Hey i hope you guys can help me with this, I was just driving along and my 97 Civic EX died on me out of the blue. It sounded like a turbo when you put the clutch in and dump it, thats what the motor sounded like when it died. No stuttering or gradual dying, just a sudden whoosh and then it died. Heres the catch, there is no turbo on mycar so i have no idea what happend. The motor turns over fine but wont start. I just got a new transmission put in yesterday, could they have done something to the car to make it act this way?

I have read all of the forum messages and i couldnt find one that really sounded like it was what happend to me so i just thought i would ask. Thanks

 

That doesn't tell a lot about what may have happened. Go through the routine "cranks but won't start" checks:

Fuel pump primes, CEL on/off when you turn on the key but don't crank.
Timing belt
Spark at each plug

Also check the ground wires on your engine / transmission and the little ones on the thermostat, and that all the sensors are plugged in. If they were disconnected while replacing the transmission, they may not be back on tight.

 

Typical causes for cranks but doesn't start:
----------------------------------------------------
(1) No spark
(2) No fuel
(3) Slipped timing belt (spark, fuel)
(4) Broken timing belt (no spark, fuel)
(5) Bad ECU or MAP sensor (no fuel, no spark)
----------------------------------------------------
(2) and (4) can be checked for very rapidly:

(2) Check whether you hear the fuel pump prime in the rear for two seconds when the ignition key is turned to position (II). No fuel pump priming would suggest a bad main relay or fuel pump.

(4) Remove the oil fill cap and watch inside the valve cover with a flashlight while a buddy cranks the engine. If the rocker arms don't move, then the timing likely snapped.

(1) Next check for spark. You need a spare spark plug for this test. Remove a plug wire from a plug and insert the spare plug in the end of the wire. IMPORTANT: Ground the threads of the plug on a metallic portion the valve cover and then have buddy crank the engine. You should see a bright bluish spark. Repeat for remaining plugs.

(3) If you have both spark and fuel, check whether the timing belt slipped. This requires removal of the valve cover and the upper timing belt cover. If you suspect this is your problem, let us know so that we can describe the procedure to check for this possibility.