I own a 98 Civic Ex.

Recently installed a new clutch and flywheel and followed a step-by-step guide to finish it. The flywheel cover didn't align correctly, but I don't feel its part of my problem. The starter turns but it won't crank, also I cannot push start it because it won't go into gear. What's my problem?

 

Are you saying that the starter fails to engage the flywheel and therefore to crank the engine? Use the diagram below to provide more specific details about the misaligned flywheel cover. This sounds relevant to the problem.

Explain what you mean by "it won't go into gear". Does the clutch pedal work? Does the shifter fail to move into gear or does the clutch fail to engage the transmission? Is the transmission filled with fluid?

 

Wrong flywheel? Flywheel installed inside out (if that's even possible)?

You should be able to push the shift lever into gears with the engine stopped no matter what the clutch is doing. If you're saying you put it in gear and push the car but it just rolls like it's in neutral, that could again be incorrect clutch parts, like the disk not meshing with the input shaft. Or it could be that one or both CV axles are not fully engaged in the transmission.

I think your best bet now is to take it all apart again and compare the new parts closely with your old ones to be sure they are the proper ones for the car.

 

I took it to the shop and they said I installed the throw out bearing wrong so the clutch wasn't perfect. I half-assed the casing anyway, so I intended on getting it all repositioned whenever I got it back together. A little over my head really. Anyway, second problem has occurred, they couldn't get it to start and said I have advanced my timing somehow. The owner of the shop said probably be about 20%. Now I have worries in the bottom end and he's shooting the estimates toward the thousands, am I being jacked around?

 

They're going to run a compression test monday to let me know how bad it is, what could be the issue?

 

I don't really get about the starter turning but not cranking. The starter pinion gear may not be contacting the flywheel gears so it just spins. I don't there is anything wrong with your timing since you were not near the distributor. You should reassemble the whole clutch and flywheel assembly using the correct parts. This should be fairly straight forward if your original problem was the clutch. Did you have any issues with the motor before the removal of the clutch?

 

if your starter is turning but not cranking then your starter solinoid has gone bad and its not kicking the starter gear OUTWARDS to engage the flywheel. simply replace the starter with a new one. done deal.... as to the timing he could have just not jumped the ECU jumper when attempting to time the motor.

but even if the timing is off a tooth... the civic uses a rubber timing belt... simply loosen the belt tensioner and adjust the belt accordingly.
if your shop is that stupid PLEASE GET YOUR CAR BACK ASAP AND TAKE IT ELSE WHERE!!!!!!

 

I believe the starter wasn't contacting the flywheel, as far as that problem goes. With the timing, I'll be sure that he jumps the ECU when timing the motor when I go back for the compression test. The problem is getting access to the tensioner and all the extra labor crap that comes along with it (water pump ect.) that is "recommended".

 

if the car has more than 90K miles on it its a GREAT IDEA to replace the timing belt, water pump and tensioner and if you have any kind of oil leak id also replace the oil seals... or if you dont want any posible leaking prolems have the oil seals replaced also... the seals arecheap BUT what gets expensive is the labor involved with removing the pulleys and belts and such to get to them... and thats the cam seal and crank seal.

well worth the money for new OEM parts..... when it comes to the timing belt the cheapest is not the best way to go! go quality the first timeand be sure its going to be good!

and the starter issue unless you put the flywheel on wrong i see no problem with it mating up correctly.

 

For some reason I believe that's the case. =(

The timing belt labor is my current issue, the guy is recommending I do it, but I am currently paying 95$/hr to get the transmission problem resolved.