Honda Car Forum

I had the same problem with my 2000 Honda Civic when it had about 20,000 on
it. I ended up taking it back to the dealer who told me the valves were out
of adjustment and that they probably weren't adjusted properly at the
factory. It's been running great ever since. It now has over 46,000 on it.
Don't know if your's is the same problem but it's worth checking.

Kevin


NoSetFine wrote in message ...
>Hi - 2001 Civic, 45m mi on it.
>No problems until this morning when it wouldn't start - at all.
>
>Checked the old school stuff - plugs, fuses, battery, air filter - I even
>pulled the spark plugs out, cleaned and checked the gap although they
didn't
>need it.
>
>Car will turn over fast and strong... but no hint of wanting to start
>whatsoever.
>
>Any direction?
>-e
>
>

What? Adjusting the valve caused the car to start? I'm having
trouble swallowing this one, you need 2 things for a car to start -
spark and fuel, all other parameters can be way off (timing, valves,
etc.) but the will run, however rough.

In article <1059073375.216958@cswreg.cos.agilent.com>, "Kevin Taddeucci"
<kevin_taddeucci@soco.agilent.com> wrote:
>I had the same problem with my 2000 Honda Civic when it had about 20,000 on
>it. I ended up taking it back to the dealer who told me the valves were out
>of adjustment and that they probably weren't adjusted properly at the
>factory. It's been running great ever since. It now has over 46,000 on it.
>Don't know if your's is the same problem but it's worth checking.
>
>Kevin
>
>
>NoSetFine wrote in message ...
>>Hi - 2001 Civic, 45m mi on it.
>>No problems until this morning when it wouldn't start - at all.
>>
>>Checked the old school stuff - plugs, fuses, battery, air filter - I even
>>pulled the spark plugs out, cleaned and checked the gap although they
>didn't
>>need it.
>>
>>Car will turn over fast and strong... but no hint of wanting to start
>>whatsoever.
>>
>>Any direction?
>>-e
>>
>>
>
>

Do you have a big honking key chain arrangement? I have this puter Honda
thingy that hangs from my key chain and if it gets looped over the key the
car won't start and the code key icon on the dash flashes. Is your security
key icon flashing when the car won't start? Mine is a 2001 Civic coupe.

Craig.


"Uncle Mike" <me@homeoffice.com> wrote in message
news:f9XTa.3977$ys2.294542@news20.bellglobal.com.. .
> What? Adjusting the valve caused the car to start? I'm having
> trouble swallowing this one, you need 2 things for a car to start -
> spark and fuel, all other parameters can be way off (timing, valves,
> etc.) but the will run, however rough.
>
> In article <1059073375.216958@cswreg.cos.agilent.com>, "Kevin Taddeucci"
> <kevin_taddeucci@soco.agilent.com> wrote:
> >I had the same problem with my 2000 Honda Civic when it had about 20,000
on
> >it. I ended up taking it back to the dealer who told me the valves were
out
> >of adjustment and that they probably weren't adjusted properly at the
> >factory. It's been running great ever since. It now has over 46,000 on
it.
> >Don't know if your's is the same problem but it's worth checking.
> >
> >Kevin
> >
> >
> >NoSetFine wrote in message ...
> >>Hi - 2001 Civic, 45m mi on it.
> >>No problems until this morning when it wouldn't start - at all.
> >>
> >>Checked the old school stuff - plugs, fuses, battery, air filter - I
even
> >>pulled the spark plugs out, cleaned and checked the gap although they
> >didn't
> >>need it.
> >>
> >>Car will turn over fast and strong... but no hint of wanting to start
> >>whatsoever.
> >>
> >>Any direction?
> >>-e
> >>
> >>
> >
> >

I had problems swallowing this one as well and I questioned the dealer about
it when they told me that is what it was. They insisted that's what the
problem was and said it's not the first time they have seen this problem.
Didn't make sense to me but it was fixed under warrenty at no cost to me and
it's been running great ever sense so............draw your own conclusion.

Kevin


Uncle Mike wrote in message ...
> What? Adjusting the valve caused the car to start? I'm having
>trouble swallowing this one, you need 2 things for a car to start -
>spark and fuel, all other parameters can be way off (timing, valves,
>etc.) but the will run, however rough.
>
>In article <1059073375.216958@cswreg.cos.agilent.com>, "Kevin Taddeucci"
><kevin_taddeucci@soco.agilent.com> wrote:
>>I had the same problem with my 2000 Honda Civic when it had about 20,000
on
>>it. I ended up taking it back to the dealer who told me the valves were
out
>>of adjustment and that they probably weren't adjusted properly at the
>>factory. It's been running great ever since. It now has over 46,000 on
it.
>>Don't know if your's is the same problem but it's worth checking.
>>
>>Kevin

Not in my case. I only have the car key and two house keys with nothing else
on my ring. I can't stand bulky thinks in my pockets. My car would turn
over but never start.

Kevin


Craig Smith > wrote in message ...
>Do you have a big honking key chain arrangement? I have this puter Honda
>thingy that hangs from my key chain and if it gets looped over the key the
>car won't start and the code key icon on the dash flashes. Is your security
>key icon flashing when the car won't start? Mine is a 2001 Civic coupe.
>
>Craig.

Try removing one plug, reconnect the lead to the plug and lay it on the
engine so that it is earthed (grounded). Have some one operate the starter
and see if a spark crossed the gap on the plug. No spark then the problem
is in the electrics - probably in the distributor (if they still have such
things)
"Kevin Taddeucci" <kevin_taddeucci@soco.agilent.com> wrote in message
news:1059158430.253680@cswreg.cos.agilent.com...
> I had problems swallowing this one as well and I questioned the dealer
about
> it when they told me that is what it was. They insisted that's what the
> problem was and said it's not the first time they have seen this problem.
> Didn't make sense to me but it was fixed under warrenty at no cost to me
and
> it's been running great ever sense so............draw your own conclusion.
>
> Kevin
>
>
> Uncle Mike wrote in message ...
> > What? Adjusting the valve caused the car to start? I'm having
> >trouble swallowing this one, you need 2 things for a car to start -
> >spark and fuel, all other parameters can be way off (timing, valves,
> >etc.) but the will run, however rough.
> >
> >In article <1059073375.216958@cswreg.cos.agilent.com>, "Kevin Taddeucci"
> ><kevin_taddeucci@soco.agilent.com> wrote:
> >>I had the same problem with my 2000 Honda Civic when it had about 20,000
> on
> >>it. I ended up taking it back to the dealer who told me the valves were
> out
> >>of adjustment and that they probably weren't adjusted properly at the
> >>factory. It's been running great ever since. It now has over 46,000 on
> it.
> >>Don't know if your's is the same problem but it's worth checking.
> >>
> >>Kevin
>
>

> > What? Adjusting the valve caused the car to start? I'm having
> >trouble swallowing this one, you need 2 things for a car to start -
> >spark and fuel, all other parameters can be way off (timing, valves,
> >etc.) but the will run, however rough.
> >


sorry but you need 3 things. compression is the third. if the
valves are set too tight the engine will run once started but with the
compression leak it will be a bastard to get started. i've seen this
on several cars.
back to the problem. does the main relay click?? power to the ECU??
does it have gas? my car won't start is not much to go on!!
Chip

In article <5ddcea74.0307251519.75df0eb0@posting.google.com >,
chip@chipanddebby.com (Chip Stein) wrote:
>> > What? Adjusting the valve caused the car to start? I'm having
>> >trouble swallowing this one, you need 2 things for a car to start -
>> >spark and fuel, all other parameters can be way off (timing, valves,
>> >etc.) but the will run, however rough.
>> >
> sorry but you need 3 things. compression is the third. if the
>valves are set too tight the engine will run once started but with the
>compression leak it will be a bastard to get started. i've seen this
>on several cars.
> back to the problem. does the main relay click?? power to the ECU??
> does it have gas? my car won't start is not much to go on!!
> Chip

Well of course, but this in this case it failed to start
the next day after running proper without problems (i believe),
yoir point is noted. I set the point gap to almost zero once
on my 240z and it wouldn't start for praying either. <G>

Good advice! I had the same problem on a '92 Civic VX. It turned out to be
a tiny spring inside the distibutor had sheared off. I replaced it with a
stiffer one I had laying around that was about the same size. That was at
72K, and I'm at 216K now. That's the only engine problem I've had!

I don't know if the electrics are different on the '01, but checking the
spark is easy. Then, if that's OK, a quick fuel supply check is in order.


"Frank Hodges" <golfex1@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:2NiUa.65447$Df6.62306@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
> Try removing one plug, reconnect the lead to the plug and lay it on the
> engine so that it is earthed (grounded). Have some one operate the starter
> and see if a spark crossed the gap on the plug. No spark then the problem
> is in the electrics - probably in the distributor (if they still have such
> things)
> "Kevin Taddeucci" <kevin_taddeucci@soco.agilent.com> wrote in message
> news:1059158430.253680@cswreg.cos.agilent.com...
> > I had problems swallowing this one as well and I questioned the dealer
> about
> > it when they told me that is what it was. They insisted that's what the
> > problem was and said it's not the first time they have seen this
problem.
> > Didn't make sense to me but it was fixed under warrenty at no cost to me
> and
> > it's been running great ever sense so............draw your own
conclusion.
> >
> > Kevin
> >
> >
> > Uncle Mike wrote in message ...
> > > What? Adjusting the valve caused the car to start? I'm having
> > >trouble swallowing this one, you need 2 things for a car to start -
> > >spark and fuel, all other parameters can be way off (timing, valves,
> > >etc.) but the will run, however rough.
> > >
> > >In article <1059073375.216958@cswreg.cos.agilent.com>, "Kevin
Taddeucci"
> > ><kevin_taddeucci@soco.agilent.com> wrote:
> > >>I had the same problem with my 2000 Honda Civic when it had about
20,000
> > on
> > >>it. I ended up taking it back to the dealer who told me the valves wer
e
> > out
> > >>of adjustment and that they probably weren't adjusted properly at the
> > >>factory. It's been running great ever since. It now has over 46,000
on
> > it.
> > >>Don't know if your's is the same problem but it's worth checking.
> > >>
> > >>Kevin
> >
> >
>
>