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98 Honda Civic Will Not Start
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penguinpc
New User
May 17, 2008, 10:09 AM
Post #1 of 10
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98 Honda Civic Will Not Start
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I followed the steps for troubleshooting a car that will not start. The only thing that might fit is the smell of gas. Please see my description of the problem below.
1998 Honda Civic DX
1.8L 4-cylinder
automatic transmission
160,509 miles
1. When this problem first began, the engine would crank, but would not start, until I quit turning the ignition key. In other words, crank crank crank for a minute or less, quit turning ignition key, car then starts. Car would run for a minute or two, then die. Repeat process, the same thing happened.
2. Now, car will not start at all. When I carry out the above procedure, the car will crank, but will sometimes diesel (but not for long) or attempt to start after I quit turning the ignition key . But it does not start as before in number one.
3. Sometimes after cranking, I can smell gas.
4. Sometimes when I quit cranking it (quit turning ignition key) it makes a funny sound, but I cannot really describe it. I may be able to borrow a digital recorder and post the sound, if it would be helpful.
This car had a full tune up a few months ago (sometime in 2008).
Thanks for any help you can provide.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 17, 2008, 10:30 AM
Post #2 of 10
(4097 views)
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Re: 98 Honda Civic Will Not Start
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How long ago was the last timing belt replacement?
T
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penguinpc
New User
May 17, 2008, 11:03 AM
Post #3 of 10
(4093 views)
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Re: 98 Honda Civic Will Not Start
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Maybe at 100,000 miles, maybe a little more or less than that. It's been a while, anyway. Kind of hard for me to remember.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 17, 2008, 12:53 PM
Post #4 of 10
(4089 views)
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Re: 98 Honda Civic Will Not Start
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? Had a hard time finding 1.8 for this Civic but so be it. I'd still rule out timing belt as it's symptoms are consistant with it being off time but perhaps not broken completely. If both spark and fuel are present the belt would first on my list to rule out - it time to do now anyway.
Pretty sure this or 1.6 that was listed are both interferrance engines not to be turned if not in time or damage will be highly possible,
T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
May 17, 2008, 1:17 PM
Post #5 of 10
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Re: 98 Honda Civic Will Not Start
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1.6 is probably right.
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
May 17, 2008, 1:36 PM
Post #6 of 10
(4085 views)
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Re: 98 Honda Civic Will Not Start
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Just tested the plug wires and the plugs themselves per a suggestion on another forum. There is no spark.
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penguinpc
New User
May 17, 2008, 1:38 PM
Post #7 of 10
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Re: 98 Honda Civic Will Not Start
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Sorry, the post above is me.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 17, 2008, 4:06 PM
Post #8 of 10
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Re: 98 Honda Civic Will Not Start
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There could be no spark if the belt has broken so that's still worth looking into. Even a belt off exact mark would make a spark. Again - if it is broken you really don't want to be cranking the engine at all now as the valves would be still and pistons will go up and down with the starter cranking. They can collide and that's where the damage can happen. May not be that at all and there are severa other reasons for no spark to test for,
T
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penguinpc
New User
May 20, 2008, 12:42 PM
Post #9 of 10
(4056 views)
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Re: 98 Honda Civic Will Not Start
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I took it to a mechanic. He says I have a burned out ignition module. Is that hard to replace? I have some skill working on cars. It will cost me $300 to have the mechanic do it. I've already priced the part for around $80-$90.
Thanks,
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 20, 2008, 1:40 PM
Post #10 of 10
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Re: 98 Honda Civic Will Not Start
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Arggh! Site at AZ was down but they do list a module and should have the procedures to replace it. Dinky pic only showed up - looked like a box and some harness plugs so it may be in and out of distributor or something.
If you are handy with cars stuff then give it a try. It may mean taking dist out if it's even in a distributor at all if you know how to deal with those. Wish I could suggest better,
T
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