94 Civic Ex Need Help

I know this was probibly already posted somewhere but I need answers quick. I have the chance to get a really good deal on this civic. The only problem I was told that it overheats quickly, easy fix I know. But thats not the problem. We started it up and it ran for the first time in a few months. was good for 5 or so minutes then it started idleing funny it would go low for a second and then normal then low again and so on. did this about 10 times then died. We couldn't get it started again. tried a quick fix: cap & rotor, new plugs and wires (something similar happen to my crx and the basic tune worked) anyway did all that and still nothing. The way it was idleing makes me think injectors. The fuel pump primes when you turn the key. The starter is working it just wont turn over. like i said I need help Quick deal wont last:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

:screwy: ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. MAIN RELAY? STARTER CYLINOID? FUEL INJECTORS? FUEL PUMP OR FITER?:screwy:

It sounds like your fuel system, but if you cant even hear the engine try to turn over i'd check the ignition, my friends sentras ignition sounded like it was wroking and the car would run but it eventually died the same as yours and just needed an ignition.

If in doubt call your Honda dealer and ask them they can actually help alot more than you think, jut dont go to them to buy anything lol.

search for someone have the same you ECU and try it it may be from the ECU.

Thanks alot I'll give it a try

Well about overheating it also could be a thermostat along with the other things. Check your fuel filter, pump, and if everything else fails clean your injectors and fuel system. But do it professionally, that shit you pour into the gas tank is useless and causes more wear than help. Where I work, we use special 3 step program, where this one part goes into the tank, other is ran through the fuel system by itself and 3rd is forced under pressure though the intake manifold. But again Check everything before you run cleaners.

you say it overheats and idles up and down. try checking the compression to verify that the head gasket is still good.

wouldnt hurt to check for vac leaks, tps, map, and iacv. also wouldnt hurt to check thermostat, radiator, all hoses, and look for leaks.

you say it overheats and idles up and down. try checking the compression to verify that the head gasket is still good.

wouldnt hurt to check for vac leaks, tps, map, and iacv. also wouldnt hurt to check thermostat, radiator, all hoses, and look for leaks.

I'm going to do a compression test this afternoon and double check the ecu. Now you say a blown head gaskset, would cause it to overheat and idle dumb, but could that also cause the car not start?


I was also thinking the overheating might be the water pump, which in turn could of effcted the timing belt which would cause the car not to start. Does this sound possible or probable????

low and uneven compression will prevent the car from starting. it will also cause erratic idling. before going to the water pump, make sure the rest of your cooling system is fine.

So if the compression is no good that means bad head gasket? never changed one, is it really hard

are you good at working with cars? i did mine with my chilton manual and i didnt find it that bad but it is time consuming.

Do you know of any FAQ's or how to's that could guide me through better? I have the Haynes but they tend to be a bit short on details

Bad news, well I hope not. I have begun the changing of the head gasket. when I went to drain the oil there was about on quart in there. Could the engine be locked up? Say no. How could you tell if it was locked up? It ran for less than five minutes before it died,could it lock up that quick? Some one please help me

just stick it in neutral and turn the crank pulley bolt and see if it spins

Well I'm happy to say the engine is not locked. Got the gasket changed didn't look bad, but there was alot of oil leaking from underneath the ditributor(not from the distributor though) Found out the lower timng belt cover was strait melted all over the water pump, gonna put in a new one; cover and pump and see what happens. Thanks for everyones help.