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    ESR's Avatar
    ESR Posts: 9, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Sep 21, 2012, 12:59 PM
    Civic Won't Start, Even After Several Tests
    1994 Honda Civic LX; 1.5L; D15B7 engine

    I just finished changing the head cover and valve cover gaskets, water pump, timing belt, accessory belts, spark plugs and when I put everything back together, it wouldn't start. To be specific, it did start, but it sounded like a whole bunch of metal in a blender :) Fortunately, it wasn't incorrect timing, but a dented flywheel cover and the flywheel bolts were hitting the dent. However, we had thought at the time that it might have been incorrect timing, and we cranked it over with all the spark plugs removed. Later, we found and fixed the dented flywheel cover, but then it wouldn't start.

    Gasoline is definitely getting to the cylinders as evidenced by the smell when we remove a spark plug.

    All my tests have come back perfectly within the book specifications:
    ICM (although I bought and installed a new one anyways)
    Coil (low and high end)
    Crank Position Sensor
    Spark Plug wires

    Besides showing that nothing is short circuited, it also shows that the ignition switch is good because battery voltage is present at the ICM.

    We thought possibly that the ECM was bad, and put a jumper wire across the two ends of the diagnostic port. The CEL stayed on while the SRS light flashed, seemingly indicating that no codes were flagged and that the ECM might be OK. We then did the "K-test" on the MAP sensor and it showed an even 5.0 volts (good).

    We wondered if the rotor was bad, and so we put a spark plug wire directly to the coil tower on the high side of the coil and cranked the motor and we still didn't see a spark.

    Any thoughts? Could the coil be bad and yet still show a proper resistance?

    Thanks
    TxGreaseMonkey's Avatar
    TxGreaseMonkey Posts: 16,761, Reputation: 5597
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    #2

    Sep 21, 2012, 01:27 PM
    Install a new coil and it should fire right up. Bench testing coils and ICMs is a waste of time. It doesn't come close to simulating conditions under load.
    ESR's Avatar
    ESR Posts: 9, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #3

    Oct 4, 2012, 07:07 PM
    It was the coil :) Sorry I didn't post results sooner. Thanks TxGreaseMonkey- I was counting on you to answer!
    TxGreaseMonkey's Avatar
    TxGreaseMonkey Posts: 16,761, Reputation: 5597
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    #4

    Oct 5, 2012, 06:07 AM
    Very nice job! Several weeks ago, I helped a neighbor do basically the same job, when her 2002 Civic overheated and blew the head gasket.
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