How to Troubleshoot a No Start Condition in a 1995 Honda Civic

Running out of gas is one possible reason why your Civic won't start.

You may find yourself in a situation when the engine of your 1995 Honda Civic will not start, and you either hear clicking sounds as you turn the ignition switch or none at all. Knowing how to troubleshoot your Civic, when it will not start, can help you save money, time and be on the road again. As of August 2010, the 1995 Honda Civic DX Sedan has a Kelley Blue Book suggested retail value of $3,060 in excellent condition.

Things You'll Need

• Fuel
• Battery booster
• Jumper cables

Instructions

Basic Troubleshooting

1. Push the clutch down all the way to the floor if you have a manual transmission in your 1995 Honda Civic; otherwise, the starter motor will not crank the engine, resulting in clicking sounds or no sound at all. If your Civic is an automatic, make sure that the transmission is in "Park" or "Neutral."

2. Turn your key in the ignition to the "On" position and turn on your headlights. Look at the brightness of your headlights---dim lights or no lights mean you have a dead battery and need a jump start.

3. Examine the fuses if, after turning on your headlights, they appear bright. The fuse box is on the driver's side under the dashboard. If you do not see a blown fuse, which will look like a damaged, burned wire inside of the fuse, this means you may have a starter problem or a problem with the electrical circuit on the ignition switch. You will need to have your car towed to a technician in this case.

4. Watch the fuel gauge and make sure you have enough gas in your car if your motor sounds normal after turning the ignition switch to the "Start" position but the engine still does not run.

Jump Starting Procedure

1. Turn off all electrical accessories in your car, such as the air conditioner, stereo, heater and lights.

2. Place the transmission in "Park" or "Neutral" then set the parking brake.

3. Connect one end of a jumper cable to the positive "+" end of a booster battery and connect the opposite end to the positive "+" terminal on top of the battery in your Honda Civic.

4. Connect the second jumper cable to the negative "-"end of the booster battery and connect the opposite cable end to an unpainted bracket or bolt away from your car's battery. This will lower the risk of igniting hydrogen gas which your car battery always emits. The negative jumper cable will be black.

5. Start your car, disconnect the negative cable first from the grounding strap on your car battery then disconnect the cable from the booster battery. Disconnect the positive cable from the positive terminal on your car's battery then disconnect the positive cable from the booster battery.

6. Adjust the metal connections to ensure they have good metal contact if, after the jump start, the starter motor continues to run slowly after starting your car.

Tips & Warnings

• Generally, the positive jumper cable will be colored red, and the negative cable will be black, making them easy to identify.

• Wear eye protection and work gloves to prevent any potential contact with corrosive acid from a leaky or ruptured battery.

References

• Honda Service Express: 1995 Honda Civic Sedan Owner's Manual (PDF)
• Kelley Blue Book: 1995 Honda Civic DX Sedan 4D
• Edmunds: How to Jump-Start
• Samarins: Starting System Starter Motor

Resources

• Edmunds: Honda Civic Review