93 Civic Si won't start???

I purchased a 93 Si from an old couple. After a few months of having it, it didn't crank one day. I thought it was not having power so I jump start it and it didn't start. So next I thought it was the starter. Replaced it with one off my other civic I had. It still didn't work. I doubled check even triple check everything from the ECU codes (which there was no codes throwing at all), ground wires, wires to starter, fuses in engine bay, and in the car. Car still won't crank! AHHH! Hurting my head just thinking about it. I even tried to jump start it. But the odd thing is what my dad told me to do is, he told me to push start it. It worked, but when I shut the car off and try to crank it, it did the same thing NOTHING. But while I was driving around the block, it kinda sputtered like it wanted to shut off. Have any of you fellas ran into something like this? :confused: :(

It sounds like your battery isn't holding a charge. I don't really understand this part, but it's something i've noticed from prior experience (someone correct me if i'm wrong - there could've been other things that contributed to this):

When you start your car, it takes power from the battery (duh). When you jump a car, it feeds power to the battery (duh). If the battery is completely dead, no current can travel.

Like i said, i'm not sure if that's the answer, just something i noticed on my car awhile back, but if you've got another vic (like the one you got the starter from), and you know the battery works, just swap it in and try it. Can't hurt.


Actually, as I think more about this, I think i've got it backwards... in my situation, i think i couldn't pop the clutch to make it start, but i could jump it.... I don't know =)

Just try the battery thing haha. Probably is wrong, but it'll only take 5 minutes to do...

I think try the battery is a good place to start. I had a friend with a CRX who's car acted like that once. I think it was the battery. Could have been the alternator, it was a while ago. But if the battery is hella dead, it wont hold a charge, or the alternator is broke and wont recharge it, or both. HX is right though, it's really quick to check and rule out those possibilities.

i've run across this problem many times.....in most cases, acrua's and honda's ignition coil goes bad....the car cranks but doesnt start....did you try testing if there's any spark going to the spark plugs??? if not, i can guarantee it's something to do with the distributor and most times its the internal ignition coil... check for spark..hope it helps..laters

Well I'm at work right now guys, thanks for the the replys and suggestions. Not to confuse anybody, car doesn't crank or turnover. Earlier this morning I've tried to crank it again and nothing, no sound. I can only get it to crank or get the engine started by push starting it. Jump starting doesn't even work at all. I haven't checked the spark plugs or distributor yet, but I'll do it when I get home. Someone suggested that it could be the main relay, can it? Keep the replies coming guys! ;)

OK guys thanks for the replys, I've found what the problem was. It was the clutch switch! Damn how was I STUPID! Not to check. Now its running. Thanks, again for giving me suggestions on whats wrong. :p :D

Don't worry, it happened to me with my SVT Focus. It just shatttered into a million pieces one day.

4bngr is absolutely right on this one, your ignition coil is out....but it would be best to check that other stuff first cause i used to make the bad mistake of thinking it was one thing and replacing it and the problem still existed, but i think it will be your coil

well shit i guess if i had finished reading all the replies i might not be a day late and a dollar short on the answer huh...........boy i feel stupid

It's all good, it happens to the best of us, at one point or another;)

excuse me, but what the hell is a cluch switch?

uhh.... when you start your car you have to push in the cluth first. Well if the switch breaks, the car doesnt know that your pushing the clutch so it wont try to start. You can actually get a bypass though.. My friend has his integra like that. He can start it without pushing the clutch at all.

damn im an idiot, i should have known that, thanks for the info. That would be cool to start your car without the cluch pedal..

Originally posted by sageuvagony
uhh.... when you start your car you have to push in the cluth first. Well if the switch breaks, the car doesnt know that your pushing the clutch so it wont try to start. You can actually get a bypass though.. My friend has his integra like that. He can start it without pushing the clutch at all.
What kind of electrical work is involved in such a thing?

am7787, stay in the wrx or suburu forum's if your gonna talk shit like that. Here's an idea for you. If you don't like civics, stay outta the civic forums:D :twak:

sup all im currently having the same problem...my car wont start but it turns over...we checked for sparks and ther was none...so i bought a new igniter and coil and still no go...i guess my question is if my clutch switch went bad will the car still make a spark or no??? im going to have the mechanic check the switch anyway...any info would be appreciated.

What kind of electrical work is involved in such a thing?

old thread, but i'm interested in this also as my clutch switch is either bad or going bad.

i had an 88 crx and i didnt have to put the clutch in. Must have been a fluke for that year becasue the 89 you have to. Thats actually the only way i pretty much knew it was an 88.