My 1995 civic will not start. I have never had a problem with this car before. The battery is fairly new; only about a year old. It cranks just fine with a normal starting sound, but nothing else happens. I've checked all the fuses and they're all fine. I thought it was flooded, so I tried starting it with the pedal all the way down, but that didn't help at all. It smells of gas now, from opening it all the way, so I know fuel is actually getting somewhere. I just had a major tune up done less than a year ago with new spark plugs, new timing belts, new fuel and water pump, everything.

Any suggestions on helping me diagnose and repair this problem?

txgreasemonkey

If you turn your ignition ON, the Check Engine Light, on a properly running Honda, should come on and then go off after 2 seconds. During this time, you should hear the fuel pump run. If the Check Engine Light does not come on and then go off, focus on the main relay, ECM, and ignition switch.

So, describe what your Check Engine Light, battery light, oil pressure light, and fuel pump are doing?

Did you check all under-hood and under-dash fuses?

What's the mileage on your Civic?

JugglingWolves

The check engine light functions properly. It turns on and after a second or two relay, it shuts off. The only other light that comes on and stays on until I turn the ignition is the oil light, but that shuts off after I crank it for a few seconds.

Fuel pump sounds like it's working and it's brand new. I also smell fuel when I pump the gas pedal.

I did check all fuses, both inside and out.

Ignition switch went out on this car about four years ago and it doesn't feel like the same problem. When it went out before hand, it would crank and start, but would only continue running if I held the key in the start position.

I am very perplexed by this problem. There is something else, but it might be a coincidence. My Miata quit running yesterday and I tried to jump start it with my honda. I know that I hooked everything up right when I tried to jump start the miata (it didn't work for the miata, because as it turns out, it's another yet undiagnosed problem). The bit that makes me feel like it's a coincidence is that the honda ran totally fine after that for the rest of the day. I only had problems starting it this morning when we went to go look at a new Honda.

EDIT: Mileage is just over 162,000
Battery light turns on when the key is in the on position and flickers when I try to start, then stays on after I quit trying.

txgreasemonkey

Have you checked for spark?

JugglingWolves

Not yet, as I don't have a spark plug wrench. These spark plugs are about 7 months old and are upper end parts. It sounds to me like it could be spark issues, but intuitively I don't think it is. My brother is on his way over with his tools to try and help me figure it out.

Any idea what it could be if the spark plugs are okay?

txgreasemonkey

You don't have to remove a plug. Disconnect one of the plug wires, attach it to an old plug, and touch it to the ground on top of the valve cover, while someone cranks the engine. Look for spark. I'm sure your existing plugs are fine.

Since your Check Engine Light, fuses, ECM, and fuel pump appear to be working OK, then the problem should be in the ignition system. If you don't get spark, I would focus on the igniter (ICM) and coil inside the distributor. With the mileage you have on your Civic, the igniter is a prime suspect, which Autozone can test for free.

JugglingWolves

If I don't have an old plug laying around, is there any other way I can test if there's spark?

txgreasemonkey

Yes, pull one of the wires out of the distributor and hold it about 1/2" from the distributor socket and have someone else crank the engine. Only do this for several seconds. This will also test your coil. Alternatively, stick a plastic handle screwdriver in where the spark plug goes and hold it near the ground on top of the valve cover and look for spark, as a friend cranks the engine.

JugglingWolves

I just tried holding the wire close to the distributer socket and absolutely nothing happened. So you suspect it's the igniter? Is this part of the ignition switch?

txgreasemonkey

No, it's inside the distributor. It is an electronic analog to points on older cars. It causes the electric field in the coil's primary circuit to build-up and collapse, thereby generating high voltage in the secondary circuit of the coil. It's this voltage that goes to the spark plugs.