Car wont start

Tiny
HONDADX
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 HONDA CIVIC
  • 170,000 MILES
I turned on my honda and added antifreeze I dont know why my smartass pulled a spark plug wire and I put it back it keep running then it died out of now where. I tried turning it on and it didnt start. It turns over but no start. Someone told me its a bad fuel pump? Its not getting gas. I dont know how it would be those things if I drove it fine last night. Im assuming it has to do with me pulling the plug.
Thursday, August 2nd, 2012 AT 5:25 AM

15 Replies

Tiny
HONDADX
  • MEMBER
  • 46 POSTS
I did some research and it said that if I run my engine and I pull a spark plug I can blow the coils inside the distributer? Is this the solution?
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Thursday, August 2nd, 2012 AT 8:14 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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It is possible and makes more sense than the pump. I would have it checked first to verify. When you crank it, does it spark at the plug?

Roy
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Thursday, August 2nd, 2012 AT 10:09 AM
Tiny
HONDADX
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Ok the check if it sparks can I take the plug out with the spark plug then crank it? Someone had toold me to ground then? How would you do that? How would you suggest for the following procedures
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Thursday, August 2nd, 2012 AT 10:44 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Remove the wire and put a screw driver in the wire and hold it close to the valve cover and have someone crank the motor

Roy
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Thursday, August 2nd, 2012 AT 4:48 PM
Tiny
HONDADX
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  • 46 POSTS
Which wire the one that leads to the distributor
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Thursday, August 2nd, 2012 AT 8:16 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Any of the spark plug wires would do.
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Thursday, August 2nd, 2012 AT 8:46 PM
Tiny
HONDADX
  • MEMBER
  • 46 POSTS
Thank god! You can to my question KHLow2008! Ok so ima unplug the wire from the distributor and place it near the valve cover and crank it? Do it for each one and if one doesnt crank than its my wiress? I dont get why it would be them but someone else had told me that it was my ignition coil?
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Thursday, August 2nd, 2012 AT 8:51 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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  • 41,814 POSTS
When testing for sparks, the best is to get get a spark plug tester. The next best is to get a spark plug and plug it into the plug wire and hold it to any part of the engine. DO NOT attempt to the ground it at the battery negative termnals.

Get a helper to crank the engine and note if there are sparks. It should be bright instead of dull orange.

If you don't get any sparks, it most probably is the ignition coil.

What you did does not affect a good ignition coil but it would kill a failing one.

http://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

Whatever test you have done so far, let me know the complete details the above link explains how to go about.

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Friday, August 3rd, 2012 AT 4:18 AM
Tiny
HONDADX
  • MEMBER
  • 46 POSTS
I tried it like ASEMaster6371 and I got no spark from the plugs so I took out the distri. Coil and replaced it. Turns on but chokes a little still when turning it on.
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Friday, August 3rd, 2012 AT 8:11 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Did you check the ignition timing?
Are the wires installed according to the firing order?
Are you able to rev up the engine?
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Friday, August 3rd, 2012 AT 8:14 AM
Tiny
HONDADX
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  • 46 POSTS
How would I check that? And yes I rev it up and goes fine from then but it does this since I changed the distrib. Coil
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Friday, August 3rd, 2012 AT 8:29 AM
Tiny
HONDADX
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Yes wires correspond to firing order
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Friday, August 3rd, 2012 AT 8:30 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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You need a timing light to do that. Ig nition has to be within a certain range and removal/installation of the distributor would affect the ignition timing.
Check the holding bolts. Get them back to as original position as possible and retest. If the idling is too low, check the throttle body and clean if necessary.
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Friday, August 3rd, 2012 AT 8:32 AM
Tiny
HONDADX
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What holding bolts? To the distrib?
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Friday, August 3rd, 2012 AT 8:45 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Yes.
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Friday, August 3rd, 2012 AT 9:23 AM

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