Hi im thinking about buying a 1999 civic ex 1.6 sohc 5 speed from my buddy for 600 bucks, the thing cranks all day long but does not start, its getting spark, the distributor was replaced, I sprayed carb cleaner in the intake and still no start, I opened the oil cap and saw all the valve springs moving so the timing belt isnt snapped. I did a compression test with a crappy tester, it slowly built compression but i think thats due to the crappy tester. Ive heard of the main relay but havent looked at it yet.. Any ideas?

 

this sounds EXACTLY like whats happening with my 2003 Honda civic Ex... I haven't checked for spark, or compression, or fuel yet....

But it seems like you haven't looked at fuel in your situation. I heard that you can take the fuel line going to the fuel injection and have someone crank the car and if it spits out fuel, you know your fuel filter isn't clogged, and your fuel pump is good.