1988 honda civic 1.5 liter will not start

sorry if you guess and guess wrong. really, must be expensive.



ok got spark (and timing is good, timing light test)

if test fuel ( use instant start in a spray can) fails, with spark

then engine is bad, compression is checked, see near 80 not 150+ PSI , the timing belt has slipped. if not changed by the book

they slip and the engine grenades (or bends valves)



this is an interference engine, never ignore the belt.

there is an acid test order.

1 compression good.

2 spark good, and timed

3 fueling is last. (if spark plugs dry add fuel, by hand)



cant burn fuel with no compression and spark. well with EFI it cant run right with bent valves either.



here is Chad running an engine (any) with no gas tank

even his battery is dead. and has external battery. for 12v power.

a real trooper.

ive done this 1000s of times. in 60 years.

his engine only makes 80 psi (old) and still starts.

but EFI will never do that not that low. compression



the cam slips and goes retarded compression drops to near 1/2

and the valve timing is so bad, the exh opens late and pollutes the

next last intake charge. the card house falls and then the valve bend.



take if from me, nostarts are a blessing on any honda

maybe it saved your valves.? do the service on time./

Now we are getting somewhere!! Check for power to your distributor. If you have it chances are your ignition coil is faulty.

The most popular is the ignition module that is located in the distributor,this is popular for failure, crank over no start fuel pressure is good,

did you tried to instal a new difernt power line to chek the fuel pump work? or do you chek if have pulses on the inyector rail or sparks in the spark plugs wires? maybe a fuse blow in fusebox or main fuse.i hope be helpfull

Sounds like your fuel pump relay is going bad. On most honda models this is located under the dash on the driver's side of the car. If the relay is okay, then the next step would be to replace the iginition switch. On my 1988 Honda it would not start up after I shut it off and went into the store and came back out. My brother's Honda would just shut down when turning a corner or changing lanes. After changing his fuel pump and fuel filter, we changed the ignition switch and that solved the problem. If I were you I would change the ignition switch.

replace fuel pump, or clean injectors with stp injector cleaner

check for the main relay, under driver panel near steering column

check your Water Temp sensor, replace if possible.

try checking the main relay



view larger picture

it could be out of time
or it could be the fuel pump relay
check all of ur basics first tho always check the simplest things first