8 replies to this topic

[Alchemist Dragon]

I have a 87 Civic Si. It's been giving me trouble for the past few years by not wanting to start when it has been raining or snowing a lot. I checked the normal parts for moisture and sprayed WD40 in the distributor cap. I am thinking I should replace the wires, cap, button but money is tight right now. It's turning over normally just acting like it's not getting a spark. Still need to check the coil wire to see if it's at least getting power to the cap it's self. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

[chedda_j]

Like you said, its MOST likely to be your coil high tension cord, the plug wire between the coil and dizzy. If all cylinders are going, then its likely to be that or your dizzy cap. If not, check all the other wires. Just pop the hood when its really dark out and see if you can find any flashing blue lights, this would indicate wires. You can put your hand on the wires while the car is running, if you get zapped, good chance the wire is bad.

[letank]

the same idea as above, on a dry evening, start the car, use a spray bottle filled with water and aim toward the wires, watch the show....

[EuphoricBlue]

it's probably ignition stuff, so start with the stuff above...

But, being an Si, there is also a slim chance the fuel pump relay is just starting to go. Just keep an ear out for the fuel pump as you do your other checks.

[Harvey886]

I had this problem with my first car. turned out the to be a head gasket issue and coolant was getting into the cylinders. for some reason this caused the car to not start in the rain. if there is white smoke from the exhaust this will indicate a head gasket issue.

[Alchemist Dragon]

I replaced the dist cap, button, wires, and put silicone seal around the cap .. Has been raining for a week straight and started very easily.. Today everything ran like usual then on the way home the power seemed to drop when I gave it gas, then died right after I got off the interstate luckily i was close enough to a store to push it into the parking lot.. It's back to not starting once again.. Going to try later but I'm at a loss.. Only time there has been white smoke is when the engine has been flooded..

I am wondering if the Ignition Module may be getting wet from lack of sealent around the prongs and shorting it out, or could of been a bit of bad gas..

Edited by Alchemist Dragon, 17 January 2013 - 04:44 PM.

[Bubba]

Unplug the high tension coil wire at the dizzy end and check for spark while cranking it. If you have a good spark, then it is likely the gas (spray some starting fluid and see if it will sputter with that). If it doesn't have any spark, then you can investigate the coil wiring, the coil, the dizzy wiring and then finally the ignition module.

Edited by Bubba, 18 January 2013 - 06:26 PM.

[Alchemist Dragon]

Just an update, it did end up being the ignition module.  When it was raining water was getting into the connections and shorting it out.  It's been fixed, thanks for the help.

[enduser]

I see you fixed the problem but sometimes it might end up being something else. Change the wires. I had the same problem with my Suburban. If the truck would sit for a couple of days in the fog/overcast and moisture or water would get into the engine bay it wouldn't start. If the weather cleared up and the truck sat in the sun and dried out it would start and run with no issues. I tested everything and couldn't find the fault. The plugs, wires, computer(it's under the hood) fuel filter, cap, rotor all were checked. I took the chance, after all the grief and changed the wires. No problems and all is good, the wires even though they were not that old were the cause. Apparently moisture was getting into the wires themselves not the ends but the actual wire sections between the ends.