91 Civic won't start
 

My 91 Civic with 155K quit running while driving with no warning and now won't start. It turns over well but never even starts to fire up. I tested the spark with a tester and I have a good spark. I replaced the spark plugs which didn't help. I tested the compression and it was fine. I can hear the fuel pump turn on and when I checked the compression I could smell gasoline. I tried spraying a little starter fluid in the intake while trying to start it and still nothing happened. I had the timing belt replaced about 15K ago. What should I do next????

Thanks

Is spark at the plug a bright blue or weak orange color?

Check whether the timing belt slipped a tooth or two, causing the cam and crank to be out of synch.

Is the ECU blinking a trouble code?

I bought a tester for the spark and it is a bright blue.

I'll try to borrow a timing light and check the timing in the next few days and I'll get back to you about the ECU.

Thanks for your help.

You don't use a timing gun to check the mechanical timing. Remove the valve cover and the upper timing belt cover. Then, use the diagram below to determine whether the cam and crank are no longer perfectly synchronized at TDC for piston 1 (TDC1).

Attachment 23003

Thanks again. It'll probably be several days but I'll check to see if the timing belt did slip.

About the ECU. It was flashing a code but my battery died so the ECU reset and I don't remember what code it was. I do remember that when following my Hanes book it said check this and that and then basically take it to a dealer, but its been over a year ago and I am kicking myself now for not writing it down (normally I'm really good about that).

I pulled both the covers off and aligned the cam shaft sprocket TDC, but I can't find a mark on the crank shaft pulley. Its pretty tight looking down there so I can only see the top of the pulley in between the belts but I can see enough on either side of the TDC mark to see it even if it was off a couple inches.

Is it possible that it is marked differently than just painted white? Do I need to remove the belts from the pulley to see it? Is it marked on the side where you can't see if from the top?

I haven't turned the starter over to check to see if the mark is somewhere else on the crankshaft pulley because I lucked out on my second try and got the camshaft sprocket lined up.

Any thoughts?

Is the arrow on the camshaft gear pointing straight up and the side marks aligned with the top of the head? If in this position you cannot see the TDC1 mark on the crankshaft pulley aligned with the pointer, then the timing belt probably slipped. Put the front end on stands, crawl under the timing belt area, and see whether you can find the location of the TDC1 mark on the edge of the crankshaft pulley (as well as the three marks used for setting the ignition timing with a timing gun).

The marks are on the edge of the pulley inbetween where the first two belts go. They can be hard to see and after several years, the red and white paint will be gone.

You can also check that the crank is at TDC by removing spark plug #1 (closest to the timing belt) and using a long socket extension or other metal rod to touch the top of the piston. Rotate the crank slowly until the piston and rod comes up as high as it will go, this is TDC.

The camshaft is aligned correctly with the two marks at the top of the head and the word "UP" on the top. I haven't gotten to put it on stands and get underneath it yet, but I did find a white mark at approxmately the 10 o'clock position. The mark isn't on the outer edge where the belts run. It's located on the outer side between the outer belt and the middle belt (since the outer belts pulley is smaller there is a surface on the side). I assume this is the TDC mark????

If this is the mark and the timing belt has slipped what's my next move? Do I just take the timing belt off and align the camshaft and crankshaft to TDC and replace it? And if so, is this job something a weekend mechanic can handle?

Unfortunately, when the timing belt breaks or slips, the concern is that engine damage has occurred by the valves colliding with the pistons. Put a new timing belt on with the cam and crank perfectly synchronized at TDC1 and then compression test the cylinders (see link in my signature).