Honda Car Forum

My 1990 Civic Wagon won't start. I checked and it is getting a spark and
there is fuel to the throttle body. However, fuel does not appear to be
getting into the motor.

Could it be the fuel injector?

Would it be the main relay since I am getting fuel into the throttle body?

Would it be the ECM?

I know that the timing belt is still in tact because the engine is getting a
spark.

Other than that, I'm stumped and would appreciate any help I can get.

Jeff

Hi Jeff

The main relay controls the fuel pump. The fuel pump usually also shuts
off by means of this relay when you're not getting spark - a safety
measure. Since you're getting gas to the engine, I don't think the main
relay is the problem.

Are you sure you're not flooded? An injector stuck open could flood
your engine.

Even if not flooded, I'd still check the injectors. Perhaps disconnect
them and check them with a multimeter to make sure one isn't shorted or
open.
I think they are driven by 12V so you could put a small bulb in its
place to make sure you're getting a signal to them and trace it back
from there. Not sure with a civic, but some cars have those signals go
through resistors - those could have opened.

It could be that the timing belt jumped a couple of teeth. Hopefully
that didn't happen. but I would check the timing to make sure that is
still ok.


Hope you find it soon.
Remco

Hi Jeff

The main relay controls the fuel pump. The fuel pump usually also shuts
off by means of this relay when you're not getting spark - a safety
measure. Since you're getting gas to the engine, I don't think the main
relay is the problem.

Are you sure you're not flooded? An injector stuck open could flood
your engine.

Even if not flooded, I'd still check the injectors. Perhaps disconnect
them and check them with a multimeter to make sure one isn't shorted or
open.
I think they are driven by 12V so you could put a small bulb in its
place to make sure you're getting a signal to them and trace it back
from there. Not sure with a civic, but some cars have those signals go
through resistors - those could have opened.

It could be that the timing belt jumped a couple of teeth. Hopefully
that didn't happen. but I would check the timing to make sure that is
still ok.


Hope you find it soon.
Remco

Jeff Prus wrote:
> My 1990 Civic Wagon won't start. I checked and it is getting a spark and
> there is fuel to the throttle body. However, fuel does not appear to be
> getting into the motor.
>
> Could it be the fuel injector?
>
> Would it be the main relay since I am getting fuel into the throttle body?
>
> Would it be the ECM?
>
> I know that the timing belt is still in tact because the engine is getting a
> spark.
>
> Other than that, I'm stumped and would appreciate any help I can get.
>
> Jeff

---------------

Two things to try:

Crank it with the pedal to the floor for 15 seconds. If that doesn't do
anything, prime it with some starting fluid down the intake.

One or the other will tell you what's missing.

What was it doing before it stopped, or did you buy it this way???

'Curly'

"Jeff Prus" <jeffprus@keywayassociates.com> wrote

> My 1990 Civic Wagon won't start. I checked and it is getting a spark and
> there is fuel to the throttle body. However, fuel does not appear to be
> getting into the motor. Could it be the fuel injector?
> Would it be the main relay since I am getting fuel into the throttle body?
> Would it be the ECM? I know that the timing belt is still in tact
> because the engine is getting a spark. Other than that, I'm stumped
> and would appreciate any help I can get.
> Jeff

One port is primary and the other is secondary. For
some reason the secondary butterfly valve isn't opening,
probably from some cold sensing issues which cause the
gas to backup. Try Curly's method using a starter fluid
down the primary. If it's flooded then clear it first.

You said that your car is a single port in the other group?
Remember to put all the newsgroups you want to post
to on a single article so everyone can see them.