Honda Civic. Manual — part 316

BASIC DRIVEABILITY PROBLEMS TROUBLE SHOOTING

PERFORMANCE

EGR valve stuck open

Clean and/or replace

valve

High resistance in spark plug wires

Replace spark plug

wires

Cracked or broken spark plug insulator

Replace spark plugs

Intake vacuum leak

Repair leak

Defective spark plugs

Replace spark plugs

Corroded spark plug terminals

Replace spark plugs

One or More, But Not All Firing Voltage Lines Are Lower Than Others

Curb idle mixture not balanced

Readjust carburetor,

see ENGINE

PERFORMANCE

Breaks in plug wires

Replace plug wires

causing arcing

Cracked coil tower causing arcing

Replace coil

Low compression

Determine cause and

repair

Defective spark plugs

Replace spark plugs

Corroded spark plugs

Replace spark plugs

Cylinders Not Firing

Cracked distributor cap terminals

Replace distributor cap

Shorted spark plug wire

Determine cause and

repair

Mechanical problem in engine

Determine cause and

repair

Defective spark plugs

Replace spark plugs

Spark plugs fouled

Replace spark plugs

CONDITION & POSSIBLE CAUSE

CORRECTION

Hard Starting

Binding carburetor linkage

Eliminate binding

2008 Honda Civic EX

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures

Binding choke linkage

Eliminate binding

Binding choke piston

Eliminate binding

Restricted choke vacuum

Check vacuum lines

for blockage

Worn or dirty needle valve and seat

Clean carburetor, see

ENGINE

PERFORMANCE

Float sticking

Readjust or replace

float see the ENGINE

PERFORMANCE

section

Incorrect choke adjustment

Reset choke

adjustment see

ENGINE

PERFORMANCE

Defective coil

Replace coil

Improper spark plug gap

Regap spark plugs

Incorrect ignition timing

Reset ignition timing

see ENGINE

PERFORMANCE

Detonation

Over-advanced ignition timing

Reset ignition timing

see ENGINE

PERFORMANCE

Defective spark plugs

Replace spark plugs

Fuel lines clogged

Clean fuel lines

EGR system malfunction

Check and repair EGR

system

PCV system malfunction

Repair PCV system

Vacuum leaks

Check and repair

vacuum system

Loose fan belts

Tighten or replace fan

belts, see ENGINE

2008 Honda Civic EX

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures

PERFORMANCE

Restricted airflow

Remove restriction

Vacuum advance malfunction

Check distributor

operation

Dieseling

Binding carburetor linkage

Eliminate binding

Binding throttle linkage

Eliminate blinding

Binding choke linkage or fast idle cam

Eliminate binding

Defective idle solenoid

Replace idle solenoid

see ENGINE

PERFORMANCE

Improper base idle speed

Reset idle speed, see

see ENGINE

PERFORMANCE

Incorrect ignition timing

Reset ignition timing

see ENGINE

PERFORMANCE

Incorrect idle mixture setting

Reset idle mixture, see

ENGINE

PERFORMANCE

Faulty Acceleration

Incorrect ignition timing

Reset ignition timing

see ENGINE

PERFORMANCE

Engine cold and choke too lean

Adjust choke and

allow engine to warm-

up

Defective spark plugs

Replace spark plugs

Defective coil

Replace coil

Faulty Low Speed Operation

Clogged idle transfer slots

Clean idle transfer

slots, see FUEL

Restricted idle air bleeds and passages

Disassemble and clean

2008 Honda Civic EX

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures

carburetor, see FUEL

Clogged air cleaner

Replace air filter

Defective spark plugs

Replace spark plugs

Defective ignition wires

Replace ignition wire

see ENGINE

PERFORMANCE

Defective distributor cap

Replace distributor cap

Faulty High Speed Operation

Incorrect ignition timing

Reset ignition timing

see ENGINE

PERFORMANCE

Defective distributor centrifugal advance

Replace advance

mechanism

Defective distributor vacuum advance

Replace advance unit

Incorrect spark plugs or plug gap

Check gap and/or

replace spark plugs

Faulty choke operation

Check choke and

repair as required

Clogged vacuum passages

Remove restrictions

Improper size or clogged main jet

Check jet size and

clean, see FUEL

Restricted air cleaner

Check filter and

replace as necessary

Defective distributor cap, rotor or coil

Replace cap, rotor or

coil

Misfire at All Speeds

Defective spark plugs

Replace spark plugs

Defective spark plug wires

Replace spark plug

wires

Defective distributor cap, rotor, or coil

Replace cap, rotor, or

coil

Cracked or broken vacuum hoses

Replace vacuum hoses

Vacuum leaks

Repair vacuum leaks

2008 Honda Civic EX

GENERAL INFORMATION Trouble Shooting - Basic Procedures