5 replies to this topic

[unclejemima]

ah, nothing like pulling a dumb move that makes you shake your head.
I hooked up my battery backwards on my 87 honda civic last night and blew one of the 3 fuseable links in the engine bay.
The car has been sitting for about 2 years, it has not been fired up since i parked it.
It turns over just fine now, but it took FOREVER to get it started. I had to assist it by pouring gas down the carb, and it would only run off the gas in the carb, then die.
After turning it over(the starter), stalling, and starting it up again about a hundred times, i finally got it to run by itself with the choke full on. But as soon as i give throttle(or turn the choke off), the car dies instantly.
My guess, is i fried the fuel pump when i hooked the battery up backwards. Will it still be able to run without the fuel pump, and just suck enough fuel by the suction created by the motor/carb, but when i give throttle, it cant pull enough fuel so it dies??? Is it a mechanical or electric fuel pump. If it is mechanical, perhaps i just have rust in the lines???
The car is 87 honda civic 1.5 carburated with manual choke and approx 100,000 original miles on it. It has sat for the last 2 years, and last time i drove it it fired up just fine.
Any help would be appreciated!
-mark

Edited by unclejemima, 17 September 2007 - 06:07 PM.

[Greg Gauper]

I doubt you hurt the fuel pump since the carb'd cars had mechanical fuel pumps (located near the distributor).

You might have wiped out something else...there is a small solenoid on the carb (at least the is on the US models) that cuts off fuel to the carb. Check if that solenoid is working correctly. Refer to the on-line shop manual for more info.

[EuphoricBlue]

Could it be bad gas and or gummed up carb? I mean, the car HAS been sitting for 2+ years without so much as a start and you didn't mention anything about replacing the old fuel.

[unclejemima]

Could it be bad gas and or gummed up carb? I mean, the car HAS been sitting for 2+ years without so much as a start and you didn't mention anything about replacing the old fuel.

Thanks for the reply guys, i did notice the solenoid on the carb, but did not test it as i am unsure as how to check it. What does the solenoid on the carb do? Will it prevent the car from running? The weird thing is it run by itself with the choke full on, if the solenoid was kaput would it run at all? I will check it out online shop manual for the info. Do you have a link? I'm new to the site.

I always put fuel stabilizer in the tank before parking my cars, thou i'm unsure if the fuel is still good after 2 years.

I really appreciate your help guys! Great forum.
-mark

Edited by unclejemima, 18 September 2007 - 12:06 PM.

[Greg Gauper]

I will check it out online shop manual for the info. Do you have a link? I'm new to the site.

Look at the top of the page in the red banner for "Service Manuals".

The only thing I'm not sure about is that I don't think the manual covers the Canadian version of the carb. As I understand it, our friends to the north got a manual choke while we got the auto choke here in the US. There are a few other subtle differences between the US and CDN version of the carb'd motor.

[unclejemima]

Look at the top of the page in the red banner for "Service Manuals".

The only thing I'm not sure about is that I don't think the manual covers the Canadian version of the carb. As I understand it, our friends to the north got a manual choke while we got the auto choke here in the US. There are a few other subtle differences between the US and CDN version of the carb'd motor.

You are correct in saying that the Canadian ones have a manual choke, mine does anyway. I am unsure of what the US model ones are. i'll take a look at the service manuals.
Thanks,
-mark

Edited by unclejemima, 18 September 2007 - 04:56 PM.