I need help. My '92 Civic won't start. It cranks up fine and tries to catch but it just will not catch and keep running. This has happened a few times before, usually when it was raining but it is quite stubbornly refusing to start regardless of the weather now. Another symptom is that in the past couple days it has died on me a couple of times even while I was driving.

The car had the distributor and wires replaced a little over a year ago (and a year before that). I had suspected a fuel line issue since the car probably has well over 200K (my odometer/speedometer quit about 10 years ago - working only very intermittently and registering about 140K) However, I am smelling fuel pretty strongly when I try to start it so I don't think that is the issue. I am also hearing a whirring sound when I try to start it which I am thinking is the fuel pump.

My thought now is that it is the ignition coil but I am not very knowledgeable in cars. I also read a couple threads on here about the ECM. I don't think the check engine light stays on. The vehicle is off in a parking lot across town right now dead so I can't check it. But nothing appeared out of the ordinary on the dash.

Any help/advice would be appreciated. Thanks very much.

Sounds like a classic example of not installing a genuine Honda distributor. Over 50% of new aftermarket distributors for Hondas don't work out of the box, at AMHD. Many of the remaining aftermarket distributors die prematurely or fail intermittently.

Install a genuine Honda distributor housing--it's fine to install an aftermarket Ignition Control Module (ICM) and coil, to keep the cost down. Here's how to install a new ICM and coil:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-4.html#post265896

Here's how to install the distributor:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-4.html#post288473

This presumes the CEL comes on for two seconds and then goes out, when the ignition switch is turned to ON (Position II), and the fuel pump runs during this interval.

This action should restore "like new" reliability and performance.

Thank you TxGreaseMonkey,

The first distributor that failed was put in by a Honda Dealer so I expect it was a genuine part. The second was by another repair shop in town so genuine or not I don't know.

The CEL does come on for two seconds and then goes off. So if I am hearing you right I need to replace all three: the distributor, the coil and the ICM. Just doing the coil and the ICM won't do it and a new coil and ICM are not already mounted in the new distributor.

Also I can't find how to rate your answers. I appreciate your help and would love to give you a good rating if only I could find the rating button.

Thank you very much for your help.

To rate someone, I think you need to be a member for more than 48 hours and have made at least 5 postings.

See if the current distributor came with a lifetime warranty. Otherwise, I would install a genuine Honda distributor housing with an aftermarket ICM and coil. This will keep the cost down. Another possibility is to buy a complete distributor (Honda) from salvage. Try to get it from a low mileage car involved in an accident.

I will check it out. Thank you very much.