I have a 99 Honda Civic with just under 90K miles on it that won't
start. This first happened on Sunday morning - it started fine but
when it reached idling speed, it quickly died. Ran for 1-2 seconds at
the most. Now it doesn't start at all, and when I turn the key it
sounds like the starter is fine, maybe running a little faster /
louder than before.

I've heard and read about a lot of different things it could be. My
first thought was the fuel pump. I have never changed the fuel
filter, because it doesn't appear in the manual's maintenance
schedule, which I thought was a little bizarre. My inexperienced mind
thought that a clogged fuel filter would put undue stress on the fuel
pump, so it's got to be the pump right? I took the fuel filler cap
off, and listened for the fuel pump to turn on while my wife turned
the ignition, and I couldn't hear anything except the starter. Of
course, I'm not sure what the fuel pump would sound like if it was
actually running though.

So I almost went out and picked up a fuel pump and filter, but I
decided I'd call a few mechanics first. The first one told me he
doubted it was the fuel pump. He thought it was the timing belt.
Another mechanic that I've trusted for years told me the same thing,
but he said it could also be the distributor cap / rotor. Today I
called a dealer and they said (first, that they doubted it was the
timing belt at 90K miles - good thing, I've heard a lot of horror
stories about timing belts breaking on interference type engines). He
told me to try checking the distributor cap for moisture. I plan on
doing that tonight.

Any thoughts on what else to check?

 

to listen for your fuel pump, dont try to start teh car, just turn the key
to where the run postion is, not the start position, when it gets there you
should hear it for about a second, it will sound like a small electric motor
and only last a second.




"EKK" <donotemailme@ekkinc.com> wrote in message
news:e4975540.0403021119.654b400a@posting.google.c om...
> I have a 99 Honda Civic with just under 90K miles on it that won't
> start. This first happened on Sunday morning - it started fine but
> when it reached idling speed, it quickly died. Ran for 1-2 seconds at
> the most. Now it doesn't start at all, and when I turn the key it
> sounds like the starter is fine, maybe running a little faster /
> louder than before.
>
> I've heard and read about a lot of different things it could be. My
> first thought was the fuel pump. I have never changed the fuel
> filter, because it doesn't appear in the manual's maintenance
> schedule, which I thought was a little bizarre. My inexperienced mind
> thought that a clogged fuel filter would put undue stress on the fuel
> pump, so it's got to be the pump right? I took the fuel filler cap
> off, and listened for the fuel pump to turn on while my wife turned
> the ignition, and I couldn't hear anything except the starter. Of
> course, I'm not sure what the fuel pump would sound like if it was
> actually running though.
>
> So I almost went out and picked up a fuel pump and filter, but I
> decided I'd call a few mechanics first. The first one told me he
> doubted it was the fuel pump. He thought it was the timing belt.
> Another mechanic that I've trusted for years told me the same thing,
> but he said it could also be the distributor cap / rotor. Today I
> called a dealer and they said (first, that they doubted it was the
> timing belt at 90K miles - good thing, I've heard a lot of horror
> stories about timing belts breaking on interference type engines). He
> told me to try checking the distributor cap for moisture. I plan on
> doing that tonight.
>
> Any thoughts on what else to check?

 

to listen for your fuel pump, dont try to start teh car, just turn the key
to where the run postion is, not the start position, when it gets there you
should hear it for about a second, it will sound like a small electric motor
and only last a second.




"EKK" <donotemailme@ekkinc.com> wrote in message
news:e4975540.0403021119.654b400a@posting.google.c om...
> I have a 99 Honda Civic with just under 90K miles on it that won't
> start. This first happened on Sunday morning - it started fine but
> when it reached idling speed, it quickly died. Ran for 1-2 seconds at
> the most. Now it doesn't start at all, and when I turn the key it
> sounds like the starter is fine, maybe running a little faster /
> louder than before.
>
> I've heard and read about a lot of different things it could be. My
> first thought was the fuel pump. I have never changed the fuel
> filter, because it doesn't appear in the manual's maintenance
> schedule, which I thought was a little bizarre. My inexperienced mind
> thought that a clogged fuel filter would put undue stress on the fuel
> pump, so it's got to be the pump right? I took the fuel filler cap
> off, and listened for the fuel pump to turn on while my wife turned
> the ignition, and I couldn't hear anything except the starter. Of
> course, I'm not sure what the fuel pump would sound like if it was
> actually running though.
>
> So I almost went out and picked up a fuel pump and filter, but I
> decided I'd call a few mechanics first. The first one told me he
> doubted it was the fuel pump. He thought it was the timing belt.
> Another mechanic that I've trusted for years told me the same thing,
> but he said it could also be the distributor cap / rotor. Today I
> called a dealer and they said (first, that they doubted it was the
> timing belt at 90K miles - good thing, I've heard a lot of horror
> stories about timing belts breaking on interference type engines). He
> told me to try checking the distributor cap for moisture. I plan on
> doing that tonight.
>
> Any thoughts on what else to check?

 

to listen for your fuel pump, dont try to start teh car, just turn the key
to where the run postion is, not the start position, when it gets there you
should hear it for about a second, it will sound like a small electric motor
and only last a second.




"EKK" <donotemailme@ekkinc.com> wrote in message
news:e4975540.0403021119.654b400a@posting.google.c om...
> I have a 99 Honda Civic with just under 90K miles on it that won't
> start. This first happened on Sunday morning - it started fine but
> when it reached idling speed, it quickly died. Ran for 1-2 seconds at
> the most. Now it doesn't start at all, and when I turn the key it
> sounds like the starter is fine, maybe running a little faster /
> louder than before.
>
> I've heard and read about a lot of different things it could be. My
> first thought was the fuel pump. I have never changed the fuel
> filter, because it doesn't appear in the manual's maintenance
> schedule, which I thought was a little bizarre. My inexperienced mind
> thought that a clogged fuel filter would put undue stress on the fuel
> pump, so it's got to be the pump right? I took the fuel filler cap
> off, and listened for the fuel pump to turn on while my wife turned
> the ignition, and I couldn't hear anything except the starter. Of
> course, I'm not sure what the fuel pump would sound like if it was
> actually running though.
>
> So I almost went out and picked up a fuel pump and filter, but I
> decided I'd call a few mechanics first. The first one told me he
> doubted it was the fuel pump. He thought it was the timing belt.
> Another mechanic that I've trusted for years told me the same thing,
> but he said it could also be the distributor cap / rotor. Today I
> called a dealer and they said (first, that they doubted it was the
> timing belt at 90K miles - good thing, I've heard a lot of horror
> stories about timing belts breaking on interference type engines). He
> told me to try checking the distributor cap for moisture. I plan on
> doing that tonight.
>
> Any thoughts on what else to check?

 

to listen for your fuel pump, dont try to start teh car, just turn the key
to where the run postion is, not the start position, when it gets there you
should hear it for about a second, it will sound like a small electric motor
and only last a second.




"EKK" <donotemailme@ekkinc.com> wrote in message
news:e4975540.0403021119.654b400a@posting.google.c om...
> I have a 99 Honda Civic with just under 90K miles on it that won't
> start. This first happened on Sunday morning - it started fine but
> when it reached idling speed, it quickly died. Ran for 1-2 seconds at
> the most. Now it doesn't start at all, and when I turn the key it
> sounds like the starter is fine, maybe running a little faster /
> louder than before.
>
> I've heard and read about a lot of different things it could be. My
> first thought was the fuel pump. I have never changed the fuel
> filter, because it doesn't appear in the manual's maintenance
> schedule, which I thought was a little bizarre. My inexperienced mind
> thought that a clogged fuel filter would put undue stress on the fuel
> pump, so it's got to be the pump right? I took the fuel filler cap
> off, and listened for the fuel pump to turn on while my wife turned
> the ignition, and I couldn't hear anything except the starter. Of
> course, I'm not sure what the fuel pump would sound like if it was
> actually running though.
>
> So I almost went out and picked up a fuel pump and filter, but I
> decided I'd call a few mechanics first. The first one told me he
> doubted it was the fuel pump. He thought it was the timing belt.
> Another mechanic that I've trusted for years told me the same thing,
> but he said it could also be the distributor cap / rotor. Today I
> called a dealer and they said (first, that they doubted it was the
> timing belt at 90K miles - good thing, I've heard a lot of horror
> stories about timing belts breaking on interference type engines). He
> told me to try checking the distributor cap for moisture. I plan on
> doing that tonight.
>
> Any thoughts on what else to check?

 

You should be able to hear your fuel pump in the car, when
you turn the key to the ON position, it should initialize.

If you don't hear it, check the fuse. It would be under
the hood, I can't remember which one it is off hand though.

If your timing belt was snapped, you would hear clicking from the pistons hitting the valves.

t

 

You should be able to hear your fuel pump in the car, when
you turn the key to the ON position, it should initialize.

If you don't hear it, check the fuse. It would be under
the hood, I can't remember which one it is off hand though.

If your timing belt was snapped, you would hear clicking from the pistons hitting the valves.

t

 

You should be able to hear your fuel pump in the car, when
you turn the key to the ON position, it should initialize.

If you don't hear it, check the fuse. It would be under
the hood, I can't remember which one it is off hand though.

If your timing belt was snapped, you would hear clicking from the pistons hitting the valves.

t

 

You should be able to hear your fuel pump in the car, when
you turn the key to the ON position, it should initialize.

If you don't hear it, check the fuse. It would be under
the hood, I can't remember which one it is off hand though.

If your timing belt was snapped, you would hear clicking from the pistons hitting the valves.

t

 

By the way you describe the sound the starter makes now, I bet the
timing belt has moved. bob

 

By the way you describe the sound the starter makes now, I bet the
timing belt has moved. bob

 

By the way you describe the sound the starter makes now, I bet the
timing belt has moved. bob

 

By the way you describe the sound the starter makes now, I bet the
timing belt has moved. bob

 

I agree with bob, sounds like timing belt has jumped a tooth. Open up the
distributor and look for small pieces of crap.

John

"N.E.Ohio Bob" <rgstroud@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:40450BC5.84238B10@neo.rr.com...
> By the way you describe the sound the starter makes now, I bet the
> timing belt has moved. bob

 

I agree with bob, sounds like timing belt has jumped a tooth. Open up the
distributor and look for small pieces of crap.

John

"N.E.Ohio Bob" <rgstroud@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:40450BC5.84238B10@neo.rr.com...
> By the way you describe the sound the starter makes now, I bet the
> timing belt has moved. bob