Hello...and help!

[HabFan#1]

Hello everyone...here is my dilemma:

90 Civic HB Si (STD 1.5L Engine)

So I'm driving home last night (12:15am) and I'm almost home and my car just shuts off, just stops...I turn the key (going 110 kph) and it starts again for a second and shuts right back off again!

So it's sitting on the side of the road now in a lot (after much grunting and pushing) and everything comes on when I turn the key, radio, dash lights, heater fan...but when I turn the key to start...it want's to start but there is almost a screeching sound and it won't start...help!

Jason

[CRXperiment]

You probably have no spark. Im almost 99% sure its your ignitor in your distributor. It could also be your coil, but the fact that it started for a second and shut off points to ignitor. BTW, how can your civic be an Si if it has an STD D15B1 motor?

[HabFan#1]

Originally Posted by CRXperiment

You probably have no spark. Im almost 99% sure its your ignitor in your distributor. It could also be your coil, but the fact that it started for a second and shut off points to ignitor. BTW, how can your civic be an Si if it has an STD D15B1 motor?

THe Civic is an Si...I originally bought it for a parts car ($325) for my STD, but the I got in a head on collision with a Dodge Ram (ouch) and my STD was out of commission. The parts car (Si) has a busted motor in it, my STD had a perfectly good working motor in it...do a swap and my Hybrid SI/STD is born. Basically it's better mileage than the Si but more power than the STD.

But it's nothing...in it's current state

Jason

PS> How would i know if it's the ignitor? Is that in the cap? Do I just change the cap if so?

[CRXperiment]

Originally Posted by HabFan#1

PS> How would i know if it's the ignitor? Is that in the cap? Do I just change the cap if so?

Start by checking for spark, I highly doubt you'll have any. Changing the cap wont fix your ignitor. If you take your cap off, youll notice underneath the distributor assembly theres a plastic piece, above that is the ignitor.

http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/start...tml#badigniter

[bambam89lx]

definitely sounds ignition related. The check engine light doesn't STAY on when you turn the key to on? Make sure the rotor hasn't fallen off either, it's happened many times before.

[HabFan#1]

Originally Posted by bambam89lx

definitely sounds ignition related. The check engine light doesn't STAY on when you turn the key to on? Make sure the rotor hasn't fallen off either, it's happened many times before.

I'm not sure about the check engine light, but I don't think it stays on...ummm, make sure 'what' rotor hasn't fallen off...not sure what you mean by that?

Jason

[CRXperiment]

Originally Posted by HabFan#1

I'm not sure about the check engine light, but I don't think it stays on...ummm, make sure 'what' rotor hasn't fallen off...not sure what you mean by that?

Jason

The rotor inside your distributor. Try taking off your distributor cap, its held by 3 screws. Check to see if your rotor came loose and check the screw holding it on for looseness. IMO, if you dont have experience with ignition systems and what not, I would not recommend you trying to fix your problem. Dont attempt to diagnose or replace your ignitor if you dont know where and what the distributor rotor is. If your not sure about how to replace anything, either read up on it or take it to a mechanic.

[FrodoGT]

You could take the cap off without much difficulty and you really couldn't mess anything up, the igniter however you should get outside assistance with.

[HabFan#1]

Hi gang...thanks for all the replies...car is still sitting in the same place (crappy thing is it's a block from my house!)

So far I've attempted to get the old altenator out and get the re-built one in...which I haven't been able to do due to the bottom bolt being siezed...and I've been beating on it...dammit! The altenator will move freely in the mount so the bolt isn't siezed in the mount...it's seized in the alt!

Anyone know the best way to get out a siezed bolt in a car that is immobile?

Speaking of bottom bolt's, well screw's in this case, the bottom screw on the distributor cap is a real bitch to get at and for some reason I haven't been able to get that out yet...all my screwdriver's are too long or the handle is too fat. #$^#%^#$%&^&*^&*

So no progress on figuring this out and with fall now here we lost the light so damn early now...

Jason

[4twenty]

yo man wtf, same thing happened to me - im surprised no one mentioned SNAPPED TIMING BELT. without a timing belt your car won't start but everything will still turn on. check for that first, just stick your fingers under the timing belt cover and feel to see if the belt is tight or lose. good luck!

[CRXperiment]

Who said anything about replacing your alternator? I doubt a charging problem is to blame for your no start. Have you even checked for fuel/ spark before moving on to randomly tackle the alternator? If you are not getting spark, why would you mess with your alternator?

I dont think going after your alternator, especially since the car is on the side of the highway (right?) was smart. If you cant get the lower dizzy cap bolt off with a screwdriver, try using a ratchet. Also, you can unplug your battery and take it out if you need more room.

[CRXperiment]

Originally Posted by 4twenty

yo man wtf, same thing happened to me - im surprised no one mentioned SNAPPED TIMING BELT. without a timing belt your car won't start but everything will still turn on. check for that first, just stick your fingers under the timing belt cover and feel to see if the belt is tight or lose. good luck!

He said the car restarts for a second and shuts off immediately, thats the sign of an ignition problem. He might possbily have a snapped tbelt, but if it were torn, the car wouldn't show these symptoms.

[HabFan#1]

Originally Posted by CRXperiment

Who said anything about replacing your alternator? I doubt a charging problem is to blame for your no start. Have you even checked for fuel/ spark before moving on to randomly tackle the alternator? If you are not getting spark, why would you mess with your alternator?

I dont think going after your alternator, especially since the car is on the side of the highway (right?) was smart. If you cant get the lower dizzy cap bolt off with a screwdriver, try using a ratchet. Also, you can unplug your battery and take it out if you need more room.

No one said anything abuot changing the altenator...but the last time my car died like this...I changed the altenator and it worked. So I figured I had one that was rebuilt...why not try it.

I will try removing the battery and get at the dizzy cap...and see what's under there.

Also, I said it initially died and then restarted again for a second...I haven't been able to start it since!

I will also check the Timing Belt...but i think that may be fine...I've poked my fingers into so many places in that engine in the last two days...I can't remember.

What's the simplest way to check for spark and fuel?

[CRXperiment]

First of all, open the oil cap and have someone crank the car while you look in the oil fill hole. See if the cam is turning. If it is, then your timing belt is good. If you can, however, just take off your valve cover and check the belt this way, its a lot safer than continuous cranking. DO NOT take off the dizzy cap and crank the car, this will cause your ignition coil to short out and thats no good.

If the belt is intact and has tension, then try checking for spark. The best way to do this is taking out a spark plug wire at the dizzy cap and holding the terminal close to the cap. If you see a spark flowing between the terminals, you have spark. You can also pull off a wire from the head and just ground it on something but the first method is a bit safer.

[FrodoGT]

Be careful with that spark, they hurt like a BITCH! and a screwdriver handle will NOT insulate well enough, found out the hard way. Damn dirt bikes.