I have a 1992 Civic LX. I have this highly sporadic problem of the engine not starting. There's gas in the tank, the engine turns over, but sometimes the engine doesn't start. I took the car into the dealer and they found a small amount of oil in one of the spark plug wells, but I don't see how that could be the problem -- the oil wasn't even high enough to touch the rubber piece on the spark plug wire. When the engine does start, there are no problems.

Intermittent problems are the worst because they are hard to troubleshoot. Anyone have any clue as to what test(s) I can perform when it does happen to pinpoint this problem?

 

that might be what is pretty well known around here; though it seems like every dealer in the US (and the world) would know about it. so maybe they ckecked it and you did not mention it (?).

i was having that those same symptoms, but i had rebuilt my engine and then did this:

http://techauto.tripod.com/mainrelay.htm

but i should have done one only before the other (but since it was set up - decided to do both).

Could be something else of course in your case ??

 

Thanks. I mentioned that it might be the relay to the dealer, but they said the relays "rarely go bad." Unless the car does not start in their presence, they won't do anything.

 

Yup, sounds like the main relay and if they're telling you that it "rarely" happens, they're full of ****! The oil in your plug well could be from changing the oil with the plug wires out and some overspill by a careless person made it down the hole (unlikely). Or, (this makes better sense) is you have a seal leak on your head cover then that's an easy fix. Each plug hole has a small circular seal to the head and a small leak from one of those would put some oil into your plug.

 

is that throttle body or port ?

 

I'm not sure I understand your question. The OEM Manual, on page 9-3, has a diagram of the intake manifold and points to a "throttle body" at the lower right.

 

Do you mean my reply? I meant to say you have two small issues. One is the main relay under you dash, and the other being the spark plug well seal(s).

 

I was replying to fglaustin, but you are correct in that I have two problems: the ignition and oil in the wells. At least I thought it's two separate problems, but the dealer says they are related.

Oil in the wells is a problem I need to deal with every year or two. I have to get the head cover gaskets replaced often.

 

That's interesting. I drive a 93 LX that did the same thing you mentioned with the car not starting sometimes. Replaced the main relay after examining the old one and seeing the broken solder contacts. Do a visual inspection of your relay before dumping your cash.

Also I've never had to replace a valve cover gasket/seal... ever! I've pulled it off, adjusted the valves and put it back on. I talked to an engineer and he told me to make sure that the cover seal was clean and dry before putting it back on. Meaning the surface and seal should be clean of any oil or dirt. Dirt will do the obvious and ruin a good seal and the oil will allow the seal to squish out of place and cause small leaks. The valve well seals were not replaced either I just wiped them and slapped it all back together. No leaks yet! Perhaps you have a warped valve cover. I've read about it in this formum before.

 

not making sense.
if it is related, then the one is (should be) easy to solve.
hopefully it is not the seal at the valve train assembly and the head. lets assume it is not there, but at the valve cover (now being called rocker cover) and the head. but those are packaged with new valve cover gaskets (or at least from what i have seen). so, if you are replacing that every year or 2, then are the gaskets for the spark plug holes also being replaced. ??????

so, replace them and that will solve your porblem if the dealer is correct.
but i do not believe that. i was asking if it is throttle body or port becuase the reason for the non-start could be a leaking fuel injector. they can be taken out and sent in and even check for five dollars. but your car is down during the time.
you may not want to take the relay out and do the procedure as in the link that i posted. if the above does not solve the problem, then i would look into a new relay (just as advise - because i cannot say for sure what the problem is).