Auto mechanics and troubleshooting

[kieefer]

I'm wondering if any professional or shade tree mechanics would share their knowledge?

I've got a problem and I think I've got it narrowed down to the crank positioning sensor, maybe not.

I haven't put a code reader on it and I did not have a check engine light.

The car is a high mileage 98 Civic. Several new parts related to a tune up and the timing belt has been changed.

I have spark and I have fuel. Fuel pumps through the filter (new) but pressure may be low, I have no way of measuring this.

What may have lead to it's demise - engine was washed, shortly after that a stumble developed, moisture was removed from the distributer cap and this improved the stumble. Stumble restarted most often when cold and at take off but was tolerable. Ran fine at high speed.

A week went by and it begin slow to start, stumble got worst and quit. No back fire or smoke. Valve train rotates with crank.

May have been worst when the tank was low so water in tank has not yet been ruled out.

Coil has been replaced but failed to check spark before replacement.

I've read a bit on-line that the CPS will allow spark and may cause this but I have not noticed any back fire which is a sign of the timing being off.

Also considering the throttle position sensor?

Next plan of action is getting a code reader or have it towed to a "real" mechanic.

Have I overlooked something more obvious? Any suggestions?

Thanks

[peejman]

Sounds like you've narrowed it down. Bad fuel, gunked up injectors, cam lobes worn off, ... I'm sure there's a civic forum out there with resident experts to help.

As for checking the fuel pressure... sure you can. Typically there's a schrader valve somewhere on the fuel rail. The auto parts store will have a gauge for it (they may let you borrow it).

Seems like a bad TPS or CPS (or any other sensor) would throw a code and turn the light on.

[Superman]

A lot of imports don't have schrader valve to check fuel pressure. You would need an adapter to tie into the fuel line. I think most cars need around 20psi to get them to even try to run. So you can have fuel but without checking the pressure you wont know if it's enough.

While it is a completely different vehicle and in no way means thats whats wrong with your Civic, but my Explorer did the same thing you describe and it was the fuel pump.

[strickj]

While it is a completely different vehicle and in no way means thats whats wrong with your Civic, but my Explorer did the same thing you describe and it was the fuel pump.

This is what I would check. Fuel pumps will go out when you start replacing things that affect fuel pressure (your new filter) and performance (your new coil and tune-up).

I would hold off on touching any senors as I've never seen a high millage car need just one sensor. Seems when you replace one, they all start going out...

[kieefer]

A lot of imports don't have schrader valve to check fuel pressure. You would need an adapter to tie into the fuel line. I think most cars need around 20psi to get them to even try to run. So you can have fuel but without checking the pressure you wont know if it's enough.

While it is a completely different vehicle and in no way means thats whats wrong with your Civic, but my Explorer did the same thing you describe and it was the fuel pump.

20psi wouldn't shoot a stream out I'm thinking, I was expecting more pressure than 20psi, I think I got that but it still remains on the list, thanks.

There's a control module in the distributer that I'm told can fail but still allow a spark but a weak one. Got a spare and going to do a swap when time allows.

Also told if a sensor goes bad the engine light will stay on after the key is on, mine goes out after a few seconds.

[babelt]

Check the code, do civic's have a egr system, I've been having problems out of my tacoma's egr system.

[Guest sqlightning]

civics have problems with the ignitors in the distributors. the only way to replace it is with the whole distributor. when you said that you had dried out the cap and it helped it, made me think about the distributor. can you tell what color spark it is (stick a screwdriver in the end of the spark plug wire and lay it across something that is grounded and get somebody to turn it over while watching the spark)

[Guest Field Boss]

Take the hose off at the intake system, have someone else turn the engine over, spray a small amount of starting fluid in the intake. If the engine starts, you have a fuel delivery problem. if it does not start, then there is a problem with the ignition. My first thought would be a weak ignition coil

[Shorty]

Not sure about the 98s, but the 92-94s had a plug under the glove box that you could jump and read the blinks on the dash to tell you what the issue was based on the code.

[kieefer]

civics have problems with the ignitors in the distributors. the only way to replace it is with the whole distributor. when you said that you had dried out the cap and it helped it, made me think about the distributor. can you tell what color spark it is (stick a screwdriver in the end of the spark plug wire and lay it across something that is grounded and get somebody to turn it over while watching the spark)

That's my next step, changing the distributor. The spark was kinda orangey white from what I remember by using a spark plug.

[Guest sqlightning]

That's my next step, changing the distributor. The spark was kinda orangey white from what I remember by using a spark plug.

it should be blue, the ignitor (honduh's equivalent of a coil) is bad. stick a dizzy on there and fire it up