My car wont start, but when i clean the plugs it fires right up. What is the problem?

Question

I have a 91 honda civic dx. The car wont start in the morning, but when i clean the plugs it fires right up, and i dont have problems starting it for the rest of the day, but the next morning same problem occures. Any idea wht this could be? I have changed the plugs, and checked distributor everthing looks good there, I can smell gas comming from the tail pipe when i crank it and push the gas pedal. It cranks and sounds like it wants to start but just wont fully turn over.

Answer 1

I dont remember off the top of my head if the honda in 91 was carb or fuel injection but it does sound like a flooding problem. Check the plugs and smell them for a gas odor.

If they do then check to see what setup you have carb or fi. If its a carb have it rebuilt and check all the hoses while you are at it. Sometimes the carb internal seals fail and floats are out of specs so it will leak gas into your motor at night till the pressure of the system is drained and/or the carb bowl is out of gas.

If its fuel injection most have a cold start circuit to help start the car in cold mornings. This cold be faulty and making the injectors dump more fuel than needed and flooding your motor out. Most chilton manuals will so you how to test the circuits for fuel injection. Start with the mass air flow and and tps and work your way around any circuit tied to the injection.
Since it could be one or a combo of sensors besure atleast test your tps, mass air flow, 02 sensor, map sensor, cold start sensor. And again some cars use differnt combos for there injection, So you may have all the above on yours or just three of them.

All you need is a chilton manual and a simple $20 test meter. Either way this is the time to check your hoses, belts, fuel filter, air filter, timing belt, coolent, and heck oil. Might as well make a day of it and get some of the milage back in your honda. Hope this helps

Answer 2

Obviously, the car is getting too much fuel. It is saturating your plugs and that's why if won't start. Being that it is fuel injected, you shouldn't have to touch the gas pedal to start it.
There has to be a reason that this is going on. If the oxygen sensor is bad, it may cause this. You may also have a problem with the timing. Good luck.

Answer 3

Above may have your answers.
Another thing; When it does start do you see smoke come from the exhaust? If, it smoke, your Valve Guides may be leaking oil into the cylinders when it sitting and it foul your plugs. Compression Test will tell. This more extreme, and, hopefully it a Fuel Problem.
Have your TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) checked.

Answer 4

Too much fuel for some reason...when you pull the plugs to clean them, you air out the cylinders and it starts ok. Find out why it's running rich or gas is leaking into the cylinders....injector problem?

Answer 5

If it's fuel injection, check your fuel pressure regulator. It sounds like you're getting fuel in the cylinders after shut down and it's fouling the plugs.

Answer 6

sounds flooded to me reduce the gas flow maybe or u can even be getting moisture on the end of the plugs check to see if that is an issue.

Answer 7

it sounds like it is a fule problem. you may need to replace your fule injectors or fule filter. i would reccomend that you take it over to a shop for a tune up and fule filter replacement if it has not been done in he past 30,000 miles.

Answer 8

i'd say you need to take a look at the fuel pump

Answer 9

check the fuel pump. you might be losing pressure at nigh when it is sitting