i just recently bought a 4 door civic. a couple days after buying it i tested it out. when i parked it back at my house there was a little smoke coming from the hood, but the temp was fine. i looked at it but it stopped rather quicky. the next day i went to start it but it would not start. it cranks but it doesnt turn over. i checked for spark but i dont think there was one. what could the problem be. it is a 92 4 door dx. and just to let everyone know i did search this but no one seemed to have the same problem as me.

 

maybe its the starter... or the alternator.

 

well it cranks but it wont start. i thought if it didnt crank at all than it would be the starter

 

Might want to check the distributor. I had a similar problem like this, and when I got a new distributor, it was fixed.

 

maybe you should do a full out tune up?

 

Check to see if you have compression, maybe you have broken connecting rods for some reason.
Check to see if you have spark from all plugs, make sure to ground the plug when you crank it.
Check to see if air and fuel is getting into the cylinders.

My guess is it's something to do with the ignition.

 

The smoke thing is kind of suspect. However, whenever a car doesn't start, there is one of two problems: no fuel, no fire.

Quickest way to check fire is to take a spark plug wire, disconnect it from the plug, and place the open end near a bare metal surface. Do this in a semi-dark environment (it really isn't hard to see even in light though), turn the motor over from the ignition switch, and if you get a spark ....life is good on the ignition side of things (unless the plugs are totally ruined). If not, you can back track through the ignition system pretty easily to find the problem.

If starter motor is still turning over, your battery and starter are PROBABLY okay.

My guess is that if the engine turns over and doesn't sound extremely odd, that the engine is probably fine itself...and you have either fuel or ignition problems.

Next thing, is to check the fuel pump. Good way to do this, is to simply depressurize the fuel system (easy to do at the fuel filter, just unhook one of the lines). Then when that is done....and fuel has stopped gushing out. Go put the key in the "on" position, if you have fuel pouring out then.....then the pump is good, and everything up to the filter is good. So then, you look at the injectors.

Hope this helps, let us know how these tests turn out. Not sure about the smoke.

- Nathan

 

thanx a lot, that sounds like a lot of info imma try everything out. thanx again for everybodies help. ill keep everyone posted.