Failing to start

hetchinspete1

New Member
I've a 1993 Acura Integra which is driving me and my mechanic crazy. The Integra would start well then occasionally the starter turns over but the car fails to start and I get a mild smell of fuel. My mechanic replaced a well worn ditributor and for a few days all was well. The the same symtoms, failure to start, let the car sit for 15-20 minutes then it would start. This time he replaced the ignition control module swearing that should do it. Again the Integra started for a day and now this morning and this afternoon nothing, nada, zip. At suggestion of said mechanic who is off today on Sunday I disconnected the battery leads hoping to reset the computer but no luck. I have a totally dead vehicle with a starter that turns over but a car that will not start. Any ideas are welcome.

Thank you,
Peter
312.450.5893
 

hetchinspete1

New Member
The starter is turning over so I don't understand why it would be the starter and the relay or ignition control module which I assume is one in the same was replaced.
 

osiris19

Active Member
You claim its an intermittent start. When it doesn't start, is it a slow crank? Also the gas you're smelling is from cranking the engine over and not firing. That's good, means you've got fuel. You need three things to start an engine. Fuel, air, and the spark. Test for spark. Remove spark plug from engine, attache wire to plug, and ground the plug. Have a buddy crank the engine and see if it arcs. (Or buy an inline spark tester) also here's a link to test the distributor in its entirety. Helped me figure out my ICM was shot.
http://www.team-integra.net/forum/blogs/meltman/299-advanced-ignition-troubleshooting.html
 


hetchinspete1

New Member
The starter cranks over quickly every time at the same speed whether it starts or not. My mechanic has checked for spark in all four cylinders and it checks out fine. There were problems with the distributor and parts internal to that where current wasn't getting through but that as said was remedied with a new distributor.
 

Aussie

Zoom-Zoom
There's a wire coming loose out of one of the distributor plugs. Pull around and see if you can find it.
 


hetchinspete1

New Member
Fisrt, I'm bringing it to another shop tomorrow and they'll check fuel pressure to see if the fuel pump is working but as someone noticed I'm smelling fuel when it fails to start so it does seem to be getting fuel. The wires aren't old but I might put on a new set of wires as well.
 

Aussie

Zoom-Zoom
I wasn't talking about your spark plug wires, I'm talking about the two plugs on top of the distributor, the wires get old and have a tendency to pull out of the plug, look for a loose wire there.
 

hetchinspete1

New Member
Shouldn't be distributor related as the distributor was replaced with a new distributor.

Aussie, I checked the two black wires going into a plug onto the top of the distributor and they are tight as the plug is inserted well. The car did start for second when I played with those two wires, but failed to start a second time. Maybe those wires need replacing. Any thoughts on that.

Muckman, when you say main relay do you mean the ignition control module or is the another relay ?
 

Aussie

Zoom-Zoom
It's not the two wires, Jesus Christ there's two plugs with like 8 wires each going into them.
 
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hetchinspete1

New Member
Aussie, appreciate your help !! I'm new to this sh-t. Last car I worked on myself is my 1965 Karman Ghia, much simpler than the Integra. I'll check those wires first thing in the morning. but the wires you picture are the ones I checked. They do seem tight. I'll googled the main relay to see what you mean and that's what we also replaced yesterday.
 
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