Honda Civic. Manual — part 311

BASIC DIESEL ENGINE TROUBLE SHOOTING CHART

refer to SUBJECT, DIAGNOSTIC, or TESTING articles
available in the section(s) you are accessing.

NOTE:

Diesel engines mechanical diagnosis is the same as
gasoline engines for items such as noisy valves, bearings,
pistons, etc. The following trouble shooting covers only
items pertaining to diesel engines.

CONDITION & POSSIBLE CAUSE

CORRECTION

Engine Won't Crank

Bad battery connections or dead batteries

Check connections

and/or replace batteries

Bad starter connections or bad starter

Check connections

and/or replace starter

Engine Cranks Slowly, Won't Start

Bad battery connections or dead batteries

Check connections

and/or replace batteries

Engine oil too heavy

Replace engine oil

Engine Cranks Normally, But Will Not Start

Glow plugs not functioning

Check glow plug

system, see FUEL

SYSTEMS

Glow plug control not functioning

Check controller, see

FUEL SYSTEMS

Fuel not injected into cylinders

Check fuel injectors,

see FUEL SYSTEMS

No fuel to injection pump

Check fuel delivery

system

Fuel filter blocked

Replace fuel filter

Fuel tank filter blocked

Replace fuel tank filter

Fuel pump not operating

Check pump operation

and/or replace pump

2008 Honda Civic EX

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures

Fuel return system blocked

Inspect system and

remove restriction

No voltage to fuel solenoid

Check solenoid and

connections

Incorrect or contaminated fuel

Replace fuel

Incorrect injection pump timing

Re-adjust pump

timing, see FUEL

SYSTEMS

Low compression

Check valves, pistons,

rings, see ENGINES

Injection pump malfunction

Inspect and/or replace

injection pump

Engine Starts, Won't Idle

Incorrect slow idle adjustment

Reset idle adjustment,

see TUNE-UP

Fast idle solenoid malfunctioning

Check solenoid and

connections

Fuel return system blocked

Check system and

remove restrictions

Glow plugs go off too soon

See glow plug

diagnosis in FUEL

SYSTEMS

Injection pump timing incorrect

Reset pump timing, see

FUEL SYSTEMS

No fuel to injection pump

Check fuel delivery

system

Incorrect or contaminated fuel

Replace fuel

Low compression

Check valves, piston,

rings, see ENGINES

Injection pump malfunction

Replace injection

pump, see FUEL

SYSTEMS

Fuel solenoid closes in RUN position

Check solenoid and

2008 Honda Civic EX

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures

connections

Engines Starts/Idles Rough W/out Smoke or Noise

Incorrect slow idle adjustment

Reset slow idle, see

TUNE-UP

Injection line fuel leaks

Check lines and

connections

Fuel return system blocked

Check lines and

connections

Air in fuel system

Bleed air from system

Incorrect or contaminated fuel

Replace fuel

Injector nozzle malfunction

Check nozzles, see

FUEL SYSTEMS

Engines Starts and Idles Rough W/out Smoke or Noise, But Clears After
Warm-Up

Injection pump timing incorrect

Reset pump timing, see

FUEL SYSTEMS

Engine not fully broken in

Put more miles on

engine

Air in system

Bleed air from system

Injector nozzle malfunction

Check nozzles, see

FUEL SYSTEMS

Engine Idles Correctly, Misfires Above Idle

Blocked fuel filter

Replace fuel filter

Injection pump timing incorrect

Reset pump timing, see

FUEL SYSTEMS

Incorrect or contaminated fuel

Replace fuel

Engine Won't Return To Idle

Fast idle adjustment incorrect

Reset fast idle, see

TUNE-UP

Internal injection pump malfunction

Replace injection

pump, see FUEL

SYSTEMS

External linkage binding

Check linkage and

2008 Honda Civic EX

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures

remove binding

Fuel Leaks On Ground

Loose or broken fuel line

Check lines and

connections

Internal injection pump seal leak

Replace injection

pump, see FUEL

SYSTEMS

Cylinder Knocking Noise

Injector nozzles sticking open

Test injectors, see

FUEL SYSTEMS

Very low nozzle opening pressure

Test injectors and/or

replace

Loss of Engine Power

Restricted air intake

Remove restriction

EGR valve malfunction

Replace EGR valve

Blocked or damaged exhaust system

Remove restriction

and/or replace

components

Blocked fuel tank filter

Replace filter

Restricted fuel filter

Remove restriction

and/or replace filter

Block vent in gas cap

Remove restriction

and/or replace cap

Tank-to-injection pump fuel supply blocked

Check fuel lines and

connections

Blocked fuel return system

Remove restriction

Incorrect or contaminated fuel

Replace fuel

Blocked injector nozzles

Check nozzle for

blockage, see FUEL

SYSTEMS

Low compression

Check valves, rings,

pistons, see ENGINES

Loud Engine Noise With Black Smoke

2008 Honda Civic EX

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures