Car troubleshooting

[vital]

Honda Civic EX 1998 manual. Car keeps cranking forever when I turn ingnition key and won't start. Tried jumping but still does not start. What could be the problem? How much to fix?

 

[compnovice]

Maybe you are not getiing any spark... But I am no expert...

 

[iamaelephant]

Jump start was a waste of time, if you have enough battery power to turn it over there's enough for it to fire. We would need more details to make a diagnosis. When was the last time you drove it? Were there any problems?

Remember the 4 things required to run an engine:
compression
spark
fuel
air

Your problem is almost certainly not compression or air related, so check spark and fuel. Any warning lights on the dash? Have you tried pointing one of the plug leads at the engine block while turning the motor over? What have you tried?

 

[vital]

Originally posted by: compnovice
Maybe you are not getiing any spark... But I am no expert...

i went to pick up some ngk spark plugs just to see if that would fixed it but it didn't

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: vital
Honda Civic EX 1998 manual. Car keeps cranking forever when I turn ingnition key and won't start. Tried jumping but still does not start. What could be the problem? How much to fix?

It ain't got no gas in it. Mmm-hmm

 

[Black88GTA]

Bad fuel pump? Fuel pump relay? Ignition coil? Ignition module? I'm not familiar at all with Civics, so I don't know the exact type of spark control present (individual coil packs, coil + distributor, etc) but the fuel pump thing is pretty much universal in fuel injected cars. I'd start with making sure the fuel pump is operational, and go from there.

 

[sierrita]

Originally posted by: vital

Originally posted by: compnovice
Maybe you are not getiing any spark... But I am no expert...

i went to pick up some ngk spark plugs just to see if that would fixed it but it didn't

When you took the plugs out, did they smell of gasoline?

 

[Cattlegod]

You do have gas in your tank right?

 

[vital]

Originally posted by: iamaelephant
Jump start was a waste of time, if you have enough battery power to turn it over there's enough for it to fire. We would need more details to make a diagnosis. When was the last time you drove it? Were there any problems?

Remember the 4 things required to run an engine:
compression
spark
fuel
air

Your problem is almost certainly not compression or air related, so check spark and fuel. Any warning lights on the dash? Have you tried pointing one of the plug leads at the engine block while turning the motor over? What have you tried?

The last time it started was when I was changing the stereo headunit and I was afraid it would drain the battery while I was testing the sound and stuff so I started it for about 2 minutes. I just changed the spark plugs and the problem still exists.. it's just a straight crank noise without any sign of choking when the ignition key is turned. No warning lights on the dash. I'm not sure what you mean by pointing one of the plug leads at the engine block while turning the motor over. I tried putting it in gear and giving it gas while starting but that didn't work either. I'm out of ideas..

 

[iamaelephant]

Originally posted by: vital

Originally posted by: iamaelephant
Jump start was a waste of time, if you have enough battery power to turn it over there's enough for it to fire. We would need more details to make a diagnosis. When was the last time you drove it? Were there any problems?

Remember the 4 things required to run an engine:
compression
spark
fuel
air

Your problem is almost certainly not compression or air related, so check spark and fuel. Any warning lights on the dash? Have you tried pointing one of the plug leads at the engine block while turning the motor over? What have you tried?

The last time it started was when I was changing the stereo headunit and I was afraid it would drain the battery while I was testing the sound and stuff so I started it for about 2 minutes. I just changed the spark plugs and the problem still exists.. it's just a straight crank noise without any sign of choking when the ignition key is turned. No warning lights on the dash. I'm not sure what you mean by pointing one of the plug leads at the engine block while turning the motor over. I tried putting it in gear and giving it gas while starting but that didn't work either. I'm out of ideas..

Take it to a mechanic. You don't have the knowledge or even common sense to fix your own car. It seriously scares me when I hear about people like you working on cars.

Really, if it wasn't immediately obvious that this problem was not caused by spark plugs or a dead battery then you shouldn't be trying to diagnose it.

 

[Black88GTA]

I just thought of something else...dunno about the Civic, but my '89 Prelude has a "main relay" under the dash that has a number of functions - one of which is controlling the fuel pump. That went out on my car, and caused it to do the exact same thing....crank all day long, but no start. From reading Prelude forums, this was a common problem. Maybe your car has something similar?

You can pull it out and add solder to the connections to fix it (which I did once) but then it got water in it a few months later from a windshield leak. Game over. A new relay was about $85, IIRC.

Check on Honda Civic specific forums with your problem-they could give you a lot more insight on your specific car than you will get here.

 

[RedArmy]

The line: "Civic won't start" is impossible. Now tell us what car you really have