car died

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Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
this is on a 1991 civic. i was driving about 60 km/h, slowed down to go thru a light, tried to give it gas again and noticed the car was only going slower. put it in neutral (auto) and tried to start it and it would only 'sorta' start but sparked knock like craaaaazy. coulda swore i noticed some blue smoke come out the back :(. finally i let it die. let it sit 10 minutes and tried to start again but it only intermittently fired and wouldn't go. oil light goes off right away, oil and coolant levels were normal, wires were where they should be, doesn't look like something exploded under the hood or anything. timing belt was replaced 7 months ago. got towed to the shop where it is now.

any ideas anyone? :( if i hear i burnt a valve or something i guess that's better news than hearing i blew a hole in a piston :\
 
Q

Quixfire

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2001
6,892
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Out of gas? Sound like your car isn't getting enough fuel to run. Start looking at fuel pressure or volume.
 
P

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
tank was 3/4 full, pump primed normally. fuel filter replaced recently. wants to start, but can't.


i hear main relays and distributor bearings go out on these things periodically... but the whole smoke thing out the back doesn't jive right with me
 

Are you sure that's blue smoke coming out of the tail pipe ?

Make sure it's not steam, check the oil on the dipstick, let me know if it looks like chocolate milk, then post the results in this thread.

Is it carbureted or fuel injected ?
 
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goodoptics

Platinum Member
Aug 18, 2000
2,652
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0
Originally posted by: Roger
Are you sure that's blue smoke coming out of the tail pipe ?

Make sure it's not steam, check the oil on the dipstick, let me know if it looks like chocolate milk, then post the results in this thread.

Is it carbureted or fuel injected ?
Click to expand...
fuel injected.

 

fuel injected.
Click to expand...

How would you know, do you own the vehicle ?, not all 1991 civics were fuel injected, there were a few that still have carburetors on them.
 
G

goodoptics

Platinum Member
Aug 18, 2000
2,652
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Originally posted by: Roger
fuel injected.
Click to expand...

How would you know, do you own the vehicle ?, not all 1991 civics were fuel injected, there were a few that still have carburetors on them.
Click to expand...
My mistake. If he would tell us the engine displacement, we would know the answer. :)
 
P

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
it's a 1.5L (1493cc) dual-point fuel injected D15B2 16-valve 4 cylinder (enough info? :)). i did check the oil, which looked fine, i did check the coolant condition and level and it looked fine as well. i can understand the head gasket concern, i always thought those would go before something catastrophic would happen to a piston.

honestly, the smoke could have been black, which wouldn't have been as bad, but i just had a quick glance at it in the rear-view.

i just went over to it (they haven't had a chance to look at it yet) and it cranks now with no resistance at all. doesn't even feel like it's interested in starting at all. wires/plugs/cap/rotor are all new so i'm not thinking it's a cheap ignition fix.


i just hope compression checks out ok :(
 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
44
91
Originally posted by: dafatha00
BTW, how often should you change the timing belt? I've heard figures between 50,000 to 80,000 miles.
Click to expand...
Depends on the engine. Most are 60,000 miles. Some engines are 30,000 miles. A lot of newer engines are 90,000 miles or more. Personally I would not trust any belt for more than 90,000 miles regardless of what the manual claimed.

Originally posted by: notfred
I saw where it said that, but it still sounds like the timing belt.
Click to expand...
Usually when the timing belt goes you'll hear the valves die a horrible death. Remember that Honda engines don't freewheel, they are interferance so if the timing belt goes then you've got a better than 90% chance of destroying the valvetrain.

ZV
 
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Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: dafatha00
BTW, how often should you change the timing belt? I've heard figures between 50,000 to 80,000 miles.
Click to expand...
Depends on the engine. Most are 60,000 miles. Some engines are 30,000 miles. A lot of newer engines are 90,000 miles or more. Personally I would not trust any belt for more than 90,000 miles regardless of what the manual claimed.

Originally posted by: notfred
I saw where it said that, but it still sounds like the timing belt.
Click to expand...
Usually when the timing belt goes you'll hear the valves die a horrible death. Remember that Honda engines don't freewheel, they are interferance so if the timing belt goes then you've got a better than 90% chance of destroying the valvetrain.

ZV
Click to expand...

definitely couldn't hear anything happen. no check engine light. didn't get a chance to rip up the carpet to see if it was flashing codes. didn't realize anything had even happened until i started slowing down instead of speeding up. when i tried to start it again it would only 'catch' if you gave it some gas and even then it ran terribly, and for only a couple seconds, knocking and stuff. would stop running the second you put it in gear or took your foot off the gas.
 

Could be a lot of things including a failed fuel pressure regulator, here's what you do, in order ;

(1)Check compression with a gauge, any cylinder more than 15% different than the others is suspect.

(2)Check spark to all cylinders, the spark must be blue, not yellow.

(3)Pull the timing belt cover and inspect the belt.

(4)Check the PCV valve, if it has failed, it will draw large amounts of oil into the intake.

(5)Remove the distributor cap and inspect for carbon tracking.

(6)Inspect the plug wires.

(7)Check the fuel pressure regulator, remove the small vacuum hose from the intake manifold, suck on the hose, if the hose/regulator hold a vacuum, assume it's OK.

If none of these diagnostic suggestions pan out, PM me and I will guide you through an extensive diagnostic procedure.
 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
44
91
Definitely check the PCV valve. I'd forgotten, but my '88 Accord developed an intermittant stumbling problem that I traced to a failing PCV valve. It's a cheap fix.

ZV
 
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Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
if he won't already, then i'll get him to check the compression. i haven't ever checked it and would like to know what it stands at even if there's no problem in that area.

pcv valve is new and i've watched it function fine.

timing belt might be a possibility. if it is, there'll be hell to pay and it sure isn't going to be from me.



one thing i did think of is that over the past 2 weeks occasionally after letting it sit in a parking lot for 1-2 hours and going back to start it, it will not do so eagerly. (JUST LIKE IT'S DOING RIGHT NOW) you had to crank it for a good 4-5 seconds with some gas pedal action and it would then go.

cap is new but i will check it.

wires are new and have recently been checked.


thanx for the tips, we'll see what turns up.

recalls and such, FYI






i might as well list what i've replaced on this car.

both drive axles
pcv valve
tires
1 new rim
left tie rod end
brakes all around
wires
cap
rotor
plugs
fuel filter
air filter
oil/oil filter as required
coolant
3 wheel bearings
exhaust piping from manifold --> back
catalytic converter
muffler
headlights
tail lights
transmission fluid as required
battery
timing belt
accessory belts
1 valve adjustment so far
 
E

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Based on the symptoms you had when it died, I'm betting its a problem in the fuel area.

It wouldn't have tried to start again or anything like that if you lost your timing belt.
 
P

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
Originally posted by: Eli
Based on the symptoms you had when it died, I'm betting its a problem in the fuel area.

It wouldn't have tried to start again or anything like that if you lost your timing belt.
Click to expand...

yeah but it might explain the fuel out the exhaust (exhaust valve stuck open or broken), somewhat 'jumpy' nature of the ignition when it tried to fire, the knocking from the timing being so horribly off.

whatever.
 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
44
91
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
one thing i did think of is that over the past 2 weeks occasionally after letting it sit in a parking lot for 1-2 hours and going back to start it, it will not do so eagerly. (JUST LIKE IT'S DOING RIGHT NOW) you had to crank it for a good 4-5 seconds with some gas pedal action and it would then go.
Click to expand...
My Accord used to do that, I never did figure out what it was.

ZV
 
P

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
one thing i did think of is that over the past 2 weeks occasionally after letting it sit in a parking lot for 1-2 hours and going back to start it, it will not do so eagerly. (JUST LIKE IT'S DOING RIGHT NOW) you had to crank it for a good 4-5 seconds with some gas pedal action and it would then go.
Click to expand...
My Accord used to do that, I never did figure out what it was.

ZV
Click to expand...

yeah seems weird a FI vehicle would do that.
 
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