88 Civic won't to start when hot

My Civic starts right up when cold.

When the engine gets hot, however, I can crank it and crank it, but it won't start. Sometimes I can get it going with some starting spray.

Here's the symptoms:

No ECU codes present.
Fuel pump activates (I don't think it's the main relay)
Replaced fuel filter
Spark present.

Could the fuel pump not be getting the pressure high enough to start a hot engine? Any tips or past experience would be greatly appreciated!

just a thought... my civic would do that once and a while and if i took off the gas cap to release the pressure it would start up fine.

OK, it's not the main relay, I took it out, resoldered it, and renstalled it. Car started up cold, ran it a while, wouldn't start hot--relay was "clicking" though (3 times), and the fuel pump was pumping.

Finally got it to start hot, clouds of smoke came pouring out of the exhaust. Maybe too weak of a spark?


Any suggestions or thoughts?

my civic used to do this, and it ended up being a bad head gasket. And it would smoke real bad also, but it was water in the cylinders causing it, so I guess it wasn't really smoke. I replaced the gasket and everything was fine.

Oz

i was thinking the same with the HG.

have you checked for spark when this is happening?

What color smoke?

White = head gasket
blue = oil comsumption
black = rich mixture

These are typical

What color smoke?

White = head gasket
blue = oil comsumption
black = rich mixture

These are typical

BIG TIME white smoke. That makes sense why I keep having to add coolant, and can't find a leak on the ground. *%&#@! How long does it take to replace an 88 DX head gasket? Any good websites with instructions or tips? My Chilton manual is kinda weak. I wish it was my main relay that was broken!

I took mine off, drove 20 miles one way to get another one, came back, put it on, all within 3 hours, so it isn't that hard at all. Just be sure to get your torques right.

Oz

I took mine off, drove 20 miles one way to get another one, came back, put it on, all within 3 hours, so it isn't that hard at all. Just be sure to get your torques right.

Oz

Also i would take the time to bring it to a machine shop or if you know how with a straight edge to check and make sure the head isnt warped while its off the car...could save you a 80 dollar headgasket and a set of headbolts in the end...BTW some people say you can reuse head bolts, but yourself a favor and just buy new ones. they are torque to yeild and no matter wut people say they WILL be stretched still after you take them out and there is no pressure on them.

Also i would take the time to bring it to a machine shop or if you know how with a straight edge to check and make sure the head isnt warped while its off the car...could save you a 80 dollar headgasket and a set of headbolts in the end...BTW some people say you can reuse head bolts, but yourself a favor and just buy new ones. they are torque to yeild and no matter wut people say they WILL be stretched still after you take them out and there is no pressure on them.

Well this is only temp til I get a new motor in Feb. and 80 dollars for a headgasket?? where are you getting them. I paid 20 for mine. and yes, the head is very bad on my car, it's been SEVERELY overheated like 4 times. It is so warped that I almost couldn't get one plug out, and i can't get the thermostat housing off, I tried, and it busted the bolt off, luckily it doesn't leak. It smokes like a freightrain too. Oh well, a month and a half to go, :D

Oz

Well this is only temp til I get a new motor in Feb. and 80 dollars for a headgasket?? where are you getting them. I paid 20 for mine. and yes, the head is very bad on my car, it's been SEVERELY overheated like 4 times. It is so warped that I almost couldn't get one plug out, and i can't get the thermostat housing off, I tried, and it busted the bolt off, luckily it doesn't leak. It smokes like a freightrain too. Oh well, a month and a half to go, :D

Oz

Got the head off. It was the power steering pump bracket that was wedging the head on, even though the bolts for the bracket on the head were removed. Just had to take the power steering pump off. She's back together, no white smoke, and no problems starting when hot now. Yeah, paid $25 for the gasket and reused the head bolts. I only paid $100 for the car, so as long as she runs good I'm happy.

Cool. Good to hear, glad you are back going again.

Oz

Well this is only temp til I get a new motor in Feb. and 80 dollars for a headgasket?? where are you getting them. I paid 20 for mine. and yes, the head is very bad on my car, it's been SEVERELY overheated like 4 times. It is so warped that I almost couldn't get one plug out, and i can't get the thermostat housing off, I tried, and it busted the bolt off, luckily it doesn't leak. It smokes like a freightrain too. Oh well, a month and a half to go, :D

Oz

OEM HG biatch...only way to go

Not when it's just temporary, kinda pointless to put on a 80 dollar part for a few months, when a 20 will work.

Oz