88 Honda Civic Won't Start
Hi there, and thanks in advance for any help or advice you may have.
My Honda Civic recently stopped starting altogether (it hasn't been an intermittent problem, it simply stopped starting one day and hasn't started since). I had been driving it off and on for much of the day, but I the engine was only off for 3-4 minutes before I tried to start it and it first stopped working. It had been sitting for much longer periods not too much earlier in the day. When I opened the hood it seemed rather hot so I let it sit for awhile, but to no avail. I can still use the radio, lights, etc. and I can push start the car and it seems to run fine that way.
Anyway, when I attempt to start the car, I hear a sharp click (not sure if that was there before or not) and the lights dim and the radio goes off, but no noise from the engine other than a hissing sound I could hear from engine when I had the hood up and someone turning the key to the ignition position. As I said before, the car is push startable and the lights work. Also, the battery is about three months old, and when I went to check the ECU, there was only the one flash from turning the key to II and then nothing.
Is there anything I can do to locate the source of the problem, before I resort to taking it to a mechanic? I read the FAQ at the top of this forum but a lot of it seemed dependent upon the ECU codes; sorry if I missed something. Thanks again for any help you may have.
Mine would crank and not start...
Does your engine turn over?
I would turn my key to run (position II) and nothing would happen. No 2 second fuel pump charge, no lights on the dash, no clock, no power windows. Turning the key to start would crank, but the engine would die as soon as I stopped cranking.
However, if I provided a slight bit of pressure counter-clockwise on the key, voilą, the lights would come on and I could then start the enging (turning to position III). While I originally assumed my issue was the Main Relay, I am now think it is the ignition in the steering column.
My issue also did not cause an error code.