Starting problems

O.k., I just bought a 1990 honda civic 4 door and It ran fine all the way home. I started it 3 different times before I got it home (stopped at the store and a friends house). Well now it won't start, I checked the battery and it needed to be charged and there's this green colored powder around the positive terminal. Well I charged the battery and it still won't start. I lifted the 4 plug things on top and there was oil on the bottom's of them, is this bad? does anyone have any helpful hints or suggestions?

We need more detail. What exactly are "plug things"? Does the car crank at all or does it do nothing? It is most likely your starter is dead or your main relay is bad.

Im not to sure what it's called.It has wires that lead to distrubitor cap, I really dont know how to describe it. I checked the distribitor cap for moisture and it was dry but a little dirty. I tried to start it after that and it started. I let it idle for a min then turned it off. I tried to start it again and it didn't work. I'm gonna try a new cap and some new sparkplugs and see if that helps. but i'm worried about the oil on the bottom of the plug though. my dad says it's nothing major, but i dunno.

Did you fully charge the battery?

Does the car start fine if you boost it?

Maybe the battery isn't properly holding a charge or maybe your alternator is shot and isn't charging it properly.

How are the ignition wires?

No i didn't fully charge the battery, the alt. seems to be fine, i didn't check the ignition wires, it's storming out right now, so i can't go check them real fast. didn't boost it, just charged the battery. there's like a green colored powder on my battery around the positive terminal, what could that be? I believe it's a 1.6 L, is there any kind of certain spark plugs I should look for or get?

Originally posted by frozen_Joth
No i didn't fully charge the battery, the alt. seems to be fine, i didn't check the ignition wires, it's storming out right now, so i can't go check them real fast. didn't boost it, just charged the battery. there's like a green colored powder on my battery around the positive terminal, what could that be? I believe it's a 1.6 L, is there any kind of certain spark plugs I should look for or get?


Well I'm no expert but you should first fully charge the battery and see if the problems continues...

Is there a reason the battery is so low? Leave the lights on etc?

No i didn't leave any lights on or anything, if i got time i'm gonna pick up a new battery tomorrow to. It just sucks to drive a car home that seems to run fine then you get home and can't even get it started.

Originally posted by frozen_Joth
No i didn't leave any lights on or anything, if i got time i'm gonna pick up a new battery tomorrow to. It just sucks to drive a car home that seems to run fine then you get home and can't even get it started.

If the new battery doesn't solve it, I would look at your ignition wires and your alternator.

Trust me, I know the feeling, I've replaced tons of shit on mine since I bought it in february.

Distributor cap, plugs, ignition wires, muffler, exhaust pipe w/ resonator, catalytic converter, oxygen sensor, headlight bulbs, heater panel bulbs
new tires, air filter, front & rear wipers, transmission fluid flushed

What do you expect though, 12 to 15 year old cars need some TLC.

:bananasmi

Yeah some TLC always works, does the 1.6 L have the MPFI in it already? Mine says MPFI on it, that's good right? This is my first 4th gen and don't jack about it..., yet! thanks for your help though.