stevie850

Could it be the starter motor or is there a distributor malfunction? What can be the problem?

Muirsy

if it turns over ur starter is fine... check for spark n if u have spark then check if ur getting fuel.. n on 2004 civic u dont have a distributor ur timing is run by the computer

stevie850

i pretty sure it is getting fuel since strong odor of fuel when crank more than a few seconds.

Muirsy

ok then check if ur getting spark

02civicsi02

First off your car doesnt not have a distributor. You will need to check if you have spark. Check the spark plugs and coil packs.

bebo421

the timing belt could be done

ExistEvolution

if his timing belt is done it would be making awful sounds when he turns it over

02civicsi02

He doesnt have a timing belt, he has a timing chain. And this could be the problem also. It could be off, when the timing chain is off it can cause all kinds of things. It can be off by just a tad and it can cause misfires all over.

Go ahead and take the valve cover off and look at the cam gears. If it is needed and you can not read it then if you can rotate the crank so that the cam gear dots are facing up. then check the timing the correct links in the chain between the dots is 7. Plus another thing to check on this is that both dots on the cam gears are straight up and then the lines on the inside of the cam gears are lined up together to, if they all line up then you are good with the timing. Hopefully the crank pully is not off. To check that you would have to take off the chain case.

BlueEM2

iTrader: (1)

Is this car a Canadian Si?

huelorep3

i have the same problem. and the only way to get it to start is to jump start. dang.

BlueEM2

iTrader: (1)

Jump starting DOES get it going? THIS sounds like a starter problem.

pjb3

If you have a multimeter, check the voltage. If it appears to turn over fine but not start, but then starts when you jump it, it may be a weak battery. Electronic circuits have a threshold voltage and if the voltage is below that level the circuit will not work. I have seen this a couple of times where the starter spins but the engine will not start. When I checked the voltage it was less than 10.7 volts which was the threshold voltage for the electronic ignition. As soon as I charged the battery it started. You will notice little difference in how fast the starter spins between between 10.6 volts and 10.7 volts but if you are below the voltage required by the electronic ignition it won't start.
Or simply take the battery to Autozone or another parts store and ask them to load test it.

The voltages listed are examples and may not be exact for a Honda.

HLC

check your spark plugs. you say it cranks and has gas. the third thing you need for ignition is spark. if you have spark and it still doesn't turn on, then i'd move on to the timing chain etc.

tehstriker88

i had the same problem with my 7th gen and it was internal damage not creating enough compression, if its a canadian si the take it to a honda shop and i think they said $40 to test your battery starter and alternator if that comes clean it may possibly be compression or air intake, when mine wouldn't start it took some time before i smelt gas

huelorep3

if it is compression? how would you know or test this?

if you cant push start your car what can be wrong with it? it can still crank but wont turn on.... now jump starting will have little effect and when it worked it runs freaking great.

Muirsy

^ u need a compression tester to test compression.... remove a spark plug then thread in the tester in its place then crank the engine... repeat for all cylinders

seoul4korea

LOL you noticed a strong gas smell while trying to start it? Um does anyone else think this is strange? Where is the smell coming from? When you crank it the starter spins? Test your battery and look into where the smell is coming from. if it's not your battery and your getting spark then i'm guessing that maybe you have a pressure leak in your fuel system?

BlueEM2

iTrader: (1)

It's so funny that I overlooked this also! hahaha. Fuel injected engine you should not smell gas at all while cranking...

02civicsi02

You might want to check your battery or your battery cables. If you can push it and start it then its probably not the alternator though it could be going bad cause of that. Push starting your car puts stress on the alternator. And if you smell gas when you crank the car then there is a leak somewhere in the system. Do you know where the smell is actually coming from if not go around your car and see where its coming from.

seoul4korea

Fuel pressure leak is causing your car not to start.

tehstriker88

exactly since my engine had internal damage it leaked fuel into my oil thats why i could smell it
smell you oil dipstick if there is a gas smell to it it's internal

ondalow01

hey man my car just crapped out on me as well and it seems to be the timing belt, it turns over fine but only the bottom, this is how i noticed it, take the oil cap of, look inside and see if your cams or valves move while someone tries to start the car, if nothing moves then its definitely your timing belt, if they do then its got to do with an electrical problem. and to do a quick cylinder pressure test take the spark plugs out and fill up the wholes with a piece of paper towel, now try to start the car if the towel shoots out then theres pressure if not then theres a problem.