88 honda crx starting prob.

I have a 88 honda civic dx with a 88 honda crx motor in it. Motor put in 3
months ago, new belts, hoses. Today I started it, forgot something
inside, so I shut it off, when I come back it would not start. The motor
is not turning over at all. There is a whinning noise around the starter,
high pitched. Battery is new, have full power of lights and bells, fuel
pump is humming, so I know it is not those things. Should I look at the
starter first and the solenoid? Need help fast. I have to work on
Monday. Also, how much trouble are they to take off. I may have to do
this myself. I need pictures and instructions. Help!!

 

An online 88 CRX manual: http://www.honda.co.uk/owner/CRXManual/index.html . It
lists some tests for the starter and its solenoid under "Electrical" then
"Starting System," and also gives the steps for starter replacement.

Also, www.autozone.com has free online repair guides for 1995 and earlier
Hondas. Look for the link on the right of the homepage.

Some basic items you might want to check before you go at the starter:

I can't tell if you've eliminated a broken timing belt or not. If not, take off
the distributor cap, and have someone try to start the car while you watch the
distributor rotor. If the distributor rotor turns, the timing belt isn't broken.

Likewise, I'm not sure you've eliminated the distributor's ignitor, one of the
Achilles' heels of Hondas of your car's vintage. Some info on Honda ignitor
problems:

http://www.markl.f9.co.uk/howto/electrical/igniter/igniter.htm

http://www.gcw.org.uk/rover/igniter.htm

I'm no pro; I just happen to have some experience in each of the above.

 

I have just put a new timing belt on it only a week ago, had it done at a
garage, rotor button and all was changed when motor was replaced several
months ago. All new plugs and wires as well.

 

This high pitched whining noise - does it sound like the starter motor is
spinning? Either the solenoid is not kicking the starter dog into the ring
gear or you have lost a tooth of the ring gear. Turn the engine over by
hand using a 19mm socket on the crankshaft bolt and try again. If nothing,
it's likely the starter/solenoid - try giving it a whack with a heavyish
muffled wrench or small hammer. Some times the solenoid sticks and a light
shock will break it free temporarily.

Oh - when you changed the motor, are you sure you got all the ground straps
between battery, body and engine/trans on properly?

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

||This high pitched whining noise - does it sound like the starter motor is
||spinning? Either the solenoid is not kicking the starter dog into the ring
||gear or you have lost a tooth of the ring gear. Turn the engine over by
||hand using a 19mm socket on the crankshaft bolt and try again.

....or put it in 4th gear and push the car a foot or so (with the clutch engaged
so it will turn the motor over)

||
||Oh - when you changed the motor, are you sure you got all the ground straps
||between battery, body and engine/trans on properly?

Check this with jumper cables between negative battery post, and bare metal on
the block


Texas Parts Guy

 

Where is the location of Crankshaft bolt? Is bolt on the starter motor side or
timing belt side?

 

Are you saying push the car on the drive gear (4th gear) will rotate
the crankshaft? That's old way to start the car by pushing the car, isn't?

 

This only works for manual transmission not for automatic.

 

This only works for manual transmission not for automatic.

 

It's on the timing belt side. Look in the left inner wheel well plastic
liner. There should be a plastic plug in it which you remove to get a
socket on an extension (5" or so) through the hole to the bolt.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

On 10 Jul 2004 23:03:32 -0700, (Red Cloud) wrote:

|| (Rex B) wrote in message
||> ||This high pitched whining noise - does it sound like the starter motor is
||> ||spinning? Either the solenoid is not kicking the starter dog into the
ring
||> ||gear or you have lost a tooth of the ring gear. Turn the engine over by
||> ||hand using a 19mm socket on the crankshaft bolt and try again.
||>
||> ...or put it in 4th gear and push the car a foot or so (with the clutch
engaged
||> so it will turn the motor over)
||>
||
|| Are you saying push the car on the drive gear (4th gear) will rotate
||the crankshaft? That's old way to start the car by pushing the car, isn't?

You aren't trying to start it at this point. But if it's simply stopping one a
bad tooth (or teeth) on the flywheel ring gear, you can move the flywheel past
the bad spot by putting the (manual) transmission in a high gear and pushing the
car a foot or so either way. Now the starter should be adjacent a better area
of the flywheel teeth, and should get enough bite to start the motor when you
turn the key.
If it's an automatic transmission obviously this wn't wrk and you will have to
turn the engine another way.
Texas Parts Guy

 

I'm confused here. ARe you sure turning Crankshaft bolt would start up the
car for automatic tranny? I thought it only works for manual tranny.
Anyways, I have to look more to locate the crankshaft bolt.

 

NO - it's not to start the car that I suggested turning the crankshaft!!
It was the thought that there might be a bad tooth or few teeth on the
starter ring gear which is preventing full engagement of the starter dog
gear - IOW turning the crank would move the ring gear to hopefully better
teeth.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

So george, Pushing the car on automatic tranny will not help
bypassing bad
gear to start up the car. It only works for manual tranny car right?
For automatic tranny, you suggest open the hood and turning crankshaft
bolt.

 

Unless you want to watch the pulleys turn, you don't actually have to lift
the hood. As previously noted, you get at the crank pulley bolt from the
left front wheel well.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

Is left front tire must be dismounted to access the crank pulley bolt?
I know I ask stupid question. Be patient with me.

 

Are you sure you're not just having fun here? You don't have to mess
with the wheel but you'll get easier access if you just turn the steering
to near full left.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??