Rep Power: 0

This is quite a saga, but I'll try to be breif..... Without prior indication of problems, by 'Vic died on me on the way to work - just shutoff at highway speed and would not start.

I thought it was the fuel pump. Changed that - no luck.
Changed the ignition coil - no luck.
Changed the ignition module - no luck, but something changed. Before, the engine just turned over and wouldn't start. Now it turns over a few times, then I get a "poping" sound like it is backfiring out of the air intake, but still never starts.

I have spark on all 4 plugs. I have fuel (based on the smell of gas when trying to start). I have no error codes on the ECU LED display. I don't know where to go from here. The timing belt and tensioner were changed about 15K miles ago, so I initially ruled out timing as an issue. Now I am not so sure. Any ideas on what else to try before tearing into the timing belt?

 
Rep Power: 228

Sounds like the timing belt jump a few teeth. I would tdc the engine and double check the timing marks on the cam gear, just to rule it out for sure... God luck with it

 
Rep Power: 0

What is the easiest way to tdc the engine? I am working on this by myself.

 
Rep Power: 228

There should be a timing mark on both the timing cover and the crank pulley. Rotate the pulley using a 19 or 21mm socket, I forget which one. You might have to clean the edge of the pulley to find theses marks usually a white or red dash. Line the timing mark up with the mark on the timing cover. It would be best to get a Haynes Repair Manual it will be able to give you details way beyond what I can plus pictures to help guide you through. But if you want to continue then proceed to take of the valve cover after you tdc. If you have the marks lined up at the bottom then when you look at the cam gear it should have four dots along the rim, to tell if it is in its right position it should read at on of its dots (top) or an arrow. The other two dots should line up with the top of the head on each side of the cam gear and the last dot pointing down. Before you make your final decision double check your timing marks at the bottom and the ones at the cam gear, if you find out that indeed you need to make adjustments hit me up again and I'll try to guide you through the best I can. Good luck.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks for your help! Turnes out I just had #3 & #4 plug wires crossed. (Duh!) I must have done that when I changed out the ignition module. She's running like a champ again!

 
Rep Power: 228

Congrats... thats alot better.

 
Rep Power: 0

nice, good to know this problem worked out well... HAIL TO THE CIVICS!!!! bwuahahahhaa

 
Rep Power: 0

OK, I'm back again. The car has been running great since I fixed the ignition module and the crossed plug wires....that is until today. It started up fine this morning and ran fine all the way to work (about 56 miles). When I eft work this afternoon, it wouldn't start - same as before I changed the ignition module. It turnes over fine, but just won't start. I wnet to check the error codes on the ECU, and found that it does not come on at all when I turn the key to the "On" position. I am assuming that this is the root of my problem. How do I go about trouble-shooting this?



Please help! It costs me $20/day to drive my jeep to work, I need to fix this fast!

 
Rep Power: 238

the ignition coil - Does it have a brown liquid coming from it when you unplug the sparkplug wire from it? (when it stalls out on the highway, roads, etc...)

 
Rep Power: 0

No. everything in the distributor is clean. Actually the car started up this morning like nothing was wrong. ECU powered up with no error messages. Someone suggested that it might be a bad relay. Where to start checking?

 
Rep Power: 228

Could a bad ground cause this??????? This is primarily a question more than a answer.

 
Rep Power: 0

Check the pgm main relay by the steering cloumn, it switches power to the fuel pump and the ecm. When the get worn out, they still function intermittently, similar to what seems to be going on with your car

 
Rep Power: 291

There is a fuel pump relay under the dash up near the fuse box. My sisters 92 civic had the same problem (wouldnt start all the time). I would check that first.

 
Rep Power: 0

Hi Guys, I joined because my 92 civic is doing a similar thing. i have bypassed the main relay, nothing, replaced the distributor, nothing, hooked the fuel pump straight to power, nothing. it ran all winter no problems and yesterday, no start at work. once the wife got to work to pick me up, it started just fine. it is driving me nuts.