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superdaredork · Oct 17, 2006, 02:43 PM

So I have a 1995 HONDA CIVIC. Its been great for me since I bought it in march 2006. But now my car won't start. It has randomly not started 3 times in the past few weeks. The first time I didn't do anything. Then a few days later it randomly started up again. I went and got my oil changed, and got gas, and a new battery. It drove fine until Thursday. It wouldn't start. It just sat in my school parking lot overnight. The next day it randomly started. My car has been fine until yesterday. It didn't start. My friend (who works at as a mechanic) helped me change my spark plugs, and my air filter. When we changed the spark plugs we noticed that one of the gaskets was flooded with oil. After fixing that, my car still wouldn't start. Its still in the parking lot at school, and I need to get it home.
thanks

TxGreaseMonkey · Oct 17, 2006, 05:58 PM

I tried to help you but you didn't respond, when I took the time to list basic diagnostic steps to identify your problem. Possible causes are bad igniter, coil, main relay, or ECM (computer).

superdaredork · Oct 17, 2006, 07:01 PM

Sorry. I'm new to this and I just figured out how to respond.
But thanks for taking your time to listen and help me.

What do you recommend I do? I don't have a lot of money, and payday isn't until next month for me.

TxGreaseMonkey · Oct 17, 2006, 07:09 PM

OK.

1. When you turn the ignition switch to ON (not START), does the Check Engine Light (CEL) come on and then go off after 2 seconds?

2. During this 2 second period, do you hear the fuel pump in the gas tank run?

3. When the CEL goes out, do you hear (or feel) the main relay "click"?

I need you to specifically answer each question, individually. Your answers tell me a lot and affects the direction we go from here.

superdaredork · Oct 17, 2006, 07:12 PM

You. The light does that. But there's no click.

TxGreaseMonkey · Oct 17, 2006, 07:19 PM

Are you sure there is no click?

Do you hear the fuel pump run?

TxGreaseMonkey · Oct 17, 2006, 07:40 PM

Based on your answer that the main relay does not click, when the CEL goes out, you need to replace the main relay.

superdaredork · Oct 17, 2006, 07:43 PM

Replace the fuel pump?
Is that cheap?

TxGreaseMonkey · Oct 17, 2006, 07:44 PM

Not fuel pump, but main relay.

Did you hear the fuel pump run?

superdaredork · Oct 17, 2006, 07:46 PM

I don't know. I don't know what that would sound like.

TxGreaseMonkey · Oct 17, 2006, 07:49 PM

It's a distinct "whine." Open your window and you should hear the sound coming from your gas tank.

If you can't hear the fuel pump run, it's a confirming indicator that the main relay is bad.

For a 1995 Civic DX, the best price I have seen for a main relay is from RockAuto.com:

Standard Motor Products, RY422, $41.79+shipping.

Get your mechanic friend to install it. Some Honda owners remove their main relays, resolder them, and have had good luck with the results. Most people just buy a new one and replace them.

blakmayle · Apr 3, 2011, 07:38 AM

I am having that same issue with my car it will randomly stop working and then maybe a week or so later it will start back up. I noticed that when my car does it its cold outside. Someone told me that if I smelled gas when I tried to start it at the muffler then it was my fuel pump is that right?