- This topic has 3 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 4 months ago by .
-
Topic
-
This car belongs to a friend of mine who drove 400 miles from NYC to Buffalo (to Toronto for a concert); luckily? she stopped in Buffalo for a break. 6 hour nap; woke up, turns key; key cranks, starts for a split second and sputters out. 3 Days at my friend’s shop; we’re all stumped and I had to tow it to the Honda dealership. Here’s the details of what we’ve tested and a fresh pair of eyes would be great.
2007 Honda Civic Sedan EX – Automatic Transmission
Just under 112k miles – oil change right before 400 mile trip NYC to Buffalo
Drives “fine” (I wasn’t there; but they made it. Took a nap 6 hours later; car cranks turns over for a split second and sputters out).Calls me to check it out – Battery good voltage and jump started; no go.
Towed to my friend’s shop.
Checked Fuel pressure – sounds like no fuel; checked out to be 53 psi (50-63 recommended spec) – Good
Checked Spark plug coils – creates spark – Good—Here’s a few nail biters
Checked Spark plugs – Carbon built black as night – changed spark plugs no go
Checked Oil level – 2 Quarts over :sick: … I swear they didnt even get their oil changed; the shop in NYC must have just filled it up with more oil and sent them on their way… :dry: … anyway… that’s the shocker… how did you drive 400 miles with 2 Quarts of extra oil on a 1.8L engine; and not hear that engine knocking like mad…So yay? sorta? maybe there’s hope? – Drained 2 Quarts; changed plugs; – sounds better trying to start; actually turns over for a split second or two and dies out.
Cleaned Maf Sensor
Cleaned throttle body
Gassed it while cranking
Checked groundsDecided timing must have slipped – Checked timing belt; top dead center – all checks out on the right marks….
Smelling gas left and right; maybe we were getting high but it smelled a bit sweet; just didn’t seem right. Figured they might have gotten the wrong gas E85 or something else; Pulled the rear seats, pulled the fuel tank apart and siphoned it all out; Filled it back up with some Mobil 93 Octane. No dice. (cranked a few times to get the old fuel out of the lines).
Literally down to the wire and out of hope – decided to flash the ECU; has to be a control unit problem right…
Lucky for her – I drive an 07 civic with flashpro for tuning; (as much as I didn’t want to do this) I flashed my supercharged civic back to stock and went to flash hers back to stock (just to refresh the ECU)… No dice.
No clue what it could be; and finally dropped it off at Honda; so I told her to get ready to pay Honda til she drops…
The only thing we can’t really check are sensors – Don’t really want to rip sensors out and swap for new ones to check…
BIG ONE – No Check Engine Lights; and running live diag; no codes or errors popping up
Also; most ideas that we could think of or have been told – More than likely if its something minor; like a bad coil lets say or a bad injector; the car should still start up but run piss poor… This thing sounds like it wants to turn over and start and stay running; but it doesn’t…
Any idea would be great; but for now we’re getting taken at Honda :S
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.