Rep Power: 0

I don't know what else to do. I have tried everything I can think of. The vacuum hose is fine (I don't here any hissing that would be normal for it), I installed a brand new O2 sensor, I replaced the spark plugs, the fuel pump, the battery (because it was getting bad and needed to be replaced - not really related), and checked the main and fuel pump relays (and the ECU and fuel pump fuses) and everything seems to be good. The car first started to show symptoms when it was hard to start and so I replaced the battery but the problem persisted and the came on and threw the P0171 code. So I guessed that it may be the O2 sensor and replaced that because that's a common issue it seems, still nothing then it got worse and when I would go the RPMs would drop off and spike up like crazy until the other day when it completely gave up and hasn't been able to turn on since. Based on the way it was acting, I guessed no spark or no fuel (probably still the issue) I then replaced the spark plugs and fuel pump, but now the sob still won't start so I checked the relays and they're fine too (the fuses were checked with the battery). The engine also hasn't flooded btw.

PLEASE HELP!!! I have no idea what else to do, I can check the injectors and regulator but I feel like that may simply be a waste of time since it will crank but won't start at all!

 
Rep Power: 0

Also, it's an LX (don't know if that helps any)

 
Rep Power: 517

Well, you already fired


and it seems that didn't do anything but lighten your wallet.

For all the money you spent, you could have had a professional perform a real diagnosis and maybe have fixed the (hopefully) single cause of the problem....with a quality part, instead of "thrifty" parts from a discount store that is open on Sunday.

Cheap parts are cheap for a reason.

/rant

.........


OK.....




What are the spark plugs gapped at?

What brand of plugs?

What brand of O2 sensor?

Which O2 sensor did you replace?

What does the coolant temperature read on a good scanners' datalist, and does it read equal to (or within a couple degrees of) the IAT? (You said it can't run now, right? They should read nearly the same right now.)

What do the TPS, MAP, and BARO sensors read on the datalist?
Do MAP and BARO agree with each other?

What are the results of the fuel pressure test?

What's in the gas tank? Is it really gasoline?




Did you try starting it with the top O2 sensor removed?

 
Rep Power: 185

LOL, 21 gun salute. Sorry couldn't resist.

 
Rep Power: 517

I seem to have been slacking lately. I need to use these pics more often.

 
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Well the plugs are the Bosch Iridiums so they're not crap and they are pregapped. The pump is Airtex and so is the strainer which isn't the best but it was either $100 for those or $500 for the Bosch (pretty easy decision to me especially since I want to sell the car ASAP). The O2 sensor is Denso (I know it's not Bosch but it should be just fine) and I replaced the upstream O2 sensor. And I don't have a scanner to give all the datalist info. The idea is to save money and so far, I've spent less money replacing all these things that I have identified as being bad and needing replacement than I would've spent to take it in and have them identify and fix 1 "quality" part.

 
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And also, the car was able to start after the parts were replaced for about 5 minutes, but then I turned it off and went to turn it back on about 15 minutes later and there was nothing but cranking (and of course the sound of the relays and fuel pump turning on). Which the fuel pump wasn't humming before I replaced it so I assumed that it was bad because that's normally the sign of it. The spark plugs had probably not been replaced in I don't know how long and were burnt with carbon cooked onto them. The O2 sensor may have still been good but that's all. For parts I've replaced (other than the suspension which I had done just 2 months prior with Tokico D-Specs).

 
Rep Power: 0

Hey I would seriously suggest the injectors being cleaned. They dont have to be replaced jsut take them out and see if you can clean the crap out of them. You may need like a spray can of cleaner but make sure its not too harsh because I am not sure what kind of injectors you have and dont wnat you to make the fubar when all they needed was soapy hot water and some air pressure. If everything else says its good then it has to be fuel or spark just like you said, because it doesnt even act like it is started then it has to be fuel. You may also want to run a spark test I have my book here and I can tell you how to do it if you need to. that way if you arent getting spark you know what to trouble shoot but if you are then you trouble shoot the fuel system. I think that would be the best way to go about it. also I have used those super high speed code readers and they just make me wanna punch kittens so just do the basics and you should be fine.

1 do spark test
2 determine spark is present or not
3 if spark is present its fuel
4 if spark isnt present its the coils the wires the plugs or the main electric **** that runs all that

See super easy

 
Rep Power: 252

For starters those are the wrong type of plugs you put in.

You should probably get the map, and fuel pressure checked.

Since I assume you dont have a good scanner or a fuel pressure gaguge.

 
Rep Power: 0

I've seen many ways of testing for sparks, but I'm not sure what the best/safest way would be (other than taking it in) so if you have the walk through that would be awesome Sherlock! And I have a hard time believing it's my map because I would think it would still start, it just wouldn't run that well - am I wrong? If so is there a test I can do on it? Also, cleaning the injectors is probably a great idea and I'll have to do that, does anybody know of a good solution I should use (or just some good soap and water)?

 
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And what kind of plugs am I supposed to use? Because those ones were said to fit my car and did so with ease and looked just like the old ones (only not ruined).

 
Rep Power: 185

NGK: PZFR6F-11 or DENSO: PKJ20CR-M11

 
Rep Power: 0

testing spark is the hard part but not real just a lot of typing
To clean the injectors literally get a bucket of water and through some dawn in it. Think of it like this the worst thing that can be in there is carbon. That is the same thing as super mega over cooked food. So dawn should take care of it. use just a hose to spray them out after they have soaked for like an hour. make sure they are completely dry bhefore putting them back on the engine.

Testing spark

Literally the only thing the haynes manual is telling me is to get a spark tester for your vehicle at any parts store. I would go to autozone. Reason I do auto zone is you can get to know the people in there alot easier because they do full time employees. So get the spark test use it and then return it when your done. they will give you full price back just make sure it doesnt look all fubar and it wont be a problem. I did the same thing with a set of fule filter clamp things for my truck and they were just like whatever and took them back they looked like they hadnt been used though thats the key. Now all you do is hook one end of the tester to the wire or coil and the other to the plug one at a time. Once they are connected you simply crank the car and see if the light comes on for the tester if it doesnt its the wire if it does then youre good.

If you have spark on all cylenders then youve gotta start looking at your fuel. check filter and pressure andmakes sure it isnt sucking air or anything like that.

As far as spark plugsd go. even if they say they are pre gapped you need to check it. the little ones you see on the counter at the parts store are acurate enough unless youre a super OCD freak where everything must be exact. As for a brand dude unless youve got this ultra mega highspeed engine that only gets jet fuel in it the cheap ones will do the job just fine. I tried the Platnum or irridium of what the hell costs like 14$ per plug and noticed no difference except maybe life for an extra 20K miles. but in the long run no real difference.

So yeah if this doesnt work then I would take an incindeary grenade and put it on the block and claim insurence on it. :P

 
Rep Power: 0

If having common sense is a super power just start caling me super man

 
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THANK YOU Sherlock! I really appreciate all the tips/instructions!
I did that stuff, the spark was working well (and yes, those are the right spark plugs btw Matt 75 and rainbow unicorn man!)the injectors are now cleaned up and yet it still didn't start on me. I dug back into the gas tank and discovered that one of the tubes had a crack in it so I replaced it and now my Civic is up and running like a champ!
So in the end the "parts cannon" that ezone claimed I fired was more like a "parts bb gun" because everything else needed replacement except the 02 sensor.

 
Rep Power: 0

See I must have that super power of common sense. I wonder if I can change my name to like 6th Sense Man or something! Well I am glad it all worked out brother. when you get right down to it theres nothing like a good old fashoined trouble shooting sesion to bring you and your car closer.