1988crx with B16a wont start
 

Hey guys, Ive got a crx with a jdm B16a the rpms were jumping around when i bought it ( the gauge not the actul rpms) so I searched on here and came up with the igniter in the distributor was bad, so I bought a new distributor and before installing I read the post on how to install. Looked and sounded easy just make sure the dizzy is lined up with the engine and make sure the offset side is the same on the dizzy and the engine, it went right on bolted her up pluged in the two conectors and went to start her up and all it does is turn over and sometimes act like its going to start then continue to turn over, Thought maybe I had the fireing order off so I again came here and searched and found that the firing order is on.. So now im back on here not knowing what to do, I know its prob. somthing vary simple that I am missing. Any help would be great, Thanks in advance

Do you have spark at all of the plugs?

Do you hear the fuel pump prime for a few seconds when the ignition key is turned to ON (II)?

I have spark checked all plugs and yes I have fuel beause after tring to get it running all day yesterday it got fluded

Check the ground wires on the thermostat housing, these cause all kinds of intermittent mayhem (like the rpm gauge jumping up and down).

Plug all the spark wires 180 degrees out and see if it starts then. If so you have the distributor engaged wrong. This is possible to do but you have to force it.

(180 degrees out means you have stock: 1-3-4-2. Plug #4 where #1 should go and continue around so you have 4-2-1-3 instead.)

Distrubutor went in easy but ill try it real quick

All it does is turn over, it dont even try to start with the wires like that

If you definitely have spark and fuel, consider that the timing belt has slipped some teeth.

i was afrade i was going to here that.. i know its a stupid question but how do I get the cover off to get to it. I took out two bolts on the side and the bolts on the cover on the top but couldnt get the cover to come off : P

I got the cover off.. forgot one of the bolds in the middle.. How do i check if its time... its a dohc, i know the lines goto line up on both of the gears

You need to lift the valve cover up some so you can unhook the plastic timing cover from underneath it. Pull out the spark plug wires, remove valve cover nuts, and lift that end of the valve cover. Once you have the upper timing cover off, set the engine to TDC by turning the crank counterclockwise (the way it normally turns) by hand. The single mark on the accessory pulley should be at the plastic pointer. The cam sprocket should have "UP" at the top (if not, turn crank exactly one revolution more). The two marks on the cam sprocket should be horizontal and aligned with the top edge of the head.

Then look inside the distributor. The rotor contact should be pointed to wire #1 on the cap.

How do you know when its at tdc

the gear closest to the firewall has the arrow pointing up the other gear is not.. ill take a pic and post it

heres some pics

I put it all back together and tried it again.. when I turn it over it trys to start I think that I have the wires wrong

I can't see important details in your blurry photos.

Plug #1 is furthest from the distributor and plug #4 is closest.

Use the diagram below to check proper order of the plug wires in the distributor cap:

Attachment 25212

Regarding the timing belt, here's the proper alignment of cams and crank at TDC1:

Attachment 25211

Sorry about the blury pics best I could do.. my cap dont have that c on it indicating no.1 and I have the plug wires on how you discribed, I think im going to try and put the old distributor on again and see if I can get it running.. maybe ive gotton a bad dis.

also when I had it apart only one arrow was pointing up the other was at a 1 oclock and I looked for the grooves on the cam gears and didnt see any.. ill take it back apart and try and get the other gear so the arrow is pointing up along with the other one.. Ill more then likely be back asking how to get the belt off, lol Thanks atleast now I know the timing is off.. I cant see how it could get off that much tho unless it was off from the start then when i was messing with it jumped again..

heres a pic of the camgears with some paintshop

The red arrows are of were the arrows are on the gear

If the timing belt has slipped, you really need to replace it. You'll need to remove the crank pulley to do this, which requires a special tool or really good impact wrench. During the job, replace the water pump and belt tensioner as well.

Note: When a timing belt slips, engine damage may occur due to collision of the valves and pistons. You must be prepared for this possibility, which may be evident by low compression in the cylinders.

Yeah, the mechanical timing is off, indicating that the belt slipped. Where was the crank positioned at this point?

I believe its a tdc but im not sure.. turned it intill pleasure was coming out of the #1 spartk plug hole

Use a long rod in the #1 spark plug hole to feel the top of the piston. Turn the crank until the rod is pushed up as far as it will go. That's true TDC. It should correspond to the single white mark on the front crank pulley.

mk, based on the clearly misaligned cam gears, can't it already be concluded that the belt slipped?

Yes that looks wrong to me too. In order to set it back right the crank must be known to be at TDC. Also I would suggest the OP install a new timing belt now rather than reusing one that has slipped.

I now have it at tdc its the oppiste as in the pic the other cam gear is at the top and other is at like 12 o'clock. any recomundations on what belt to get brand wize ( if there is different brands ) just got the car a month ago so I dont know to much on honda's, all my other cars are chevy's. Is there a write up on how to install a new timing belt.. Thanks for all the the help guys

I don't understand what you are saying. TDC1 for the cams on your Civic is different than the diagram? If so, how?

I would recommend you purchase a Honda timing belt. Look here:

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/

Download the 88-90 Civic manual at the link in my signature.

No sorry. what I ment was that I didnt have it at tdc before because I didnt notice the notch out of the crank puly.. so it now sitting at tdc the cam gears are not in the same position as they were in the picture, the cam closest to the firewall is at 12 o'clock and the other cam gear closest to the front of the car the arrow is pointing up.. still not in time but atleast know I know whats wrong... I'll get a belt next week and try to install it.. Thanks alot for all the help