honda civic del sol won't start

mike123 · Mar 4, 2005, 04:53 PM

My 93 Honda civic del sol had been sitting in my driveway for a couple of months. After I charged the battery, I started my Honda and let it run. It ran
for 20 minutes with no problem. It then stalled, when I attempted to start it again, it wouldn't start. The engin turns over but it just wont start. At first I thought I might have flooded it but even after an hour or so still no luck. Could it be a fuse or perhaps the fuel pump? I appreciate any suggestions. Thanks

fadedindigo · Sep 22, 2005, 04:53 AM

I will check all the fuses and the ignitor this afternoon and let you know how it goes.

Is there a way I can use the circuit tester to test the ignitor without getting a new ignitor?

Thanks.

-Dave

CroCivic91 · Sep 22, 2005, 05:05 AM

First, are you sure the car is not getting a spark? Have you tried pulling one spark plug wire off, attaching a known working spark plug to it, make contact between the tip of the spark plug and the strut tower and observe for sparks while someone is cranking the car? Watch out to hold the spark plug by it's top to avoid getting jolted by electricity

If all that fails, and your igniter unit has 4 wires attached to it (i'm not sure if there are any differences between 88-91 Civics and Del Sol), then check the FAQ on this forum for instructions how to check the wiring around igniter unit. If the coil is working fine, if all fuses are ok, if ECU is working right and tests for wiring around igniter unit test out fine, then you should replace the igniter unit. Also, try getting someone to loan you a known working igniter - it is the easiest method to test it.

fadedindigo · Sep 22, 2005, 03:35 PM

Hi. I was able to test the ICM and here are the results:

1. Black/Yellow + Ground = ~130 mV
2. White/Blue + Ground = ~170 mV
3. Blue + White/Blue = 2.076 K-Ohms

The Haynes manual (the manual is horrible!) says there should be voltage on test 1 and 2..and there was. The 3rd test should be between 1.1 and 3.3 K-Ohms...and it was.

I haven't checked the fuse yet...I need to figure out how...sorry im new at this lol. There is a fuse box on the passenger side under the hood. I saw ones that were screwed down in the box and ones that were smaller and colorful. The ones that were screwed down had numbers written on them like 50A and so on, but the ones that were colorful had smaller numbers like 17 and 10, etc. There were two big ones with 50A on it.

Do I unscrew them to test them? ...I pray that its just a blown fuse or something because I am getting angry at this car. If it doesn't start soon I may just have to get it towed or something and fork over the cash.

The car isnt getting any spark. I tested with the spark tester on each of the wires and none of them did anything. I tested it at what it said I should have it set to on the package. I even tried moving the gap on the tester to serveral different distances just to be sure.

Thanks for your help.

-Dave

CroCivic91 · Sep 22, 2005, 04:20 PM

Ok, so the ignition coil is working right, and wiring around the igniter unit is fine. I would say you should just replace the igniter unit.

Fuses are just pieces of wire. Check to see if they're burned through. You can see it by looking from above.

I'm 95% sure it's the igniter unit. As i said, TRY to get a known working one and try it out. If it throws a spark after you put it in - buy a new one (or a known working used one).

fadedindigo · Sep 23, 2005, 02:44 PM

Hi there.

I placed an order for a new ignitor unit and it will be here on Sunday.

While I was out, I bought a new fuel filter and replaced it because it hasnt been replaced since we got the car. I tried to start it anyway and still no go.

I hope the new ignitor will start it up and if it doesnt then im returning the ignitor and just having it towed unless you have more suggestions.

I will let you know how it goes when it arrives.

Thank you for all your help.

Oh..do you know if the clock in a del Sol uses a fuse because the clock not been working since we've gotten the car.

-Dave

CroCivic91 · Sep 23, 2005, 03:12 PM

I know that 88-91 civics use a fuse for the clock. But it's the same fuse that is used for the gauges lighting, turn signal lights, back-up lights, speed sensor, automatic seat belt control unit and some other things. I'm not sure about del sol, but i guess it should not be any different.

Check your fuses under the dash...there should be writing on the panel that you take out to access fuses saying which fuse is used for what.

fadedindigo · Sep 25, 2005, 11:55 AM

Hi.

I got the ignitor unit today. I tried to remove the old ignitor by following the Haynes manual (it told me to remove two screws and pull the unit straight out). My question is, which two screws because I see like 3 screws and 1 of them is very difficult to get to. Anyway, I tried to remove the screws, but they were on there so god damn tight. The screw driver started to strip the screw so I gave up.

Which two screws am I unscrewing?

I can provide a picture if you want one.

-Dave

CroCivic91 · Sep 25, 2005, 02:23 PM

You can provide the picture if you want to.

2 screws are 7mm screws. You can take a 7mm wrench or a socket, and undo those. I don't beleive you can undo them with a screwdriver if this is the first time in a long time that they're unscrewed. The third one is keeping the wires tightly to the igniter unit. You HAVE to undo that one with a screwdriver. Try spraying some WD-40 on it and trying again.

One other method i've found good is this: Spray it with some WD-40, then take a small hammer and hit it a few times. Not too hard cuz you might screw something up, but give it a whack or two. It might loosen the nuts some. Do it a few times - spray and whack it. It should come off easier.

----- EDIT -----

I am attaching a picture of a distributor off of a '90 CRX with D16A8 in it. You can see 2 holes with 2 screws missing in it. That's where the 2 screws that are holding the igniter unit to distributor are.

fadedindigo · Sep 28, 2005, 01:20 PM

Hi.

I was able to remove the old ignitor and install the new one. I put everything back the way it was and the car still didnt start.

What should I do now?

I will have it towed this weekend if it doesnt start by then...the car is pissing me off.

CroCivic91 · Sep 28, 2005, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fadedindigo

Hi.

I was able to remove the old ignitor and install the new one. I put everything back the way it was and the car still didnt start.

What should I do now?

I will have it towed this weekend if it doesnt start by then...the car is pissing me off.

Are you certain you connected the wires back to the igniter in the correct order?



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