I have a 1991 Civic CX hatchback auto transmission. This car is amazing, drives like a luxury go-kart and always forget the last time I had to fill up with gas. It is really a poor mans Smart Car and I love these Civics

Well... it served me for many many many km with basic maintenance over the years and it still drives straight and lots of pep and now is sitting on the driveway WON"T START

It has a new battery so there is lots of cranking power but it won't fire up.

Here is what it does:

*when turning the ignition I can here the main relay under the dash "click" and I can here a slight hum from the fuel pump under the back seat.
*the engine light comes on then goes off after a few seconds while turing the ignition(I can't recall if the engine light comes on during this process under normal circumstance) anyone know?

Here is how I got it to fire up if I am lucky:

*turing the ignition on and off... on and off.. for many times then try starting the car with my foot on the gas peddle. It still won't fire up...
*again same procedure by turning the ignition on and off and sometimes by doing this I can here the engine flutter once(don't know why it does this when the engine is not running) anyone know?
*as mention above if the engine flutter once I know there is a good chance it will fire up. So I try to start the engine while it cranks the engine finally shows signs of life by fluttering and with the foot on the gas peddle it starts

I drive it around the block and it feels and drives normal but if I shut the engine off it won't start. Anyway it was just a fluke the way I got it to start. Don't know if this is a spark or fuel problem, hoping this would be something minor because it would be shame to end my generation Honda that looks great and drives great when it is running. Please help

Thanks in Advance.

If the CEL comes on and goes off after 2 seconds, when the ignition switch is turned to ON (Position II), then replace the Ignition Control Module (ICM) and coil:

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

If the CEL stays on sometimes, perform the K-Test on the ECM.

I have a 1991 Civic CX hatchback auto transmission. This car is amazing, drives like a luxury go-kart . . .

Not a very flattering description.

If the CEL comes on and goes off after 2 seconds, when the ignition switch is turned to ON (Position II), then replace the Ignition Control Module (ICM) and coil:

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

If the CEL stays on sometimes, perform the K-Test on the ECM.



Thanks TxCreaseMonkey really appreciate your advice in addition to your other posts on this forum:)

My 91 Civic had the Main replay and Coil replaced 80k ago back in 2007. Earlier this moring while the weather was cool I had it started after several tries... took it for a 30km drive.. parked it at a conveniece store.. came back it stalled and could get it started again with numerous attempts.
I tried again a couple of hours later and it started after I flooded badly. At this time the weather is warmer and tried to drive it home but about a km away the car seemed to choke and stalled.
I walked home and had supper and walked back to the car and again it require a flooding before it started. However it didn't stall at all during this everning I droved it near 100km. I think it is going to sit on the driveway until I get this resolved:mad:

I don't have tools to diagnose the car but there is spark. As you mentioned to replace Coil and Ignition Module is there any possibility that it may be the main relay or fuel pump? Thanks look forward to your response.:confused:

If the CEL comes on and goes off after 2 seconds, when the ignition switch is turned to ON (Position II), then replace the Ignition Control Module (ICM) and coil:

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

If the CEL stays on sometimes, perform the K-Test on the ECM.

Hi TxGreaseMonkey,

Just want to verify this, according to the Honda manual it says the check engine light should come On(position II) and should turn off after 2 seconds. Thanks

Yes, that's correct. I want to know that the CEL comes on and goes off normally. If it doesn't, then the ECM may be the problem. Since your CEL is operating normally, the problem is likely distributor related. Because you recently replaced the coil, try just replacing the Ignition Control Module.

I don't suspect the main relay, since the CEL comes on and goes off normally. If it didn't, then the main relay may be suspect. Since you can hear the fuel pump run, I don't think the problem is fuel-related. Most of these problems are electrical.

If the problem persists, check the ignition switch for wear, pitting, or melting:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-2.html#post224652

Yes, that's correct. I want to know that the CEL comes on and goes off normally. If it doesn't, then the ECM may be the problem. Since your CEL is operating normally, the problem is likely distributor related. Because you recently replaced the coil, try just replacing the Ignition Control Module.

I don't suspect the main relay, since the CEL comes on and goes off normally. If it didn't, then the main relay may be suspect. Since you can hear the fuel pump run, I don't think the problem is fuel-related. Most of these problems are electrical.

If the problem persists, check the ignition switch for wear, pitting, or melting:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-2.html#post224652



Hi TxGreaseMonkey,

Okay... I was fortunate today came across an immaculate 91 Civic for parts. He was T-boned and the car was a write off which he bought back cause he had many new parts. I think the tires and rim set he had was worth more than the book value of the car. However I bought his main relay and distributor assembly since he had kept most of his receipts so I am confident the parts of his car is good.

I am going to replace the main relay first to see if this will resolve my starting problem and most likely the distributor unit since the use one I got is way newer than the one I have on my car.

One more mechanical issue I have... the engine fan appears to run constant. The rad fluid is good and topped up and the temp gage is at normal. Any reason for this? Thanks

Don't use tap or well water with your antifreeze--only distilled water. Otherwise, buy prediluted antifreeze. Tap and well water cause mineral build-up (phosphate scale) inside the cooling system. Radiator passages get blocked, the engine starts to run hot, and the cooling fan runs excessively. Make sure this is not you.

Don't use tap or well water with your antifreeze--only distilled water. Otherwise, buy prediluted antifreeze. Tap and well water cause mineral build-up (phosphate scale) inside the cooling system. Radiator passages get blocked, the engine starts to run hot, and the cooling fan runs excessively. Make sure this is not you.


Hello TxGreaseMonkey!

These several days I have been abusing my 91 Civic because it won't fire up, by abusing.. I mean turning the ingition on and off over hundred times and flooding the crap out of it then it sometimes starts. Well...

I feel like an idiot today... why? This car was giving back to me after a couple of years driven by my little brother who was attending college. He assured me the car had a tuned up over this last Christmas(belt change, spark plugs, new battery and so on.. ), until this morning I believe the tune up was done since the battery in the car is new so I assumed and took his word.

This afternoon I was attempting to change the main replay and my little brother called and I quickly asked him where he had the tune up done. Lol.. his quilt wouldn't last long as he apologize letting me know he actually didn't get a tune up and all it needed was a new batttery which he bought for the car. So another words the last time this Civic had a tune up was when I had it 80 thousand km ago and that's when I also had the ignition coil and main relay replaces. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR...

First of all thinking there was a tune up done not long ago this was the reason I didn't check all 4 spark plugs... However I can't really put blame on anyone but myself since checking the plugs is really the first thing to look for when a car is having problem starting.

Well, what do I know.. after spoken to my brother I immediately check the plugs. They were all fouled... 80 thousand km fouled. #1 plug was dry. #2 and #3 plug soaked with oil. And #4 plug was dry.

I cleaned out the two oiled filled spark plug well and replaced all spark plugs and the car FIRED UP:eek: I took it for a long test drive and everything is fine even started up again and again. All I can think of is what's next? Perhaps a igition switch or a starter problem from all the abuse I gave these several days:mad:

I guess what baffles me right now is not knowing it would be the plugs because even with the fouled and oil filled plugs when I had the car started it drove good and there was no hesitation from the engine why is that? I ask this question is because I used to own a 85 Volvo and that car lasted over half million km. It was easier to detect when something goes wrong. If the plugs for bad the car hesitate while ideling or if the fuel pump goes you can try to start it a million times it won't start. Strangely these Civic startles me.. sometimes I wish it won't start at all rathing then just tease.. won't start.. getted started and drives nice.. stalls.. won't start... lmao:cool:

Final note, after changing the plugs and took it for a long test drive I took out the plugs and didn't have any oil on them, plugs looks very rich white tips. Is it a possibility that I had flooded so bad and forcing it start had cause the oil pressure to leak into the spark plug well? Or are the seals getting worn and needs to be replaced? Or is there something worse?

Okay don't laugh I know I feel like an idiot but it has been a rough few days:rolleyes:

I would just replace the spark plug tube seals (easy job)--that will keep any oil out.

If the CEL comes on and goes off after 2 seconds, when the ignition switch is turned to ON (Position II), then replace the Ignition Control Module (ICM) and coil:

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

If the CEL stays on sometimes, perform the K-Test on the ECM.

Thanks TxGreaseMonkey:) You were dead on on this:rolleyes:

After changing the fouled and oil spark plugs the car started and ran for a while but it stalls when engine gets hot.

I was stubborn thinking it might be easier to change the main relay as it looks accessible but it wasn't easy:p Furthermore it still stalls when engine is hot.

Then I replaces the whole distributor... so far so good:D :) :eek: