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Went to leave for work this morning, and our 04 Honda Civic won't start. The battery is new and everything electrical is working. It tries to start, and either doesn't, or does and runs for 30 seconds or so and then kind of stalls out. The fuel light is on, but it turned on as a parked it yesterday, and my wife has driven it for over 40 miles with the light on (stupid I know) but it shouldn't be fuel either.
My only guess was the spark plugs, but not sure that explains why it would start and then shut off.
I am definitely no car expert, so I thought some others may have some ideas.
Thanks.
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Legend
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Legend
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Check your fuel shut off switch. It's a switch (usually in the trunk area) that shuts off the pump in case of an accident, and sometimes can be triggered going over a bump or hard stop.
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Sounds like a fuel pump possibly. I'd fill it up with some more gas too since the fuel light is on.
#gmstrong
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Quote:
Check your fuel shut off switch. It's a switch (usually in the trunk area) that shuts off the pump in case of an accident, and sometimes can be triggered going over a bump or hard stop.
Usually those aren't factory switches though, and my wife bought the car new and never added a switch.
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I'm no expert either, but the line goes "it's either Spark, Fuel, or Air."
It starts, so you got spark. I don't think I've ever heard of having spark to start, but then it goes away after 30 seconds. Either Fuel or Air are being choked off at some point after that. You are low on gas, so that's step one, put some gas in it. Is the car sitting on an incline or hill, by any chance?
You could check the air flow by briefly removing the air filter. Fuel filter would be my next bet, actually #2 behind putting gas in it, but air filter is easy to check and eliminate.
After the quick fast cheap and easys are done, then you start getting into clogged fuel line or fuel pump, or something in the electronics.
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Could be a plugged fuel filter too
Attitude is everything....FEAR THE ELF!!!
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Legend
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Check the battery terminals too, be sure they aren't loose.
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Legend
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I highly doubt it's the spark plugs, as those don't usually just "go bad" over night, so to speak. Has it been starting hard for a while? If so, perhaps it's the plugs, but probably not.
Do the easiest thing first - get some more gas in it. Why? If it's low, and the car is sitting on an incline (hill, slant, etc) the fuel may be pooling at an end of the tank.
If that doesn't work, there's a good chance it is the fuel pump.
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Legend
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Legend
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Quote:
and my wife has driven it for over 40 miles with the light on (stupid I know) but it shouldn't be fuel either.
Man, I must have missed that part the first time through.
I would bet your just out of fuel.
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All Pro
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Add fuel. Gas this time of year is 10% ethanol. Ethanol can do some screwy stuff, especially the dregs at the bottom of the tank.
Thomas - The Tank Engine
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Legend
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Quote:
Quote:
and my wife has driven it for over 40 miles with the light on (stupid I know) but it shouldn't be fuel either.
Man, I must have missed that part the first time through.
I would bet your just out of fuel.
That was my first thought, but in re-reading it, I think he meant "the light came on when I parked it yesterday, but at different times in the past my wife has been able to drive it 40 miles with the light on." Not that she did that this time.
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Practice Squad
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If the fuel pump is inside the take then it could be bad if you regularly drive it down untill the gas light comes on. It burns it up as the fuel keeps it cool, so when you get low it doesnt stay cool and heats up.
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I had a similar issue with my Grand Cherokee, it turned out to be NOTHING more than a bad sensor. I believe it was the timing sensor....can't remember the exact name of it. Jeep was cutting off while running but would start right up. I had a mobile mechanic come out and light that badboy up on the computer diagnostic he had.
He had the vehicle fixed in less than an hour and the part was brought to him to do the fix. Took about 5 minutes for him to swap out the bad sensor and get my baby back on the road. Grand total was around $200....that was the house call and part. Best money I ever spent for a mechanic. I didn't mind paying the $75 service call fee which included 1 hour of labor because he came to me.
If you have someone that can run a computer diagnostic on it, you may find that it is a similar problem.
Just remembered what it was, drive shaft sensor.
Last edited by atomic_dog; 05/26/11 12:52 PM.
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Are you sure the battery is good. Cuz if your alternator failed then a new battery could be shot in less than a week. And with a drained battery---your symptoms would be similar.
Other than that......I would have to say--try putting gas in the car(maybe you are lower than you think), and try giving it gas as you start it to keep it running for more than 30 seconds.
Or maybe try adjusting the engine timing to get it started.
Could actually be a lot of things, but those are the things that I have experienced with the same symptoms.
I wish to wash my Irish wristwatch......
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
and my wife has driven it for over 40 miles with the light on (stupid I know) but it shouldn't be fuel either.
Man, I must have missed that part the first time through.
I would bet your just out of fuel.
That was my first thought, but in re-reading it, I think he meant "the light came on when I parked it yesterday, but at different times in the past my wife has been able to drive it 40 miles with the light on." Not that she did that this time.
Right. In the past she has driven much longer than she should have, but I was driving it yesterday, and the light kicked on just as I stopped in the lot. The car has a 14 gallon tank on it, and I have filled it up after she let the light come on and it only took about 12.5 gallons to fill, so the light comes on with plenty of gas left.
I checked the air filter, which seems to be fine and I got some more fuel in it. It started up and I let it run for about 10 minutes, and it was fine. So I went in and changed, came back out, and it wouldn't turn over again. Guessing it is something in the fuel line or the fuel pump.
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