No Start!

[beavo5]

I have a 1990 Accord EX with 250,000+ miles on it, and it will not start now. Before the Honda Accord stopped starting, the battery went dead from sitting for about 4 hrs. and i got it to start from charging the battery then it ran all 9 miles to my house, but it ran with the battery light on when I put the gas pedal down and went off once it was coasting. and the next day the car wouldn't start yet again jumped it off and it started and ran, but my dad pulled the negative battery terminal off (the alternator has been replaced now) and the windshield wipers turned on and went off and the car jumped like someone threw the car in gear and forgot to put the gas pedal down and now it has NO SPARK. Replaced ICM & Ignition coil neither one got it to spark. then let it sit for a couple of days because of the weather then got back to working on it. the starter wasn't turning anymore by the ignition switch. I have taken out the ECU and it showed signs of water damage! Opened the ECU and saw broken traces. Could this cause the problem? Also, I saw exposed wires inside the distributor that has me worried a bit. It is getting fuel, and the starter turns manually, but the car just won't start.

Things replaced.
ICM (ignitor)
Ignition coil
alternator
starter

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[deevergote]

Check to make sure all fuses are good. If the car reacted as you say to removing the negative cable, then damage may have been done. That is really NOT a good thing to do to a running car. There are much safer ways to test an alternator.

That ECU should be replaced, and be sure to locate and repair the leak that allowed it to get wet in the first place. As I always say, ALWAYS fix known problems before digging deeper.

Check to be sure that your battery and ground connections are clean and tight. I had a no-start issue once due to dirty cables (took me $300 and a full day of replacing parts until I realized it...)

If there are damaged wires in the distributor, then you should replace that as well.

Any of those things could cause a no start.

[beavo5]

Thanks for the response. I cleaned the battery cables, checked all the fuses, checked all ground connections, and I fixed the small hole that was leaking. I'm thinking the ECU caused the ignition switch to stop working because during the time the weather was bad it was raining pretty hard to work on my car and then the ignition switch wouldn't turn the starter anymore.

[bobbycos]

Check to make sure all fuses are good. If the car reacted as you say to removing the negative cable, then damage may have been done. That is really NOT a good thing to do to a running car. There are much safer ways to test an alternator.

That ECU should be replaced, and be sure to locate and repair the leak that allowed it to get wet in the first place. As I always say, ALWAYS fix known problems before digging deeper.

Check to be sure that your battery and ground connections are clean and tight. I had a no-start issue once due to dirty cables (took me $300 and a full day of replacing parts until I realized it...)

If there are damaged wires in the distributor, then you should replace that as well.

Any of those things could cause a no start.

never never never do that to a running car, not even a 1960 Chevy with a generator !!!!!!

deev is 1000% on the money about what to do here

[beavo5]

Thanks for the response. I cleaned the battery cables, checked all the fuses, checked all ground connections, and I fixed the small hole that was leaking. Im thinking the ECU caused the ignition switch to stop working because during the time the weather was bad it was raining pretty hard to work on my car and then the ignition switch wouldnt turn the starter anymore.

Replacing the ECU didnt fix the ignition switch problem, but it did help getting other things back working that I didnt even notice that was not working in the first place. Still looking for a distributor and junkyards in my area dont have any Hondas I have already checked.

[danf20bcb7]

check ur main fuse cant tell you how much trouble that little bugger can cause. GL man

[beavo5]

Thanks danf20bcb7 for the response, but all fuses are good.

[hondafreak2012]

i had a 94 civic lx like that same problem ended up being the alternator was bad maybe the main relay an checkthe grounds

[beavo5]

Thanks hondafreak2012, Main Relay is good. Grounds are clean and tight. Alternator is brand new.

[1990SL0Cb7]

you poistive the main relay is working properly?

[beavo5]

Yes 1990SL0Cb7, the car is getting gas.

[beavo5]

I replaced my distributor and still no start! The car backfired when I tried starting it.

I have fuel & spark.

Any ideas?

[Oreellyfool]

I replaced my distributor and still no start! The car backfired when I tried starting it.

I have fuel & spark.

Any ideas?

Distributor in backwards? Meaning, when you pull the dizzy out, the prong part that goes into the cam may be 180 degrees off. I have had this problem several times and the car wont run.

[beavo5]

Distributor in backwards? Meaning, when you pull the dizzy out, the prong part that goes into the cam may be 180 degrees off. I have had this problem several times and the car wont run.

It could be I'll check that out tomorrow.

Checked it out today, the distributor wasn't in backwards but apparently when I took the other distributor off I messed up the firing order when I put the new distributor on.

Thanks to everyone that helped me with this problem.

Now I have to fix the ignition system problem I have. Key won't turn the starter over. Any ideas?