Re: Mystery No Start -- Please Help
 

"sprog" <UseLinkToEmail@www.autoforumz.com> wrote
> My 1990 Honda Civic 1.5 cranks but will not start. 134k miles. No
> trouble codes on ECU. ECU does give the 1-blink "hello" signal.
> Fuses appear good. Decided to replace starter, which was original.
> No difference. Battery is good. Attempted to start during jump to
> our van -- no difference. Main relay clicks as it should (once at key
> to start, once after check engine light goes off two seconds later,
> once on cranking). Fuel pump whirring noise can be heard with key to
> start position (good). With cover to intake removed, could see and
> smell fuel entering chamber. Starter fluid tried - no effect. I
> suspected ignition might be the problem. Distributor cap, rotor,
> spark plug wires, and plugs were all replaced. Didn't help. Doesn't
> seem to be getting spark. Couldn't get spark from grounded plug
> attached to wire. I measured resistance for both primary and
> secondary in ignition coil -- both were within specs. Wires going to
> ignition coil are receiving battery voltage. Resistances for TDC and
> Crank sensors (within distributor) tested good (Codes 4 and 8).
> Ignition output signal (code 15) also checked out fine. Distributor
> was removed and rotor shaft does turn freely. You can see rotor turn
> while cranking engine. So timing belt is not broken. I suspected the
> igniter (only thing left in distributor) might be the problem, so I
> replaced this. No help (and $70, non-returnable). Anybody have any
> idea what might be causing this?

No spark, despite replacing all these parts and, ISTM, doing a pretty
thorough job of covering all your bases.

I would check the ignitor (even though it's new) per various tests you can
do from the manual or with others' suggestions here and elsewhere.

Then I would start changing out old parts with the new, one by one, to see
if maybe one of the new parts is defective. Also at this time, double check
that you have everything connected correctly.

If everything still checks out, and you still have no spark, I'd be looking
at replacing the distributor housing or ECU. The housing mostly to start
fresh. A new one every dozen years is not a bad idea, given all the problems
it can give.

You gotta get that spark back. The cause shouldn't be too hard to identify.

Elle
Original owner, 91 Civic. On 2nd Distributor housing, 3rd igniter, 3rd coil.
Didn't use OEM always. Big mistake. Use OEM. Car runs like a charm. 40+ mpg.
No oil leaks (though I've been changing the major seals in the last year or
so).