I've read through a bunch of old forum posts here similar to my problem, but I haven't found any that matches mine exactly yet, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

I own a '97 Civic EX that I'm trying to sell, because I've got a better Civic for myself now. Because of that, I haven't been driving it much over the past six months. I've been sure to take it out for 20-30 minutes every week or two, but (and oh am I embarrased to admit this), I just realized that it's had the same tank of gas for the past six months.

Weekend before last I drove it 100 miles r/t to show it to a prospective buyer (didn't end up getting it, sadly). It seemed like it took a little longer than usual for the engine to catch as I cranked it (as it had once or twice before), but still only a few seconds, so no big deal.

Then I tried to start it last Friday, and the engine won't catch. It cranks without a problem (I fully charged the battery with a trickle charger too, just in case), I can definitely hear the fuel pump running when I get the key in the right spot (but before I try to actually start the engine), and I got a neighbor to help me test that the spark plugs are working okay (we pulled one of the wires, and he stuck a screwdriver inside and then held that near the engine block, and saw sparks when I cranked the engine).

The only thing I can really think of is that because the gas is so old it's broken down to a point where it's not combustible anymore. There was only a gallon or two left in the tank (I almost filled up last weekend ... grr), so I added two more gallons of premium (all my gas can could hold), but that didn't help. Of course, that puts new gas in the tank but not in the engine.

Any other thoughts? I saw a post somewhere about spraying carb cleaner into something ... can't remember what ... to make sure that the engine had fuel to burn. Might that be a good test in this case?

Thank you so, so much for any help.

 

Didja try starter fluid? How did u test for spark? 100% positive youre getting it?

 

I must admit I hadn't heard of starter fluid before. My Google search mostly came up with pages on how to make meth with it. Any page you could point me toward that would explain it/how to use it?

I tested for a spark with the help of a neighbor. We pulled one of the plugs (and the wire) and he stuck a screwdriver into the plug covering (onto the spark plug) and held it near the engine block. That produced a spark when I tried to crank the engine. Is there a better way to test? Should I try testing all of them?

Thanks for the help.

 

Well, I tried starter fluid, and that didn't do anything at all. The car still cranks, but it didn't even try to catch with the starter fluid. I pulled the air filter cover and just shot the starter fluid down the pipe (for lack of a better word) leading toward the engine.

I also pulled all of my fuses and checked those (on the advice of a friend). No problems there.

Any other thoughts? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Oh, and I should amend my previous post: we pulled the wire leading to the spark plug, not the plug itself, when testing for a spark. Which is probably good, because a friend pointed out that if the fuel injectors are still getting gas it would throw gas into the piston and could explode out of the engine if the spark plug wasn't in place.

 

think your timing belt slipped

 

Hmm ... that's one I hadn't really thought about. How hard is it to get the valve cover (I hope that's the right name ... the cover on the engine, essentially) off to check that? I watched a friend do it once, and if memory serves he just took off the valve cover via a couple of bolts, and also removed whatever cover was on the timing belt. It didn't look tough, and if I remember right there weren't any complicated steps to put everything back.

I know that actually replacing the timing belt involves removing the right front wheel, but is checking it fairly straightforward? Could I do it without too much risk of messing anything up, if I'm careful?

 

that valve cover has 4 cap nuts (am speaking of my 88 civic - bout what i know; should be the same though). those off and the brackets that the spark plugs wires run and one small emission hose (remove those). if it does not come off by hand then take a small block of wood and a hammer and tap on it with the wood on the side of the cover.
but WAIT, you do not have to take that off.
i just gave a link to the procedure just earlier this morning.
too much to write - i did the writings a few months back.
here is the link - look for my post.
https://www.hondacivicforum.com/m_224527/tm.htm

 

Many thanks, fglaustin. I read through the other thread you pointed me to, and now have many answers, and know better which questions to ask

I'll take a look tomorrow and will see what I can figure out from there. BTW, I see you're in Austin. I'm just down near Galveston myself. I love Austin ... easily my favority city in Texas.

 

good luck.
just hard to see the marks on the crack pulley.
really cursed at honda for not making better cuts.
put white-out (guess cannot buy that in this computer age) on the middle mark.
even in daytime, i use a plug in light with a 100 watt bulb (well will especially in this kind of cloudy and dreary weather)