Finally getting the new (to me) Civic on the road.

(1994 DX, d15B7)

New plugs, wires, cap/rotor. Just did head gasket, set timing according to book. No check engine light.

The car feels gutless at lower RPM's, if I accellerate from a stop it bogs down until it hits somewhere around 2000 rpm (guessing, no tach). Then it takes off like a bat out of hell.

Hot or cold, doesn't matter.

Kind of makes me think the timing is off, but I've checked it several times and it's nuts on.

 

Does the check engine come on for ~3 seconds when you turn the car on?

 

i'd suggest checking the timing. also check ^ to see if your cel comes on when you first turn your key on.

 

Yup, I do get the CEL as the fuel pump runs for a few seconds at key on.


Timing should be set with jumper in pass kick panel jumped, and set to the center mark in the group of 3 lines with light on number 1 plug wire, right?

 

Normally, they are pretty gutless at low rpm.

Double check the cam timing too. You can have proper spark timing but the cam is a tooth off. I would suggest replacing the timing belt every time you acquire an older Civic and don't know its history.

You can try moving the spark timing to the more advanced mark in the group of 3 but if you get knocking, put it back.

 

mk378,

Funny you mention cam timing. I did just do the head gasket and timing belt.

The first time around I didn't have enough play in my dizzy to get the timing where it needed to be. I had to loosen the belt and advance the cam sproket a tooth.

Now my timing mark is dead on with the dizzy about right in the middle of it's adjustment. Would this be a safe bet that my cam timing is good now?

 

You can take the top timing belt cover off and check the marks again. No need to remove crank pulley, etc.

When you jump the test connector and start the engine, the CEL should come on steady and stay on. If it doesn't, you jumped the wrong thing.

 

CEL light does come on with plug jumpered..

With timing cover off, the marks line up with the surface of the head as best as I can tell too. Lining those marks up bugs me. It's not an exact science it seems.

I think I had the belt off and tweaked it a few times before I could get the spark timing right on..

 

Oh my god. I'm embarrassed to admit this, but maybe this will prove helpful to some other newb out there in the future.


So I broke down and pulled out the timing gun again. Would you believe the engine would run with 0 degrees of base timing?

Yup, I had the TDC mark lined up with the pointer. How in the heck did I miss this the last two times I checked it? lol

 

actually you didnt solve anything. you can either time it by setting the gun at 0 and lining up the TDC mark or you can set the gun at 16 and line it up with the center of the three marks.