1997 Civic died out and won't start?
 

So I have a 1997 Honda Civic DX, 1.6 Vtec 5 speed. I was out for a drive yesterday and when I switched gears from 4th or 5th and the car died. :russian: So I tried to turn it over and and you can hear the starter hit and the entire engine jerks, but the motor won't turn over. Brand new battery, had the starter checked and they said it's good. I recently did pistons and rings, and a new stage 3 clutch so I'm not sure what happened? Any ideas?

Re: 1997 Civic died out and won't start?
 

Stock DX is not a Vtec engine. Was there a motor swap?

How about more history when you post!
Why did it need pistons and rings?
How long ago did you replace the pistons and rings and how many miles have you put on the engine since?
Did you replace the timing belt too when you did the pistons and rings?

Air, fuel, and spark ...which one or combination of is it deficient?
Read: http://troubleshootmyvehicle.com/hon...rt-condition-1
Read: http://honda-tech.com/honda-civic-de...1-***-1992733/
Googs Search: https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q...tart+diagnosis

Re: 1997 Civic died out and won't start?
 

It has a motor swap in it. I had piston and rings done because it was smoking, so I figured it would be a good idea to get them done before the motor goes to far. I've put about 400 miles and I replaced timing belt and water pump.

Re: 1997 Civic died out and won't start?
 

What does that mean?


Was that test done on the car or did you carry it in to the zone?

Re: 1997 Civic died out and won't start?
 

When you turn the key to start it, you can hear the starter hit hard and the engine jerks forward like it wants to turn over but nothing happens. I carried it in to have it checked.

Re: 1997 Civic died out and won't start?
 

So the crankshaft does not spin when the starter tries to engage?

Starter makes a loud clunk, right?
Then do the dash lights go dim or do they stay pretty bright?

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If they go dim, that would mean the crankshaft probably can't spin and it's loading the starter motor heavy, it's trying to pull all the amps the battery and cables can give.

Put a wrench or socket on the crank pulley bolt, see if you can spin it by hand.

If any accessory drive pulley locked up the starter may not be able to turn it (compressor pulley or adjuster locked up?). Remove belts to see if the crankshaft will then be allowed to rotate.

If the engine locked up the starter will not be able to turn it.

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OTOH if the lights stay bright after the starter goes clunk, it may be losing connection on the large pos cable from battery directly to the starter, probably at the battery cable clamp. Google how to do a voltage drop test on the starter circuits.