Car won't start

giblet · Post by **giblet** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 5:59 am

Went to start my lude up yesterday and like the title says, it didn't start. It has been parked up for a couple of days in the snow but afaik the battery is fine. Took the plugs out and they looked pretty sooted up so replaced them however it still won't start.

Any ideas what to try next? It's a 4G BB1 auto.

secla · Post by **secla** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 7:49 am

give the battery a charge just incase
check your getting a spark at plug
check your getting fuel to the cylinder.

The "S" express · Post by **honda-hardy** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 7:53 am

firstly turn on the ignition and listen for a quiet under 2 second prime of the fuel pump. If you cant hear it, its more than likely the main relay needs to be soldered as you could have dry joints. Next remove a plug lead and insert an old spark plug in the lead and rest the thread of the plug on to a metal part of the engine. Crank the engine over to see if you get sparks across the electrode. If no spark check the rotor arm and center contact in distributor cap. If all looks ok and still no spark, then most likely the coil in the distributor. Have you tried to jump start it with another battery? It May sound like the car cranks ok but it might not be enough to kick the ignition over.

Post by **rob quilter** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:00 am

I had this issue recently, battery was charged, it didn't start from a jump start either, I could also hear the fuel pump priming. It turned out to be a dud ignition coil, replaced that and it fired straight up.

Ailfenergy · Post by **Ailfenergy** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 1:00 pm

I have the same problem. I've replaced spark plugs, distributor cap, rotor arm and it's still really hard to start when it gets a bit colder. Feels like there is lack of fuel in the system, so I have to play with a throttle in order to start it. New fuel pump is on its way. Hopefully it will solve the problem.

Post by **Pushki** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 1:06 pm

My money's on the battery.

Post by **Ammo** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 1:07 pm

honda-hardy wrote:Next remove a plug lead and insert an old spark plug in the lead and rest the thread of the plug on to a metal part of the engine. Crank the engine over to see if you get sparks across the electrode

Be very careful doing this on the H22 they don't like it and it normally fries the dizzy

Post by **indigolemon** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 1:32 pm

Ammo wrote:
honda-hardy wrote:Next remove a plug lead and insert an old spark plug in the lead and rest the thread of the plug on to a metal part of the engine. Crank the engine over to see if you get sparks across the electrode
Be very careful doing this on the H22 they don't like it and it normally fries the dizzy

+1 - this is usually how the dizzy dies, when some AA/RAC man tries this

giblet · Post by **giblet** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 1:50 pm

Cheers for the replies. I can hear the fuel pump prime, so that rules out the relay. I took the battery out and stuck it on charge, the charger claimed the battery was fully charged after 10 mins or so. Would grounding the rest of the plug using a jump lead help or is that still likely to kill the dizzy?

Seems like I am jobby out of luck if I can't use the suggested method to test the spark/dizzy. Picked up a 1996 Honda Legend to replace the Lude as a car for winter etc, killed the brakes on that so now I have 2 cars that don't work.

The "S" express · Post by **honda-hardy** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 2:06 pm

How does earthing a plug to the block kill the distributor when a plug screwed into the block earths in the same way? Another way is to buy a spark tester that clips onto the plug then the lead attaches to the adaptor. Its got a bulb in it that light on spark.