Starting problem

Tiny
DAMEHILL
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 HONDA CIVIC
  • 1.6L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 220,000 MILES
I cannot get it to turn over. It shut off on me one day coming back from work, it started acting really under powered would not go past 2,000 rpm. I towed it home let it cool down and it would not start kept making a back firing sound and pumping out cloudy exhaust. I tried replacing the fuel pump, spark plugs, tension pulley, water pump and timing belt. It still will not turn over. Please help I am running’s out of patience!
Tuesday, May 8th, 2018 AT 10:02 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,741 POSTS
Pull the spark plugs out, then see if it will crank. It should spin faster than normal, but what you are looking for is if coolant sprays from one of the spark plug holes. If it does, the engine was locked up due to "hydro-lock", meaning that cylinder was filled with coolant from a leaking cylinder head gasket. Liquids cannot be compressed, so that piston prevents the engine from cranking.

The clue is your observation of smoke from the tail pipe. Burning coolant in the engine results in white smoke. Here is more information that might help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test
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Wednesday, May 9th, 2018 AT 5:04 PM

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