"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
03/03/2015 at 08:47 • Filed to: None
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"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
03/03/2015 at 08:47 • Filed to: None | 0
| 12 |
It's been doing this the last few times I've driven it, but today it never started. Car cranks fine, but won't fire. Any thoughts on what I should check? I'm going to go search the CRX forums, but I thought I'd ask here since I know some of you have Honda experience (I've got a D16A6)
The last few times I've driven it it has struggled to start but eventually fires up. Once it's running it runs perfectly fine, and after it has run for a little bit and been shut down it fires right up the next time. That made me think it was just an issue of it being cold, but it's 38 degrees right now so surely that's warm enough for it to run.
I'm no mechanic, but I figure it's either not getting fuel or not getting spark. I'll probably replace the spark plugs, can't be too difficult. Fuel pump is another story...
themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
> Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2015 at 08:53 |
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Spark plug wires/distributor? If you have bad plug wires, then you might have a bit of a misfire on one or more cylinders and make it difficult for the engine to fire up on its own and off the starter motor. I think a bad distributor (or coil pack(s)?) could do the same.
Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
> Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2015 at 09:00 |
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Check to see if the fuel pump is priming the system. Get in the car with the windows rolled up and turn the key to "on." You should hear a soft buzzing somewhere above the left rear wheel. If you don't, the pump isn't getting any power or isn't working. There's likely a relay for it, and, depending on the year, it might be the infamous
Honda main relay
that goes out all the time. It could also be the fuel pump, which wasn't difficult to access on my '87 CRX, just pull off the wheel and the dust cover.
If you are getting a priming noise from the fuel pump, you likely have a spark issue. Find an old spark plug. Pull out one of the plug wires and put the spark plug in it. Then ground it against the engine and have someone try to start the car. If you're not seeing sparks, trace it back. You can try pulling off the distributor cap, too. The cap and/or rotor might be shot. Or the ignition coil might be out.
There's some ideas. Good luck.
Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
> Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2015 at 09:04 |
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Last time I had a starting issue was a clogged fuel filter, that when running somehow ran okay. Like everyone says just check it's getting fuel and spark then go from there. If it's an older car it might be getting a little oil into the combustion chamber and fouling the plugs.
E92M3
> Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2015 at 09:15 |
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I had a similar problem when I had a CRX. It would take forever to crank if the car sat more than 4 hours. If I went to the store, and came back to crank it, it would start right up. After replacing several things it ended up being the fuel pump. The pump itself worked fine, but there's a check valve that closes when you shut the car off that keeps the fuel between it and the fuel injector system. It wasn't closing and allowed fuel to run back into the tank. That lets the fuel line fill with air. So it takes a minute or 2 for it prime the lines again before it would start.
MonkeePuzzle
> Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2015 at 09:18 |
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fuel, air and spark. as you already mentioned. check the spark plugs for wear, super easy on the d-series. Check you are getting fuel ( a little harder), and check your airbox is clear.
Check the air/fuel sensors on the intake are connected and clean.
Any check engine lights?
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Jayhawk Jake
> E92M3
03/03/2015 at 09:38 |
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That sounds like my problem exactly, except today it never actually started.
Did you just replace the fuel pump? How difficult was the job?
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Jayhawk Jake
> Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
03/03/2015 at 09:40 |
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Thanks. I plan on checking the spark plugs first, I suspect they're old and due for replacing anyways.
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Jayhawk Jake
> MonkeePuzzle
03/03/2015 at 09:42 |
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No CEL when it was running, and I'm not seeing anything now. Just doesn't fire.
I'm thinking plugs, distributor, or fuel pump. I'll listen for the pump later today and see if I hear it, then check and replace the spark plugs.
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Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
> Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2015 at 09:50 |
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Can't hurt. If you're doing the plugs, you might also do the wires, cap/rotor, air filter, and fuel filter, just to get a full tune-up on the books.
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Jayhawk Jake
> Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
03/03/2015 at 10:13 |
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Not a bad idea. I wish I had more time to work on the thing...
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E92M3
> Jayhawk Jake
03/03/2015 at 10:25 |
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I did, it was pretty easy. I would do this first. Take a plug out and reattach to the plug wire, then touch the end of the plug to metal in the engine bay to ground it. Have someone crank the car so you can see if it sparks. Don't hold the wire , or you'll get a jolt. That will tell you if it's ignition related or fuel related. I wouldn't replace the plugs unless they are really old. They can't all be bad. If anything ignition wise it would be the distributor cap/rotor button, or coil.
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Jayhawk Jake
> E92M3
03/03/2015 at 12:05 |
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It's a 25 year old car with 130,000 miles on it, so the plugs could be quite old.
I suspect that oil got on the plugs. I replaced the valve cover gaskets and noticed this morning that there was a little oil leaking around it. I probably didn't tighten it enough because of fear that the bolts would snap, and I havent retightened it now that it has had time to settle. I'm going to check the plugs and take the valve cover off and retighten it tonight and see if that works.