HELP! 89 CRX Si
01-27-2003, 10:14 AM
#1
got JDM milk???
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 991
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
HELP! 89 CRX Si
ok my friend has a 89 CRX Si. he's the 4th owner of this car. the recent problems we've been experiencing is that the car doesn't start. well, we've replaced the starter and then upon iginition.. u can hear the starter spinning. but after that... nothing. then after a push start, the car starts, or if jumped by a truck battery then it starts. but the battery, spark plugs and caps and wires are fine. once the car starts... there are tons of white smoke coming out. so i am guess it's running lean. so what could be the culprit??? fuel injectors, FPR, fuel pump??? please advise. thanks.
01-27-2003, 11:27 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: rice world
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
white smokes usually a sign of a headgasket. u say if u push start it itll start all the time? if so, its your starter. if the car doesnt crank at all and your lights and horn dont work its your battery. where u live is it cold? if so the white smoke can also be condensation, when a car is cold all cars smoke on startup, and the smoke is white.
just use some fuel treatment and see if that cures the problem if u think its a fuel delivery problem.
just use some fuel treatment and see if that cures the problem if u think its a fuel delivery problem.
01-27-2003, 11:43 AM
#3
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: upstate NY
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
tokyoracer,
At first, when you said you could hear the starter spinning but not engaging, I was thinking either you have a bad starter, or no teeth on the flywheel
But, if you can jump start it, that doesn't make sense.
You say the battery is fine...what kind of voltage do you have at the terminals?
Is the smoke coming out the back steam or coolant enriched? Does it have an odor?
Bogatyr
At first, when you said you could hear the starter spinning but not engaging, I was thinking either you have a bad starter, or no teeth on the flywheel
But, if you can jump start it, that doesn't make sense.
You say the battery is fine...what kind of voltage do you have at the terminals?
Is the smoke coming out the back steam or coolant enriched? Does it have an odor?
Bogatyr
01-27-2003, 02:56 PM
#4
got JDM milk???
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 991
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Bogatyr
tokyoracer,
At first, when you said you could hear the starter spinning but not engaging, I was thinking either you have a bad starter, or no teeth on the flywheel
But, if you can jump start it, that doesn't make sense.
You say the battery is fine...what kind of voltage do you have at the terminals?
Is the smoke coming out the back steam or coolant enriched? Does it have an odor?
Bogatyr
tokyoracer,
At first, when you said you could hear the starter spinning but not engaging, I was thinking either you have a bad starter, or no teeth on the flywheel
But, if you can jump start it, that doesn't make sense.
You say the battery is fine...what kind of voltage do you have at the terminals?
Is the smoke coming out the back steam or coolant enriched? Does it have an odor?
Bogatyr
the starter is good, and flywheel is fine... as for the jumping part... u got me there too. cuz last nite... AAA came when the car wouldn't start at costco parking lot... and he just jumped it... and it worked. so go figure. I think it's standard 12volt.
as for the smoke... it's coming out of the exhaust... and smoke is white... with water dripping out. there is a smell to it as well, not like ur regular exhaust smell. coolant is fine...
also, there are some oil around the spark plug when i removed it. but sparks has been replaced. the previous ones ended up being white... which i know that means it's running lean. so what do you think?
01-27-2003, 03:53 PM
#5
got JDM milk???
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 991
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by RiceBoysDream
white smokes usually a sign of a headgasket. u say if u push start it itll start all the time? if so, its your starter. if the car doesnt crank at all and your lights and horn dont work its your battery. where u live is it cold? if so the white smoke can also be condensation, when a car is cold all cars smoke on startup, and the smoke is white.
just use some fuel treatment and see if that cures the problem if u think its a fuel delivery problem.
white smokes usually a sign of a headgasket. u say if u push start it itll start all the time? if so, its your starter. if the car doesnt crank at all and your lights and horn dont work its your battery. where u live is it cold? if so the white smoke can also be condensation, when a car is cold all cars smoke on startup, and the smoke is white.
just use some fuel treatment and see if that cures the problem if u think its a fuel delivery problem.
01-27-2003, 03:53 PM
#6
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: upstate NY
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
tokyoracer,
Hmm, yes, I know you have a standard 12 volt battery, but you should get a tester to read what it's putting out at the terminals. If memory serves, anything below 12.6 and the battery is low. Until you know this, you're shooting in the dark. You can pick up a cheap multimeter most anywhere for 15$ or less.
Clearly, if it can be jumped and worked, it's either putting out less than the minimum voltage required, or the AAA tech did something else...maybe there's enough corrosion on the battery terminals to prevent you from getting a good connection. Maybe he jiggled things around enough to make a good ground...
Hmm, sounds like just steam, but to be sure, you may want to do a chemical test of the coolant or have an oil analysis done to verify that you have no coolant contamination in the oil. Chances are, with the cold that most of the country is experiencing, you're just seeing steam.
Now, the oil around the plugs...was that on the outside of the plug or the electrode? The former simply means that the valve cover grommets need to be replaced...do that next time you adjust your valves...no big deal. I'm assuming that's what it is as you said the plugs were white...
As far as running lean, if you're not experiencing any pinging or loss of power, I'd say deal with it, you're getting better mileage that way anyway...
Uh, I thought white plugs meant running warm...did you go and put some kind of freaky plugs in there?
Bogatyr
Hmm, yes, I know you have a standard 12 volt battery, but you should get a tester to read what it's putting out at the terminals. If memory serves, anything below 12.6 and the battery is low. Until you know this, you're shooting in the dark. You can pick up a cheap multimeter most anywhere for 15$ or less.
Clearly, if it can be jumped and worked, it's either putting out less than the minimum voltage required, or the AAA tech did something else...maybe there's enough corrosion on the battery terminals to prevent you from getting a good connection. Maybe he jiggled things around enough to make a good ground...
Hmm, sounds like just steam, but to be sure, you may want to do a chemical test of the coolant or have an oil analysis done to verify that you have no coolant contamination in the oil. Chances are, with the cold that most of the country is experiencing, you're just seeing steam.
Now, the oil around the plugs...was that on the outside of the plug or the electrode? The former simply means that the valve cover grommets need to be replaced...do that next time you adjust your valves...no big deal. I'm assuming that's what it is as you said the plugs were white...
As far as running lean, if you're not experiencing any pinging or loss of power, I'd say deal with it, you're getting better mileage that way anyway...
Uh, I thought white plugs meant running warm...did you go and put some kind of freaky plugs in there?
Bogatyr
01-27-2003, 05:02 PM
#7
RacinMasonC
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You might be buring a little colant, i've seen it happen on a car when they start it up it was blowing out white smoke constantly, but you might wanna check the headgasket too.
01-29-2003, 10:39 PM
#10
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: California
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You need to perform a battery load test. If you're going to be using a Snap-On Battery Load testing device or some sort or even a VAT40, set the amps to 180. Your final voltage reading should be above 9.6volts. If its close to 9.6 volts then you might want to consider replacing your battery. If it's below 9.6 volts then you definitely need to replace the battery.
If replacing the battery fixes the problem the sad news is that the problem may reoccur because you might have a charging system problem. Or even worst a parasitic load. Meaning that you have a device that is draining the battery when the car is turned off. It also helps to make sure that the battery teminals are securely fastened onto the battery post. If there are any corrosion (blue powder) on the battery post then that means a bad or intermittent connection. You'll need to clean that up by brushing it away. Besure not to breath it or get any on your clothes 'cause it'll eat up your clothes.
You're problem may be as simple as an old battery and replacing it will fix the problem. But before you buy a new battery be sure to do some diagnostics so you don't waste your money on parts you didn't need.
If replacing the battery fixes the problem the sad news is that the problem may reoccur because you might have a charging system problem. Or even worst a parasitic load. Meaning that you have a device that is draining the battery when the car is turned off. It also helps to make sure that the battery teminals are securely fastened onto the battery post. If there are any corrosion (blue powder) on the battery post then that means a bad or intermittent connection. You'll need to clean that up by brushing it away. Besure not to breath it or get any on your clothes 'cause it'll eat up your clothes.
You're problem may be as simple as an old battery and replacing it will fix the problem. But before you buy a new battery be sure to do some diagnostics so you don't waste your money on parts you didn't need.