WON'T START

1991 Civic DX hatchback won't start. Lights, buzzers, fuel pump all
operate. Tried to jump start, nothing. Any suggestions on the problem?
Thanks.


Darryl

 

Doesn't turn over or turns over and doesn't fire?

 

Most common causes of "won't start at all" conditions in early 1990s Hondas:

1.
Failed ignitor (inside the distributor):
See http://www.markl.f9.co.uk/howto/electrical/igniter/igniter.htm

2.
Failed timing belt:
Remove the distributor cap. Have someone try to start the car while you watch
the distributor rotor. If the rotor starts to turn, then the timing belt should
be fine. The pistons drive the crankshaft which drives the timing belt which
drives the camshaft which turns the distributor rotor. The "weak link" in the
chain so to speak is the timing belt.

3.
Failed ignition switch:
http://tinyurl.com/7y6vj
groups.google for {"ignition switch" Civic groupalt.autos.honda OR
rec.autos.makers.honda} for more articles on this.

4.
Other distributor problems:
Distributor rotor came off shaft. Failed distributor coil.

 

It doesn't turn over at all. No starter trying to engage at all.

 

Thanks Caroline for the valuable info, I just had the timing belt, water
pump and a tune up last week. Measured 11.81 volts coming to into main
relay socket. What else should be checked?

 

More folks (with more experience) are going to comment, but FWIW:

I wouldn't dismiss the timing belt change and tune-up as NOT being a cause. More
than one mechanic has messed up basic maintenance. Check all the ignition wire
connections. Are all the plug wires connected? Distributor cap wires connected?
Give them a good shove onto their terminals. The new timing belt and/or new
water pump still may not have been correctly installed.

You say the car doesn't turn over at all. So the distributor rotor is not moving
at all, right, when you try to start the car?

I'd also look at the starter (as you already seem to be) and the alternator.
OTOH, when my 91 Civic LX's alternator died in 1999 after 106k miles, I got the
battery warning light.

If you have the time and interest, go to www.autozone.com , click on the "free
repair guides" link on the right, put in your car's info, and continue to your
car's specific manuals. I believe there are basic troubleshooting steps for
things like the starter and alternator there. Might take some reading, but I
have found the repair guides there very helpful. (They appear to be identical to
my Chilton's manual.)

Lastly, how old is your car's battery? Just because the lights etc. work doesn't
mean the battery is okay. Has starting been hard before this non-start condition
began? What's the voltage at the battery terminals? My 91 Honda's two previous
batteries each lasted 4.5 years. Last time one died the car was still starting
but the voltage was 10 volts (with the car off, IIRC).

 

I just had the battery checked, it was good. When I turn the key, I can
hear a relay clicking, I gues it the main relay under the knee panel
drivers side. I will verify again. Still no turn over or crank from
starter.

 

More likely what you're hearing is the starter solenoid.
Next step, turn the lights on and have someboy watch them while you
try the starter. If the lights do NOT dim then the starter is not
pulling any current. Check the cables and connections at the starter
and its solenoid. Could be bad solenoid contacts or a bad starter
comutator, worn brushes etc. If the lights do dim, check the battery
connections and cables at both ends. Make sure the cables are not
corroded and the negative cable has a good ground.

 

You won't believe what the cause was! It was the blue rubber disk theat
meets with the clutch switch. I t had broken off. When the clutch was
pushed in, the clutch switch was not operative. The hole that the disk
goes in was going through the switch plunger doing nothing. I made a temp
fix until I can replace the rubber disk. That's to all for all your
assistance and my we all make this site the best for HONDA'S

 

You won't believe what the cause was! It was the blue rubber disk theat
meets with the clutch switch. I t had broken off. When the clutch was
pushed in, the clutch switch was not operative. The hole that the disk
goes in was going through the switch plunger doing nothing. I made a temp
fix until I can replace the rubber disk. That's to all for all your
assistance and my we all make this site the best for HONDA'S

 

The culprit was a little blue rubber disk that was attached the top of the
clutch pedal that engages the clutch switch, was had broken off.

 

Excellent and interesting update. Glad you found the problem and that it appears
not hard to fix.

 

Hmm. I'll have to remember that one. Similar to the "has to be in
park" switch on automatics.