Hopefully, this is not a redundant Honda Civic Question…

A few days ago I went out to start my 2000 Honda Civic LX and it wouldn’t turn over. It had been parked for a day. I ended up calling triple A and the guy first checked my battery. It was rated marginal. He used his handheld jump, but that wouldn’t get the car to start. Then he went back to his truck, I should explain that he didn’t appear to speak much English, and got some gas. My tank was ¾ full so a lack of gas wasn’t the problem. He poured ~ a tablespoons worth through my air filter. I tried to start the car again, but that didn’t fix it. Then it appeared that he reached down into, or near, the filter and while I tried to start the car he pushed something. It promptly turned over. I put my car in neutral and he was able to manipulate the RPMs with his hand. As I was still in the car I couldn’t see what he was doing. Anyway, that seemed to fix the problem and my car hasn’t had a problem starting since. I tried to ask him about what was wrong with my car and it sounded like it was something with my fuel pump, but that it wasn’t serious.

Basically, I’m wondering what exactly he did to get my car to start (I couldn’t see very well from the driver’s seat) and how I could replicate the experience myself if my car fails to start again.

Thanks.

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Originally Posted by Aspivelox

Basically, I’m wondering what exactly he did to get my car to start (I couldn’t see very well from the driver’s seat) and how I could replicate the experience myself if my car fails to start again.

Thanks.

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Right now, the only reasonable thing to push while starting the car (and manipulate the rpms) is the throttle cable. Your gas pedal is connected to the throttle body via a throttle cable. Throttle body is attached to the intake manifold, and a tube that brings air from the filter to the intake manifold is connected to the other side of the throttle body. It has a spring on itself. When you start the car and put it in neutral, you can go to the throttle body and operate the cable with your hand... if that makes you happy :)

However, I'm not sure how he would explain something is wrong with the fuel pump, since it's driven by electricity, and you cannot push anything under the hood to operate the pump. Also, when you turn the key to "II" listen to the sounds in your car. If you hear a humming sound from behind which stops at the same time that you hear a click from under the dash - your fuel pump is working fine.

I'd go and get my computer connected to a OBD-II diagnostics tool to read errors from your ECU (ECM).

I am puzzled too, and hoped Cro would come up with a good answer. With the old carburetors, you had to kick the gas pedal to set the choke. I think they were long gone by 00. I have always heard that messing with the gas pedal accomplishes nothing with fuel injection.

Stuck throttle plate?

Hey, that could be it. I understand you can use wide open throttle to clear a flooded engine because on start, it shuts off the injectors. If it was stuck wide open, knocking it loose would allow starting the engine. Adding the gas to the air filter and having it fire a little would have told him the problem was a lack of gas.