no start problem

hi all... recently bought an 88 civic dx, 16L with almost 200,000
miles (290000 kms actually, since i'm in canada). it was cheap because
of the mileage and an issue with starting... it often would not start
immediately after running... you would have to let it sit for up to
half an hour before it would start again. it first seemed to be an
ignition problem, so i looked at the distributor, installed a new
rotor because the old one was badly corroded, and it worked fine for a
day, then wouldn't start at all for a couple days, ever. now, it's
starting fine every time i go to use it, without me having made a
single change since the 2 days it didn't start at all, leading me to
believe that whatever the problem was is still there and will spring
up again at anytime... but i'd really like to get it fixed now.

the problem is not ignition, it sparks fine all the time. the fuel
pump also works fine. of course it's difficult to find the error if it
keeps working, leaving no way to test it.

any advice at all is greatly appreciated, if you need more info, just
ask.

thanks.... jeremy

 

I'm in UK and have the Rover 216 GSi 1.6 SOHC '91 version of the car.
I have exactly the same problem and haven't yet pinned it down.

Mine is similarly affected! If I do something it goes away and just
after I get my web page updated (under the Miscellanea section) it
comes back.

When yours does restart after ~30mins, does it fire straight up and
run cleanly or do you get the effect of backfiring and popping and
running on less than the full complement of cylinders, like mine?
When it has restarted, I have to be carefull that I don't let the revs
fall
too much else it will drop cylinders although, strangely, it will
tick-over
satisfactorily but then misfire as I demand more power and revs.

Incidently, although you hold the non-start period record at a couple
of days, mine has gone to one hour before it will restart. This makes
short, quick shopping trips impossible.

Same here!

 

You say the fuel pump works fine. But have you checked to see if the fuel
pump is running when the engine will not start? A faulty fuel pump relay is
a common "hot start" problem in these cars. The relay is located inside of
the passenger compartment.

 

Thanks for that advice, I will check on that in a few days... I'm in
California right now, so won't get a chance to look at it until then,
but will be sure to see if I can find anything out then.

peace.........Jer

 

When it is running, it runs beautifully. When it doesn't start, it
just cranks as though it were not sparking. Argh...

I'll let you know if I come up with anything.

Jer

 

I should have said that mine also runs perfectly at any power
level so long as the revs are above 2000rpm. It will run at
under 2000 rpm but you have to be careful about how much
throttle to give.

Similarly.

 

Read this, and follow the links contained...

http://members.rogers.com/john-ings/MainRelay.HTM

(Might work for a Rover too, BTW)

'Curly'

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