Honda Civic 1995 Won't Start

  • Thread starter Thread starter murrayw
  • Start date Start date
M

murrayw

For the first time in 8 years, my Honda 1995 Civic EX disappointed me.
It won't start.

Here are the signs:

1) All electrical components work (radio, lights, dashboard, air
conditioning, etc...)
2) I do not hear the clicks as I turn the key.
3) It won't take a jump.
4) It will not crank.
5) It had been sitting for two days, which is typical.

I'm not a mechanic, but to me all signs do not point to the battery
because everything comes on.

Any idea? What could be the problem?

Thanks, well in advance...


Warren L
 
Never know..how many miles? 8 years, that is about due for a timing
belt. But usually the motor will at least crank even it you have a
broken timing belt.... Do you have a factory alarm or aftermarket
alarm with starter kill?
 
Say it isn't so... that is the last thing I would think of.

Really? Thanks!!!
 
If you are not hearing clicking when you are turning the key, the it
sounds like possibly a starter kill. Because even when a battery is
all the way dead you will hear clicking. With a starter kill you turn
the key and eveything "pauses"... Let me know what you find.

Email me at [email protected]
 
180k... timing belt was change about 90k ago. I do have a kill switch,
but I didn't check that and can't check for another 7 hours, I'm at
work.

what else could it be?

Thanks!!!
 
murrayw said:
For the first time in 8 years, my Honda 1995 Civic EX disappointed me.
It won't start.

Here are the signs:

1) All electrical components work (radio, lights, dashboard, air
conditioning, etc...)
2) I do not hear the clicks as I turn the key.
3) It won't take a jump.
4) It will not crank.
5) It had been sitting for two days, which is typical.

I'm not a mechanic, but to me all signs do not point to the battery
because everything comes on.

Any idea? What could be the problem?

Thanks, well in advance...

Warren L
Click to expand...

Murrayw,

Your ignition switch may have fallen apart inside. A blown timing belt
won't blow by itself while the care is not running. Timing belt also
won't prevent engine from turning over, nor will it stop your MAIN RELAY
from clicking in and running the fuel pump for two or three seconds when
you turn the key ON.

The fact that boosting didn't make the engine turn over indicates that
your battery connections are likely OK, but your GROUND connection could
be bad...

Don't be too quick to get your timing belt replaced (at least not
without good advice)

'Curly'
 
For the first time in 8 years, my Honda 1995 Civic EX disappointed me.
It won't start.

Here are the signs:

1) All electrical components work (radio, lights, dashboard, air
conditioning, etc...)
2) I do not hear the clicks as I turn the key.
3) It won't take a jump.
4) It will not crank.
5) It had been sitting for two days, which is typical.

I'm not a mechanic, but to me all signs do not point to the battery
because everything comes on.

Any idea? What could be the problem?
Click to expand...

My 1994 Civic DX did exactly what you're saying, and it was the
battery. I drove it home just fine, and 3 hours later, it wouldn't
start. Radio worked, lights worked (dimly), but the fuel pump didn't
cycle and the car wouldn't even click. Autozone's tester tested the
battery bad in about 20 seconds (even though the guy in front of me
took 20 minutes for it to say charge and try again). Replaced the
battery, all has been fine for a year.

Nate
 
How would an ignition switch just fall apart with the car just sitting
there... going with your theory???
 
Here's what I would check, in order:

1. Check the voltage of the battery WHILE you attempt to start it. If it
drops down well below 10 volts,with still no click from the starter, replace
the battery. Not likely this, seeing as it won't take a jump.

2. Check the ground from the battery to the car.

3. Check the voltage at the solenoid while you attempt to start it. If there
is a good 12 volts there, but no click, pull the starter.

4. If there is no power at the solenoid, start checking fuses/fusible links.

5. If the fuses/fusible links check OK, check the ignition switch.
 
murrayw said:
For the first time in 8 years, my Honda 1995 Civic EX disappointed me.
It won't start.

Here are the signs:

1) All electrical components work (radio, lights, dashboard, air
conditioning, etc...)
2) I do not hear the clicks as I turn the key.
3) It won't take a jump.
4) It will not crank.
5) It had been sitting for two days, which is typical.

I'm not a mechanic, but to me all signs do not point to the battery
because everything comes on.

Any idea? What could be the problem?

Thanks, well in advance...
Click to expand...

My first guess was a bad battery. However, from the other posts--it could
be several other things. I advise you to install a new battery. The
present battery is now about 8 years old and even if it is not the
cause--it will need to be replaced very soon. If the new battery does not
solve the problem, I advise you to have it towed to the nearest mechanic
that you trust or the nearest Honda dealership and have it checked. The
mechanic will be able to figure out what is wrong with it. It would be
expensive for you to start replacing items that may not even fix the
problem--a mechanic would not replace any items that did not need to be
replaced. You might say the battery falls into this category but I
disagree since the average life span of a battery is about 5 to 8 years.
 
My first guess was a bad battery. However, from the other posts--it could
be several other things. I advise you to install a new battery. The
present battery is now about 8 years old and even if it is not the
cause--it will need to be replaced very soon. If the new battery does not
solve the problem, I advise you to have it towed to the nearest mechanic
that you trust or the nearest Honda dealership and have it checked. The
mechanic will be able to figure out what is wrong with it. It would be
expensive for you to start replacing items that may not even fix the
problem--a mechanic would not replace any items that did not need to be
replaced.
Click to expand...

Well, some mechanics won't. There are, unfortunately, quite a few out there
that just start replacing things in hopes it will fix a problem they don't
take the time to figure out. And worse, there are some out there that
replace things they know damn well don't need to be replaced.
 
The thing is, even with a loose batt wire or ground, you would still
possibly have intermitten turns of the motor as well as dimming or
flickering of the interior lights and dash. If the battery had a dead
cell, it would draw off of itself and go dead in less than a day.


p.s. I wish I could get 5-8 year on a batt. Texas heat KILLS batteries
here! Almost every 1.5 - 2 year you need a battery!
 
Timing Belt last changed 90K ago? My mechanic told me the average lifespan
on a '95 Civic timing belt is 75K miles. So it's quite likely it is the
timing belt causing the problem. Hope your valves weren't open when it
went - very expensive to rebuild an engine.


Karen Mercedes
http://www.radix.net/~dalila/index.html
____________________________
I have been to the Opera six
times; and I still live.
- George Bernard Shaw
 
If the car won't even crank, it certainly is not the timing belt. If you
put in your own kill switch, check the wiring carefully. If it is a
stick shift, check the switch on the clutch pedal. Automatics have a
gear position switch instead that will not allow you to start the car in
gear. Check this switch if your car in an automatic.
 
90% on a straight motor like a 4 cylinder or a straight 6 like some
chyrslers it WILL bend the valves. It did it on my 87 civic and my 94
civic.
 
90% on a straight motor like a 4 cylinder or a straight 6 like some
chyrslers it WILL bend the valves. It did it on my 87 civic and my 94
civic.
Click to expand...

I had a timing belt break on my 73 Civic CVCC,no damage at all;cranking
went really fast after the belt broke.

It all depends on a particular engine design.
 
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