Diagnosis? Prognosis?

trmnshwrx

New Member
1995 Civic DX. Didn't drive it for several months, moved, had it delivered. Started having trouble starting. It will crank just fine. But it would turn and turn and turn, and then eventually start. It was giving much more trouble if it hasn't been driven in the past few days. Took it to a shop and they have a diagnosis with an expensive prognosis. We decided to just keep deriving it.
Eventually it got to the point where we usually can't start it, and when we can it is liable to die and refuse to start.

So, the shop said it didn't have compression due to worn piston rings. If it was started, oil would splash up and form a seal, so then it would run. If we hadn't used the car recently, we would have to crank it for a bit to splash the oil up around the pistons, and then it would start and run. Would you agree this sounds likely to be the cause?

So... now what? I have two weeks off from work, and access to a shop on a Marine Corps base where I can do all the work myself. Do I need to open up the engine, verify worn piston rings, and replace them?
I'll be paying a reasonable fee per day that I'm occupying a stall in the shop, so I'd like to be ready to fix it as soon as it's taken apart. Should I go ahead and order new piston rings? Or should I be ready to get a new engine???

I know I'm showing some ignorance here; I'm self-taught but I'm capable. I replaced a cylinder head on an Escort myself once; just had a manual and enough time.

Anyway, recommendations are much appreciated to help me on my way!

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trmnshwrx

New Member
boofoo said:
How many miles on the engine? What engine? Bone stock?

When the engine cranks but won't start, have you verified that the fuel pump primes and spark at all 4 spark plugs? Does the CEL stay on steady when the key is turned from OFF to ON(II)?
Click to expand...
207K. Completely stock.
...I have not verified these. How do I check for spark on all plugs if it's not already running? Pull them out individually and watch for spark while cranking?

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trmnshwrx

New Member
Well, I went out there and attempted to jump start it, recording the sounds to be able to share here.
It took a minute or two, but it actually started. It's running right now. I don't suspect spark plugs, because it runs smoothly with no unevenness.
Let me see if I can share that audio now...

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trmnshwrx

New Member
Oh, there's another symptom I forgot to mention: it doesn't let you slam on the gas. I can ease the rpms up slowly, but if I try to rev it suddenly, it sputters and dies.

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trmnshwrx

New Member
boofoo said:
Do the tests I suggested when engine won't start.
Click to expand...
How am I supposed to approach the problem, then? Random testing? I can't use the car, because I don't want to risk getting stranded anywhere. So...it sits there and I just start it everyday and wait until it won't start?
I need something proactive I can do. I have two weeks to fix it before I go back to work.

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