you dont have to do all that to get to the camshaft part of the timing belt.
dont know if you can get the cover off of the wheel well without removing the tire or not (because my cover has been and is off).

But just take off the valve cover and then you can take off the top portion of the timing cover (that it if is built the same as the 1988 - 1991). (it is recommended to take out the spark plugs to make it easier to turn the engine). put the socket on the crankshaft bolt and turn it in the direction of engine rotation till the timing mark and observe the location of the camshaft sprocket.

 

I wish it was that easy but it's a 1995 - the top cover is interlocked between the power steering pump and engine mount... I remember having to remove all that when I changed the head gasket last year... so, I am still going to try the starting fluid - I just put the relay back in place (another awkward set up... ) I dont blame Honda for their non user friendly access to parts, since I also worked on a 92 Sentra last year and you have to move a ton of stuff to get at anything on that car ... ie. starter, timing chain...

thanks for the encouragement... hopefully I will track this one down....

Allan

 

Ah. is see. the relay was a bit$% to get to on my 88 also.

dont know if you got throttle body or not; but i read that one should not spray carb cleaner down into it - could ruin the MAP sensor - dont know if that is true or not (did not say anything about starting fluid, though).

 

Well, no luck with the starting fluid... not even a hint of trying to start... hmmmm.... I even rotated the distributor to see if I could catch anything but no luck on that either... so, I am now going to check the compression for the cylinders and then I guess I will have to dismantle the timing belt covers tomorrow to check the belt... at this stage, I am kinda lost for answers since there are so many things that can go wrong that I have not checked yet but will eventually have to ... ie. the fuel injectors, fuel pump, etc. I guess my biggest fear is taking it to the shop and they go through everything that I have just done and charging an arm and a leg...

I'll keep posting...

Allan

 

ok guys i have a 92 hatch and one day it decided not to start so i checked everything i thought ok just above the hood release is the main relay thats what was wrong with mine to check turn your key on don't start it and listen for the fuel pump to cycle and see if the check engine light goes out in a few seconds if the fuel pump doesn't cycle and the check engine light doesn't come on it should be the main relay

 

i cannot hear my fuel pump working - so i would take the line off going into the filter, and you will have gas there if the pump is working and it will be pressurized - can put it into a container and crank the engine a couple of times (be carefull doing this).

so you have spark at all 4 cylinders ?

 

to release fuel pressure just take the gas cap off and let all the pressure out of the system and disconnect the negative side of the battery, now you are good to disconnect fuel lines

 

thanxs for that (proper) procedure.

fred

 

Good luck Fred! The car is ready to be dismantled! LOL! I have access to the lower timing belt cover and I will be working on it shortly. I have to set the TDC and then I am going to check the belt alignment (sprocket). I am hoping that this may be the problem, but even if it isn't - at least I will know that it was checked! I still have a few options after this, but checking to see if the belt skipped will at least answer that idea!

Allan

 

will be interesting to hear - and good luck to you.

bout the only other thing that comes to mind (and this is from a mechanic guy (i once knew - moved away)) is that sometimes these small engine will lose their compression if they are sitting for some time - but then that is not the case in this case. To solve the problem, one has to take the spark plugs out and put a little oil down into each cylinder. Dont know of too many cases like that - but then i'm not a mechanic that works on them every day. Just something to keep in mind.