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Hey everyone, thanks for taking time to read and reply if you do. I have a 2001 civic EX manual transmission. It has 220,640 miles on it and I bought it from someone online about a month or so ago. She said that it had an idle issue and had stalled once. I do have some passive experience and knowledge. First thing I did was changed the spark plugs and the ignition coils. As soon as I pulled the coils I noticed immediately the coils were covered in oil and the inside of the tube was as well so that told me what the idling issue was most likely. Valve cover gasket recently changed but they did not change the spark plug tube seals and a visual inspection confirmed they were bad and torn. Bought a new gasket set and replaced everything again. So that issue is fixed. Now prior to the first no start, it did have a very very slight miss while cruising a couple times. Then couple days later no start. Come to conclusion it's probably the fuel pump. I ordered one and got ready and decided to check it so I just did a crude check, turned the key with the fuel line off, gas sprayed out immediately. So the pump was good. Well. I messed with it one day about a week ago. I tried to start it with the fuel pump disconnected. Did that a couple times. Then plugged in and started and it turned over. It was running better than it had since I had it too . So I drove it all this last week every day no problem. Then today I go to start it, not starting again. So j decided I was gonna go ahead and replace the pump. New pump installed and working great, still no start. I tried what I did last week when it started but that didn't work either. So spark and fuel are both good. I just learned that the crank sensor also caused this and can work intermittent. The guy on there said uoh can drive the car with in unplugged just can't go over 3500. Does this sound like the problem.? We all need our car but in my case it's the only I have available so I really need it lol. Thanks ahead of time!!

 
Rep Power: 222

See if it starts with it unplugged. Buy only an oem denso sensor.

 
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Thank you so much, that is what I'm trying today. It that true about driving without, till I can replace it?

 
Rep Power: 222

No clue

 
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Lol thanks

 
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I'm not sure it even will start without the TDC sensor.

Do you know when the timing belt was last changed?

 
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Can confirm that it'll run, but not well. Forgot to plug it back in after the timing belt on my '01 and it was missing terribly.

So I guess to answer the question, do not drive the car without the sensor.

 
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I apologize, what is the TDC sensor? And no I do not. I don't know anything that was done to this car and when other than obvious things such as the valve cover gasket and starter. It has adjustable coil overs so that's been done at least once, cold air intake etc. UPDATE: I am typing this from inside my car and it is running better than it has the whole time I've had it. Drove it down the road,great acceleration, no odd noises, no misfire, and not rough idle at red lights. What I did was I hooked a battery charger up from where I weakend it trying to start it so many times. Then I unplug the fuel pump connection, attempt a start a couple times. It will almost start, then plug the fuel pump back in and bam it starts. Runs rough for a few minutes but after a few high revs it's perfectly fine. So I really am at a loss. I get jow it would flood with what I just me ruined but how could it possibly flood when it's just been sitting then a random nostart ​​​​​​

 
Rep Power: 224

The TDC (top dead center) sensor is the same as the crankshaft position sensor. You will find it near the crankshaft pulley. This is the pulley that drives the belts for the accessories.

I asked about the timing belt because it should have been done a second time per a normal maintenance schedule. I was thinking it might have jumped time. It would be a good idea to look into this some more. If it hasn't gotten the second belt yet it's well overdue and could snap causing internal damage.

Coolant could be leaking past the head gasket and into a cylinder once cooled down. That would cause a rough start and misfiring. Coolant level okay in the radiator and reservoir? Levels not changing after a few hot/cold cycles?

 
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The coolant as if this morning is good, I checked it at the gas station on my way to work and my oil. Everything seems good as far as fluids except the minor coolant leak I mentioned and sometimes it doesn't even leak at all. I removed the reservoir the other day because I thought it might be that leaning, also checked the lower radiator hose and both are good. I do have a a jug of coolant in my trubk though..it almost didn't start again first thing this morning so I tried what worked last time that happened which is u unplugged the fuel pump and crank it a couple times just for a second, plug the pump back in, it starts right up then I just have to rev it a couple times to get that excess gas out and ands smooth as silk so to me it's acting like it's flooded but how could it be after only start attempt?

 
Rep Power: 224

You could try holding the accelerator pedal all the way down for the first 1-2 seconds of cranking. This should cut off fuel to help clean out a flooded engine. Sounds like there is definitely something leaking into the cylinders, you just need to figure out what. Let it sit overnight then pull spark plugs. Use a borescope to look inside each cylinder.

 
Rep Power: 367

was the reservoir full?

 
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If you're referring to the coolant then yes. I mean as of this morning on the way to work it was, checked it when I gas. I have noticed intermittent coolant dripping from right under the reservoir and lower hose, checked both and they appear to be ok . I figure the hose is just worn and so it lets some coolant out when it's hot and pressurized bedsuee j do see build of the coolant around the port the hose conbecrs to but it does t do it all the time

 
Rep Power: 367

Read this
https://www.civicforums.com/forums/3...reference.html

then do this test

 
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Is this a test to confirm the proper level?

 
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It's to see if you have a bad headgasket