?

You shouldn't have gone out buying new parts right away...you never do that, unless you have more money than you really want to have.

Always check for gas and spark before you do ANYTHING on the car. What good is replacing parts that bring fuel to the engine if you're already getting fuel to it?

You hear fuel pump priming in the back of the car...as soon as you turn the key to "II" and you see the lights come on, you will hear a humming sound in the back of your car (under and behind the rear seats). That's your fuel pump. After that, you should hear a click from under the dash (main relay) and the humming sound should stop.

sizl37 · Apr 6, 2006, 06:54 PM

Well the main relay was bad, followed directions from another post and the distributor had two big cracks inside. Wanted to check the plugs for spark 3 weeks ago but the hubby skipped that process lol not sure why. Anyway, the car tried to start by itself with no key and no distributor. That puzzled me. I guess I should get a meter and have him start checking wires and see if there is spark and gas. Any other ideas would be appreciated.
thanks

CroCivic91 · Apr 7, 2006, 01:32 AM

Wow, if the car wanted to start on it's own, without the key in the ignition switch, and without the distributor on, then there's definately something wrong with the wires.

Do you have an aftermarket alarm installed? You should double check it's wires if you do.

sizl37 · Apr 7, 2006, 08:15 AM

No alarm or auto start but it does have a different stereo. He is going to work on it this weekend. getting a multimeter so he can start checking the wires.

thanks

sizl37 · Apr 17, 2006, 08:04 AM

Well we got the car started. Beat on the starter and got it to crank alittle. took it out and had it tested it was bad so we replaced it. runs like a champ now but last night the car started cranking over in the driveway again. It will crank over without key so we had to remove battery cable again and when you put the cable back on you can hear a faint humming noise. This is something that has only happened 3 times and we can't find any bare wires. what the heck could be making the car do this??
Could the after market stereo be the problem if it is wired wrong? Wondering where to look next and at what.

CroCivic91 · Apr 17, 2006, 01:56 PM

Is the humming sound coming from behind? It might be the fuel pump. Can you "hear" fuel "circulating" somewhere under the hood when that humming sound is heard?

It might very well be your main relay. Try to resolder it. I can see that if it's bad, it can cause your fuel pump to work when it's not supposed to, since the main relay controls the fuel pump.

sizl37 · Apr 19, 2006, 08:30 AM

We put in a new main relay, new distributor, new starter and new spark plugs. the old wires where fine checked with a meter. Checked the cables on the battery had one that was frayed. After the starter was replaced the car turned right over and ran very smooth. no problems till around 1am when the car started cranking. I noticed that 2 times that it cranked it was lightly raining. I know that the carpet on drivers side has been wet before for no reason and one time the floor on both sides was soaked. I'm not sure how water is getting in there but maybe something shorted out. not sure if there is a sensor or something in that area of the floor to short out. I know that after it tries to crank it drains the battery and we have to put it on charger. Gonna try to get it started today and see if it register's any codes.
kc

rosseharris · May 8, 2006, 06:20 PM

try and see if you got spark is you do go ahead and open the air box put a little gas or starting flued in it then if it starts and suts off after it gets burned up then it is more then likly your fule pump or maybe you fuse.
hope i was able to help ross

sizl37 · May 8, 2006, 08:06 PM

The car is running fine now except it still tries to start when it rains. Happen to be in the car when it tried to start and turned the key forward and then back and it stopped so I'm thinking there might be a short in an ignition wire. For now we have been disconnecting the battery when we know it's gonna rain and that seems to work. I guess hubby will look for the problem but thanks for the info I'll let him know.



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