'87 Civic died, won't start

[lovingames]

Hi there. I have an '87 Civic 4D, 80,000 miles, with a problem. While driving home the other day the car just quit running. Poof... going 45 the engine just died... no power. I still had lights, radio, the works. Pulled over and tried to start and all I got was a small whirring sound when I turned the key. Tried several times over a few days and same thing. I do have lights and radio... but no start. I can't afforad huge costs so I'll have to do the repairs myself. Any suggestions on where to begin?

[lxndr]

Check the battery voltage.

You may have a bad alternator which means that you could have been running on battery power until there just wasn't enough voltage to keep the motor running. If you have a bad alternator you will also have low voltage, you may have enough to turn the lights on, but not enough to start the motor.

This happened to me once. I was driving along with the heater, lights and wipers goin' then "poof"... nothing.

That's where I'd start.

[lovingames]

Thanks for the start... I did check and there is poswer from the battery and I even tried to jumpstart it too but, still no engine sounds. I checked all the wiring and it looks sound, no cracks, melted places and all pluged in (hopefully in the right places). I'm still looking for a solution and will continue to check back in the event anyone else has ideas.

Thanks

[lxndr]

Have you checked the main fuse box located under the hood by the passenger side strut?

[cultra]

I had a simular problem when i stopped at a stoplight. as i took off my car just all of a sudden died on me...i could turn the lights on and off and everything but no juice to turn my car over. when i got my car towed back home i checked everything and they all seemed fine. then i checked my timing belt and it was completely broken so you should check your timing belt.

[Figori]

I was thinking the same thing... Your timing belt would control your cam gearing... But you would get more than just a whirring sound... Start with the timing belt, and see what else pops up...

[cvcc_wagon]

if the timing belt is gone you will have bent valves

[Diskord]

My '90 CRX did that exact thing, driving along, then suddenly it just died. I still had full power; alternator problem would likely cause battery to be sucked nearly dry if it stops in mid drive. It was as simple as a new rotor, somehow the screw locking the rotor SNAPPED! So it was easily fixed with a new rotor (not the cheap brand; I think that was the root of the issue).
Hope this can help ya.

[cvcc_wagon]

my bro had that with his 89 crx except the screw just came out a couple times. we put some loctight on it and it hasn't been a problem since