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I have a 2000 Honda civic LX 4dr sedan, automatic. 100% stock, with 160K miles on the clock. Back in July of last year, the muffler/cat exhaust fell off and we stopped driving it. Other than being loud, it ran fine. It sat until December and when I tried to start it. I have a no start condition. I have spark of some sort, it is consistent, and it acts as if it is not getting fuel. My fuel pump works and I have fuel pressure all the way up to the banjo bolt on the fuel rail.
I have sprayed a fair amount of starting fluid, and even poured some fuel down the throttle body but not even a pop. I had a similar issue with an LT1 V8 powered GM product and it turned out to be a fuel pump. On that vehicle I also put what I felt was enough supplemental fuel to fire it and could not get it to start.
What are my next steps in diagnosing the problem?
Like with my other car, I don’t understand why a vehicle that “ran when parked” that has spark will not fire with starting fluid or some other supplemental fuel.
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Assuming there are no codes:
Have you made sure fuel pressure is up to spec for starting pressure? Make sure the injectors are operating by pulling the plugs and making sure there’s fuel in the cylinders. Also check for water in that 6-month-old fuel.
I’m wondering what you mean by “spark of some sort”. Have you used a spark tester?
See if this helps:
https://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-no-start-problems/no-start-problems[quote=”relative4″ post=183322]Assuming there are no codes:
Have you made sure fuel pressure is up to spec for starting pressure? Make sure the injectors are operating by pulling the plugs and making sure there’s fuel in the cylinders. Also check for water in that 6-month-old fuel.
I’m wondering what you mean by “spark of some sort”. Have you used a spark tester?
See if this helps:
https://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-no-start-problems/no-start-problems%5B/quote%5DI have no idea as to what “starting pressure” might be or how to properly test it. I don’t believe there is a Schrader valve for hooking up a gauge.
Spark of some sort means that I have spark, it is consistent and at timed intervals when cranking. I have spark I used a new spark plug. I cannot guarantee and have no way to test if it is still properly timed. I can only ASSuME it is still in time.
I do not believe there are any codes and I will try to check this evening to be certain.
I also went thru the link prior to posting. that why I check for fuel pump operation and fuel at the banjo bolt.[quote=”irfangnosis” post=183320]I have a 2000 Honda civic LX 4dr sedan, automatic. 100% stock, with 160K miles on the clock. Back in July of last year, the muffler/cat exhaust fell off and we stopped driving it. Other than being loud, it ran fine. It sat until December and when I tried to start it. I have a no start condition. I have spark of some sort, it is consistent, and it acts as if it is not getting fuel. My fuel pump works and I have fuel pressure all the way up to the banjo bolt on the fuel rail.
I have sprayed a fair amount of starting fluid, and even poured some fuel down the throttle body but not even a pop. I had a similar issue with an LT1 V8 powered GM product and it turned out to be a fuel pump. On that vehicle I also put what I felt was enough supplemental fuel to fire it and could not get it to start.
What are my next steps in diagnosing the problem?
Like with my other car, I don’t understand why a vehicle that “ran when parked” that has spark will not fire with starting fluid or some other supplemental fuel.[/quote]
Has it ever overheated on you before? it is possible that you have coolant in the piston and it is preventing you from starting up. I had this issue with my 93 civic before. I got it to start by putting it at full throttle while giving the key to start the car. after a little struggle it came on…[quote=”ElCrazy93″ post=183347]
Has it ever overheated on you before? it is possible that you have coolant in the piston and it is preventing you from starting up. I had this issue with my 93 civic before. I got it to start by putting it at full throttle while giving the key to start the car. after a little struggle it came on…[/quote]I would bet my life there is no coolant in the combustion chamber.
[quote=”knurmi” post=183386]Scan for codes![/quote]
will do. hopefully it will be a little warmer tomorrow. it was single digits yesterday.First things first – does the engine crank?
My fuel pump works and I have fuel pressure all the way up to the banjo bolt on the fuel rail.
What pressure did your gauge show? What did it read as you cranked the engine (assuming it does crank)? You can hook a fuel pressure gauge to the banjo bolt on the fuel filter. Don’t rely on seeing fuel after loosening the bolt, which will mislead you if your pressure is weak.
What are my next steps in diagnosing the problem?
For a cranking no start, you can use a tried-and-true method called FASTTEC to systematically rule out possible causes:
[quote=”civvy” post=183552]First things first – does the engine crank?
My fuel pump works and I have fuel pressure all the way up to the banjo bolt on the fuel rail.
What pressure did your gauge show? What did it read as you cranked the engine (assuming it does crank)? You can hook a fuel pressure gauge to the banjo bolt on the fuel filter. Don’t rely on seeing fuel after loosening the bolt, which will mislead you if your pressure is weak.
What are my next steps in diagnosing the problem?
For a cranking no start, you can use a tried-and-true method called FASTTEC to systematically rule out possible causes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuRI8bjjNho%5B/quote%5D
thank you for the video. I will watch it when I can for more insight.
To clarify yes the engine cranks. Otherwise I would not be able to say unequivocally it has a consistent spark (IE a single spark plug will spark at what appears to be an appropriate interval) I have no idea whether or not it is properly timed. Assuming magic fairies did not change timing while the car sat. I can ASSuME it is still timed. And it is a strong bright spark not a weak spark.
The fuel pump is pumping, fuels sprays out prodigiously if you crack either banjo bolt. It is not 5 psi. IDK what is required. Maybe it requires 45PSI and I only have 30psi. I assume I can rig something up to my fuel pressure gauge to get an accurate reading. I have not gotten that far yet.
I have not done a compression check, but the sound coming out of the nearly open exhaust (while cranking) seems like it has compression.
What I was hoping is that with Eric’s love for Hondas, there would be someone here with a similar vintage Civic who went thru the same thing.
I have two other vehicles that need work ahead of this one. I have not had time to work on them let alone this one.
[quote=”irfangnosis” post=183363][quote=”ElCrazy93″ post=183347]
Has it ever overheated on you before? it is possible that you have coolant in the piston and it is preventing you from starting up. I had this issue with my 93 civic before. I got it to start by putting it at full throttle while giving the key to start the car. after a little struggle it came on…[/quote]I would bet my life there is no coolant in the combustion chamber.[/quote]
I am happy that is not the case at all. Did you get the car going?[quote=”ElCrazy93″ post=183747][quote=”irfangnosis” post=183363][quote=”ElCrazy93″ post=183347]
Has it ever overheated on you before? it is possible that you have coolant in the piston and it is preventing you from starting up. I had this issue with my 93 civic before. I got it to start by putting it at full throttle while giving the key to start the car. after a little struggle it came on…[/quote]I would bet my life there is no coolant in the combustion chamber.[/quote]
I am happy that is not the case at all. Did you get the car going?[/quote]No, I haven’t had time to do much. I just put brakes on the wife’s car, and I have to fix the alternator on the Odyssey before I can get back to this.
I don’t drive this vehicle anymore, so it is not a priority right now. when I first posted this it was the only thing on my plate, but other crap has gotten in the way. 🙁[quote=”irfangnosis” post=183799][quote=”ElCrazy93″ post=183747][quote=”irfangnosis” post=183363][quote=”ElCrazy93″ post=183347]
Has it ever overheated on you before? it is possible that you have coolant in the piston and it is preventing you from starting up. I had this issue with my 93 civic before. I got it to start by putting it at full throttle while giving the key to start the car. after a little struggle it came on…[/quote]I would bet my life there is no coolant in the combustion chamber.[/quote]
I am happy that is not the case at all. Did you get the car going?[/quote]No, I haven’t had time to do much. I just put brakes on the wife’s car, and I have to fix the alternator on the Odyssey before I can get back to this.
I don’t drive this vehicle anymore, so it is not a priority right now. when I first posted this it was the only thing on my plate, but other crap has gotten in the way. :([/quote]
Isn’t that the way it always goes though? That is one luxury of people who go and get involved in the debt scheme the auto industry has going on about their brand new cars. You find something wrong with it, you take it back and trade it in for another brand new one. You will never be out of debt but hey, you get to skip out on auto repair…. lol
I hope you do get the car running though good luck
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