Problem starting - 1988

[kphoger]

In February, I acquired from a coworker a 1988 Civic LX (stick) with 295xxx miles. I knew going in that I would need to have the clutch replaced, but everything else was in good working order, except for the expected random wiring glitches etc. The original owner, however, couldn't find the title to transfer into my name, so we agreed to go into the DMV together to file for lost title. I wasn't about to spend any money on repairs until the car was in my name, but the first opportunity we could both make it to the DMV was today. Bottom line: it's been sitting in the driveway for nearly three months. In the beginning, the engine seemed labored when turning over, but it always kicked to life after just a few seconds. After having sat in the driveway awhile, it developed the habit of occasionally not starting: sometimes it would and sometimes it wouldn't. Eventually it stopped kicking to life completely, and the sound was more and more pathetic every time I would try. I just assumed the battery was going dead from sitting too long. Indeed, by this morning, it wasn't even turning over at all. Now that I have the car in my name, I got a new battery and hooked it up. I planned on taking the car over to the gas station to pump up a flat tire; sure enough, the car kicked to life just as it used to. And then died a few seconds later. When I turned the key again, the engine made a completely different sound - more whiny/wheezy, and less labored - and doesn't kick to life no matter how long it cranks. A mechanic friend suggested over the phone that it could be the timing belt, but I find that hard to believe because the previous owner recently had the timing belt replaced. I'm really hoping it's not the timing belt, but I don't know what else it might be. The car itself cost me nothing, but I did just drop $233 at the DMV, plus the cost of a new battery. So, on one hand, it just drives me nuts to think about having to spend a lot of money repairing a "free" car; but, on the other hand, everything else about it indicates it has plenty of life left, and isn't yet junk-worthy. I'm not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination, so I hoping one of you shiny happy people can help me out. I'd really appreciate it.

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