Hey all, new here. Been looking for some good help for the 1990 Civic Si Hatchback I bought yesterday, so I figured this would be a good place to find it.. Overall the car runs exellent, but it has a couple quirks I would like to work out.

First, the temperature guage does not move at all. I don't know if it's unplugged or the if sender is bad, but I have scoured through the Chilton and can't find the location for it.

Second, when I'm going up a hill it pumps out a good amount of white smoke, not excessive, but noticable. Don't really know where to start for that one so if someone could point me in the right direction that would be great.

I want to mod this car but I want it in good running condition before I start pouring money into how it looks.

 

The gauge sender is screwed into the end of the head under the distributor. It really is a lot simpler to just pop the distributor off (mark the timing first) to work on it. It is the one with one wire. If you ground the wire with the key on, the gauge should go all the way up to hot.

 

Ok, I did that and the guage still did not move, but now I have another problem. I I reassembled everything and went to start the car and now all I get is the click of a relay somewhere under the dash when I turn the key to 'start'. I had the guage cover, guages, and steering wheel removed for something else I'm working on but I know I plugged everything back in correctly.

 

Check the charge on your battery. It may have somehow discharged during your work.

 

Did that. Even tried jumping it from my 02 Trailblazer. Same thing.

 

I know this idea is also obvious, but is it possible that the battery terminals and connectors need cleaning to allow better electrical contact?

 

Did that too lol. Also just did a successful rolling start, so I know it still runs.

Its almost like its not detecting that the clutch is depressed.

 

In 96-00 Civics, there is an interlock control unit, as well as a key interlock solenoid and switch, located behind the steering wheel (see picture). Perhaps you forgot to reconnect the connectors to one or more of these units?

[IMG]local://upfiles/25538/C6C8647345E1403A9184B3F8FD5A4099.jpg[/IMG]

 

The 1990 just has a simple switch and relay on the clutch. You should hear the relay click while you work the clutch up and down while holding the key to "start". If it does that it is probably the starter, test it by jumping the pin for the little wire on the starter to the big one that's connected to the battery. Be very careful with that test because if the car happens to be in gear it will move.

 

Found the problem. The clutch interlock switch was not being engaged due to the fact the the plastic grommet at the top of the pedal had crumbled. I laid under the steering wheel and pressed the switch in while turning the key and it started right up. Now all I need is the plastic grommet to fix it.

Thanks for all the help guys.

Still got those other problems though. [:@]