87 civic crx idled funny, now won't start.
zoroastr
12-14-2005, 08:40 PM
Ji folks...
I'm a noob here becasue my car just failed to start for the first time. Any helpful advice you can offer would br gr8tly appreciated!
background:
i'm not a mechanic at all, but I'd like to try to fix this myself if I can. About a year ago the car started exhibiting the following symptoms:
1. started fine, after a minute or so, idle would begin swinging between 1000 and 1500 rpm until warm, then settle out at 1000 [normal].
2. on occasion, after driving for a while and parking, the car would fail to start. after waiting about 10 minutes, it would fire up fine. This condition seemed stable, and only a minor annoyance.
Yesterday, it did the same fail-to-start thing, but I couldn't get it going until after about 15 minutes. Then, 2day, it refused to start at all.
my naiive opinion is that this must be related to some fuel/pump or fuel filter thing. Are there some easy troubleshooting steps I can take? Can anyone make an informed guess as to what this repair might entail? I'm a poor student, so dough is an issue.
THANKS!
I'm a noob here becasue my car just failed to start for the first time. Any helpful advice you can offer would br gr8tly appreciated!
background:
i'm not a mechanic at all, but I'd like to try to fix this myself if I can. About a year ago the car started exhibiting the following symptoms:
1. started fine, after a minute or so, idle would begin swinging between 1000 and 1500 rpm until warm, then settle out at 1000 [normal].
2. on occasion, after driving for a while and parking, the car would fail to start. after waiting about 10 minutes, it would fire up fine. This condition seemed stable, and only a minor annoyance.
Yesterday, it did the same fail-to-start thing, but I couldn't get it going until after about 15 minutes. Then, 2day, it refused to start at all.
my naiive opinion is that this must be related to some fuel/pump or fuel filter thing. Are there some easy troubleshooting steps I can take? Can anyone make an informed guess as to what this repair might entail? I'm a poor student, so dough is an issue.
THANKS!
lxndr
12-17-2005, 01:11 AM
Ji zoroastr...
Welcome to the forums!
Welcome to the forums!
ecobwg
12-17-2005, 06:34 AM
Ji zoroastr...
Welcome to the forums!
lol @ lxndr.
Hi, Well I don't know much about the non carb cars, but if you suspect it is fuel related and in the absence of any other replies, I'll give some generic pointers.
Can you hear the fuel pump priming when the ignition is turned on?
Does the car turn over OK on the starter but just not fire? Does it semi catch or just turn over, whats the speed of turnover etc.
Do you have a spark at the plugs?
Might have to leave it to others to advise on how to check if there is a fuel supply to the injectors.
Welcome to the forums!
lol @ lxndr.
Hi, Well I don't know much about the non carb cars, but if you suspect it is fuel related and in the absence of any other replies, I'll give some generic pointers.
Can you hear the fuel pump priming when the ignition is turned on?
Does the car turn over OK on the starter but just not fire? Does it semi catch or just turn over, whats the speed of turnover etc.
Do you have a spark at the plugs?
Might have to leave it to others to advise on how to check if there is a fuel supply to the injectors.
lxndr
12-17-2005, 03:26 PM
lol @ lxndr.
LOL! I was going to give a serious response eventually!
Anyway, it sounds like the main relay to me. To follow up with what ecobwg mentioned, if you turn the key into the on position (right before the start position) you should hear a faint click by your left ankle (assuming you've got a USDM car), then you should hear the fuel pump prime.
If you don't hear the click then you've got a bad main relay or bad wiring to the relay. It's a pain in the butt, but you can take it out and test it with a volt meter.
If you do hear a click but you don't hear the fuel pump, then you've got a bad fuel pump or bad wiring.
I'd start with the simple things first, check your fuses and make sure you don't have any frayed or disconnected wires. Then move on to the main relay. The relay is located behind the fuse box by your left knee and has a brown base. You should pick up a repair manual for more info.
LOL! I was going to give a serious response eventually!
Anyway, it sounds like the main relay to me. To follow up with what ecobwg mentioned, if you turn the key into the on position (right before the start position) you should hear a faint click by your left ankle (assuming you've got a USDM car), then you should hear the fuel pump prime.
If you don't hear the click then you've got a bad main relay or bad wiring to the relay. It's a pain in the butt, but you can take it out and test it with a volt meter.
If you do hear a click but you don't hear the fuel pump, then you've got a bad fuel pump or bad wiring.
I'd start with the simple things first, check your fuses and make sure you don't have any frayed or disconnected wires. Then move on to the main relay. The relay is located behind the fuse box by your left knee and has a brown base. You should pick up a repair manual for more info.
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