Hi All,

I checked the solved cases thread and read the car won't start thread..but that did not provide the information I need to solve this problem, so I am hoping someone can help me.

I have a 1999 Civic DX Hatchabck with 89K miles that won't start.
I pulled it into my garage and replaced the rocker cover gasket, water hoses, plugs and plug wires.

In order to get one of the hoses off, I had to remove the distributor because some moron had the clip turned around and it could not be reached without taking the distributor off.

1st Mistake did not mark where the distributor position. It is in the same approximate position, because the bold washers left an impression on the housing where they were originally.

OK, I have spark. I went through the check list for Ignition that was posted here:
http://techauto.awardspace.com/ignition.html

I have good spark, blueish and strong..will light a timing light. I put the new ignition wires on one-by-one, taking an old wire off and putting the new wire in it's place in the cap. The plugs are gaped correctly. Does anyone have an image of the wire placement? The link for the ignition step has images for only gen 1 and gen 2 distributors.

I tried several times the steps for starting a flooded engine.

I have read that I should check fuel, but am not sure how to go about those steps.

Any suggestions for the next steps?

 

Check for fuel by turning the key to the IGN II position. The check engine light should come on temporarily and you should hear a low hum from the back seat. Its the fuel pump. If the pump turns on then off (primes), then you have fuel.

Post a picture or two of how the thing looks now. That might help us.

I recommend going to www.hondatech.info and downloading the service manual in .pdf format. It has a wealth of information for free.

 

As mentioned, check whether the fuel pump primes.

Spark should be bright white. If it's blue, the coil may be bad.

Here's the correct firing order:

 

Thanks for the link to the service manual. That will come in handy.
I am attaching pictures of the wiring.



I do hear the fuel pump when I turn the key to the II position.
Also, the spark is bright white, now that I have recharged the battery...too much time trying to get it started over the week-end without actually having it start and drained down the battery.

Guess I'll keep searching.
Thanks

 

Make sure the distributor electrical connections are secure if you disconnected them. Check the ECU for any codes. People say it is not possible, but with some determination I have been able to put a distributor on 180 degrees out of time. Also, timing belts can skip at any time. So check the mechanical timing, when you have the engine at TDC1 the rotor should point at the wire for #1.

 

Check the mechanical timing:

 

OK thanks, haven't had time to work on it since last week-end...will be working on it again this week-end....will start with the procedure in the manual first, but the timing is something for me to keep in mind also. Will update when I find out what the problem is.
Thank you.

 

The problem is that the distributor was rotated 180 degrees.

Thanks for all your help!

 

I've heard this is possible with aftermarket but not stock distributors. Which do you have?

 

I have a stock TEC...but to be accurate the distributor was not 180 degrees...no way to physically do that.....the rotor was turned 180 degrees in the wrong direction.

After making sure piston #1 was at top dead center, I opened the distributor and the rotor contact was not in a position where it would be pointing to #1 on the cap. I then took the distributor off and turned the rotor 180 degrees, put the cap back on and bolted the distributor back on. Put all the other parts back together and she fired right up.

This morning I'll get out the computer and see what the timing looks like.
I have one of these and it has come in very handy, when you are thrown a code or just curious about all the stats that can be collected when the engine is running.
http://www.obdcom.com/