Go Back   HondaSwap Forums > Honda Tech :: General Honda Performance > General Tech and Maintenance

Engine cranks, but car won't start

Welcome, Guest! Please Register or Login:
  

Members have access to more features, better search, and see fewer ads! It's free, what are you waiting for?

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 01-12-2004, 10:49 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 9
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Rep Power: 0 sbaker0421 is off the scale
Default

My crx had been sitting for about a week while I painted the valve cover and purchased battery cables and fuel filter. After putting those two parts in I went to start my car and all it would do was crank and crank, but wouldn't start. I never had a starting problem before so I am confused. Recently I have replaced spark plugs and wires(I am getting fire), distributor cap, and rotor. Last night My friend and I adjusted all the valves b/c they were off. The fuel pump comes on and pressurizes the system. Has anyone else had a similar problem like this? If so, PLEASE HELP?? I want my rex back.
sbaker0421 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2004, 10:53 AM   #2
FüK-VTEC
 
civicious's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Houston, Texas
Age: 23
Posts: 8,410
iTrader: 3 / 100%
Ride:  07 Nissan Frontier, 90 CRX Si, 06 ZX6R racebike, chopped-out 02 Yamaha V-Star
Rep Power: 189 civicious has a reputation beyond reputecivicious has a reputation beyond repute
civicious has a reputation beyond reputecivicious has a reputation beyond reputecivicious has a reputation beyond reputecivicious has a reputation beyond reputecivicious has a reputation beyond reputecivicious has a reputation beyond reputecivicious has a reputation beyond repute
Send a message via AIM to civicious myspace
Default

you forgot to ground the valve cover.





that's my guess, at least. or maybe you didnt put your plug wires in the right order.
__________________
CMRA #265
http://www.myspace.com/civicious
AIM: greyfades
civicious is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2004, 11:07 AM   #3
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 9
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Rep Power: 0 sbaker0421 is off the scale
Default

Thanks for the reply. I have checked and the valve cover is grounded and all wires are in their correct spots. Thanks again for the reply.

I forgot to put that I'm getting power to all my accessories. Everything is working in the car, but won't start.
sbaker0421 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2004, 01:57 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Moncton, New Brunswick CANADA
Posts: 158
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Rep Power: 14 Magik is off the scale
Default

Ummm...main relay? Reset the ECU? Backtrack and see if you left anything disconnected?

Jason
__________________
www.jasonlorette.50megs.com
90 Civic HB Si - D15B1 - MPFI
Magik is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2004, 02:45 PM   #5
Super Moderator
 
GSRCRXsi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Baltimore, MD
Age: 24
Posts: 6,481
iTrader: 1 / 100%
Rep Power: 88 GSRCRXsi is a glorious beacon of lightGSRCRXsi is a glorious beacon of lightGSRCRXsi is a glorious beacon of lightGSRCRXsi is a glorious beacon of light
Send a message via AIM to GSRCRXsi
Default

i would check your firing order, and all the stuff with the distributor, no loose connections and stuff, check the condition of all your plugs, make sure they are gapped correctly, check everything, maybe your injectors are clogged or broken? (unlikely but still check it out) then at last check for compression. all you need is fuel, spark and compression to fire. check all cylinders to make sure they are ok on everything. after that i dunno what to tell you....
__________________
91 CRX si
95 Integra LS
I DO NOT answer tech questions via PM. Use the forums!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by 90 accord
i have a lady, of over a year and a half now, and she likes the plug more

GSRCRXsi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2004, 10:36 PM   #6
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 80
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Rep Power: 13 preludude is off the scale
Default

If your CRX is anything like a Prelude then I'm betting its the ignition module. It's in the distributor and costs like 150 bucks but when that fails, your car will look like it's working fine, the power will be fine, and it will crank all day long, but won't turnover. It's either the ignition module or ignition coil. They work in tandem.
preludude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2004, 12:23 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ricer
Posts: 378
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Rep Power: 17 solblu is off the scale
Default

Just check for spark and fuel. It takes 10 minutes. Then you'll know what you need to fix.
__________________
<a href=\'http://www.knology.net/~jediklc/\' target=\'_blank\'>My Webpage</a>

<a href=\'http://www.geocities.com/DawgSol94S/Welcome.html\' target=\'_blank\'>Team Sol Georgia</a>
solblu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2004, 12:24 AM   #8
RETIRED
 
pissedoffsol's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Retirement Home
Age: 29
Posts: 49,951
iTrader: 2 / 100%
Ride:  Electric Scooter
Blog Entries: 1
Rep Power: 531 pissedoffsol is a splendid one to beholdpissedoffsol is a splendid one to beholdpissedoffsol is a splendid one to beholdpissedoffsol is a splendid one to beholdpissedoffsol is a splendid one to beholdpissedoffsol is a splendid one to behold
Default

read the faq- there's a post entitle this exact thing by wild bill
pissedoffsol is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2004, 06:41 PM   #9
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 80
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Rep Power: 13 preludude is off the scale
Default

Could he wild bill be a little more vague? That FAQ thing doesn't help for $hit. I had the same problem and it came out of nowhere. The car would crank and wouldnot turnover b/c of the ignition module in the distributor. It's a common problem with almost all japanese engines with high mileage. Mine had 150k on it when it died on me.
preludude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2004, 07:25 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Southern California
Age: 29
Posts: 1,613
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Ride:  94 Integra GSR
Rep Power: 31 brc80 is an unknown quantity at this point
Default

^
^
^
Had same problem.
__________________
1994 Acura Integra GSR

Power:
AEM V2 Cold Air Intake
GReddy 4-2-1 Header
GReddy Evo 2 Exhaust

Suspension:
Tanabe Sustec Pro S-0C

brc80 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2004, 07:32 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: san diego, california
Posts: 505
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Rep Power: 18 H22AdelSol is off the scale
Default

i had the same exact problem, i solved it by adding 2 more grounds. one big one from the tranny to the chassis and a small one from the battery to where the wireharness grounds. car starts up quicker now and check engine codes flash up quicker also.
__________________
<span style=\'color:red\'><span style=\'font-family:Geneva\'>94 JDM H22A|5spd-LSD|GSR Spec Brembo Cross Drilled and Slotted Rotors| GSR Front Calipers| SS Lines|Tokico Illumina Struts| Skunk2 Coilovers| AEM Fuel Rail| ACT Stage 3 Clutch /w Xtreme Pressure Plate| 8lb Kaiten Kairu Super Flywheel</span></span>
H22AdelSol is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2004, 12:04 AM   #12
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 9
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Rep Power: 0 sbaker0421 is off the scale
Default

Thanks for all of the replies. Going to check out the ignition module tomorrow. I'll let everyone know what I come up with.
sbaker0421 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2004, 12:45 PM   #13
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,657
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Rep Power: 0 Loco Honkey is off the scale
Default

OK OK OK... everyone shut up... christ, you all are missing the OBVIOUS! It ran before he did the work, but after he did the work, it doesn't run. Soooo... wouldn't logic tell you that whatever he did to it is the problem?

Sbaker- First off, your valve cover ground doesn't mean shit. The valve cover has rubber gaskets between it and everything metal that it touches, so a ground to the vc preventing starting is ludicrus. Check your fuel filter for leaks. Sounds dumb, but an engine needs three things to work- fuel, air, and spark. You're not getting one of the three. If the filter isn't leaking, use a service manual to MAKE SURE your plug wires are on correctly. If you're 100% positive of this (check again), pull a plug and check to see if you have spark on every cylinder. If you do have spark, check for fuel. Turn the ignition on and loosen the return fuel line on the back side of the FPR. Don't take it off. Just loosen it. If you see fuel start to weep out of there, you have fuel. If you have fuel and spark, it should start.
Loco Honkey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2004, 05:13 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Southern California
Age: 29
Posts: 1,613
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Ride:  94 Integra GSR
Rep Power: 31 brc80 is an unknown quantity at this point
Default

Not to thread jack, but im having the same problem. Yes i have spark fuel, and power. Anyother guess's on what it could be?
__________________
1994 Acura Integra GSR

Power:
AEM V2 Cold Air Intake
GReddy 4-2-1 Header
GReddy Evo 2 Exhaust

Suspension:
Tanabe Sustec Pro S-0C

brc80 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2004, 12:46 PM   #15
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 80
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Rep Power: 13 preludude is off the scale
Default

let us know what happens. I'm still betting on ignition module
preludude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-15-2004, 04:44 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Athens,GA
Posts: 484
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Rep Power: 19 cws13 is off the scale
Send a message via AIM to cws13
Default

Quote:
Originally posted by Loco Honkey@Jan 14 2004, 12:45 PM
OK OK OK... everyone shut up... christ, you all are missing the OBVIOUS! It ran before he did the work, but after he did the work, it doesn't run. Soooo... wouldn't logic tell you that whatever he did to it is the problem?

Noooooooo shit. Thank you. while it is possible to upset parts on their way out while doing repairs, it doesn't happen alot. This may be dumb, but did you check fuses? If you arced that new batt you probably blew out a main fuse. Check the fuel leaks. if you adjusted those valves incorrectly or the engine wasn't below 100 degrees when you did it ( not by the temp gauge, by a thermometer), you didn't use the right marks or adjust in the right firing order...you may not be getting compression at all. I've see it happen and you should confirm this first, if you're running no valve lash you're playing with fire.
__________________
1320 Motorsports Athens,GA

<a href=\'http://www.1320motorsports.com\' target=\'_blank\'>1320 MOTORSPORTS</a>
cws13 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-18-2004, 10:04 PM   #17
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 80
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Rep Power: 13 preludude is off the scale
Default

Was the problem fixed?
preludude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-20-2004, 11:28 AM   #18
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 9
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Rep Power: 0 sbaker0421 is off the scale
Default

Still haven't got a chance to check it out yet. School and work have kept me busy. Will get to work on it Wed. I'll post if I figure anything out
sbaker0421 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2004, 12:07 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: milford, PA
Age: 24
Posts: 3,748
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Rep Power: 51 Slammed90Lude is an unknown quantity at this point
Send a message via AIM to Slammed90Lude
Default

i had the same prob in my prelude and it was the main relay- it was on the kick panel on the drivers side- i dunno if that helps but replacing ine made the difference and after that the car fired up great every time-
Slammed90Lude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2004, 12:25 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 278
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Rep Power: 15 hondamidnighter is off the scale
Send a message via Yahoo to hondamidnighter
Post

My friends Honda civic had the same problem. The car kept on cranking and cranking and would not start. Like it was standard we gave it a hard push with another car and it worked. There was spark, fuel, and air but it didn't start anyways. So we pushed it and it worked!! Check spark plug wires if they have spark, if they do then now check the spark plugs if they have crude gas on them. If the spark plugs have gas, clean them out and if your car is standard, clutch started.
__________________
BOOST COMING SOON....IN SOL THEATRES NEAR YOU!!!!

hondamidnighter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-23-2004, 12:04 PM   #21
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 80
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Rep Power: 13 preludude is off the scale
Default

Those cases are all true, but the difference being that the main relay problem would allow your car to start fine when its cold, but after it warms up it will be hard to start. I had that problem too.

and the second one sounds more like a battery problem b/c when your battery dies you can still start a manual 5speed car by pusshing it even with the batter dead.
preludude is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Car Won't Start Sometimes lude9593 General Tech and Maintenance 7 08-31-2004 05:44 PM
first start of the new engine ^crx^ HYBRID -> ED-EF / DA 0 07-06-2004 04:58 PM
Assembling an LS/VTEC pissedoffsol General Tech Articles 1 06-04-2004 11:17 AM
my B16 won't start LowBudgetRacer HYBRID -> EG-EK / DC 15 08-05-2003 03:39 AM
need some advice on why motor won't start. . . takinbackchristo General Tech and Maintenance 4 07-25-2003 11:09 AM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:03 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.x
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
SEO by vBSEO
© 2001-2009 HondaSwap.com
One of the largest message boards on the web !  | a SkeyMedia Network site

Advertise on Hondaswap.com