91 Honda CRX no start mind boggled HELP if you can please

Tiny
SPLUVS2INSTALL
  • MEMBER
  • 1991 HONDA CRX
Ok, I'm running a SOHC ZC motor, basically the same as the honda Si motor, just a different name. I have good compressions across all pistons at 135psi and holding a piece. I have checked the timing and it is correct. I have checked the fuel pressure and it is ok. I haven't been able to figure out how to lean the fuel out though, but anyway, it starts up and runs pretty good EXCEPT it smokes like a chimney at all RPM's. I have replaced the cap, rotor, plugs and wires, and after I run it, the plugs are blackened and need to be cleaned. Has anyone had this problem and knopw how to solve it? I really would like to NOT buy a new motor. I have also replaced the O2 sensor and the fuel regulator that is connected to the end of the fuel rail that seemes to be controlled by vacuum.

what I bought so far was an O2 sensor, which I can return. I bought a cap, rotor, plugs, and wires just to get it done and out of the way. I replaced the distributor and even though I was getting spark, I redid it anyway and checked for spark and got spark again, on each wire, on each plug, to each cylinder, the only thing I haven't been able to see is wether its sparking inside the engine, duh, LOL. I have checked the timing 4 times, I redid the timing belt and set the timing marks as perfect as you could imagine, as I took my sweet ole time to make absolutely sure they were EXACT. I did the compression and it was at 135psi, I cleaned the intake and the throttle body completely. I checked the EAVC on the back of the intake and have plugged all vacuums on anything that wasn't nessesary, which I checked and checked again. Now, it just cranks like I said, it doesn't even want to kick over. I haven't replaced the fuel filter or made sure it had a completely full to the top gas tank. BUT I know it gets gas. This is why it is soo fustrating!? I want to see if this will freshen up minds

I did a compression test on it again and held it for 5 minutes and it never dropped. I also did a head gasket leak down test with blue dye from snap on and it passed. The one you sniff the coolant. I also swapped out the distributor but no difference. I plan to get another brand new ngk cap and rotor tomorrow and see if the sh-t that's on there maybe isn't giving it enough spark. The coolant is still perfectly green with no bubbles. The vehicle is getting plenty of gas and when it first starts up, it idles very rough until it runs for a minute or so. I plan to run it for like an hour and see if anything channges tomorrow. Does anyone know where I can go from here? It just boggles me that the head gasket leak tester came out positive, as I thought that might be the issue. I also thought about sticking some oil in the plugs and seeing if the compression goes up a ton, maybe one of the 3 piston rings have gone bad or the oil seal on the rings, but I'd rather not tear it down if in fact its something stupid and simple or just plain stupid. Any ideas?

AND then to end what I have so far, as I wrote down all these notes

well, it doesnt start, it just cranks now. I have set the timing to what the book says to do exactly, which was to set the crankshaft at the mark on the block, where the crank pulley is at the "red" dot in the center of the 3 slots, and the cam has been set to exaclt where the marks needed to be. I get spark, I get fuel, I tested the injectors and they are going on and off, I also pulled them from the motor and they did indeed spray fuel. I have not checked the MAP sensor b/c it is a ZC motor and they are different from the regular stock d16a6 where there are two hoses going to the firewall with I guess a pair of soleniods and so forth, this one is electronic. I checked the EAVC and it showed working properly. I have low compression but its still compression at 135psi. The damn compression tester stopped working today so I couldnt check it again. I have checked for spark time and time again, and always get it so its not to do with the distributor. IF YOU clean out your mailbox I can send you a PM but you have exceeded your mail space. What else you think could possibly I have mis diagnosed? This is driving me crazy!
Wednesday, January 10th, 2007 AT 11:38 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
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OK you wrote a novel and I will attempt to play editor. 1st para, the car runs, 2nd the car turns over but does not start, 3rd it is running again, 4th or so the car is just cranking but not running. What is the verdict here? Does the car run currently?

I also understand why the compression tester quit, it died of overuse. We have determined that the compression is good and it will not change considerably in the next few minutes.

Let's assume that the car is not starting right now. So, with all the work around the distributor that you are performing, is it possible that the wires are not on the distributor cap correctly? Very important thing to consider. Please check it and then check it again.

Once this thing is running we can deal with the smoke to determine if the oil ring is failing on a cylinder. If it is a ring, I would recommend a rebuild of the engine and they aren't that tough to do. But unless we find the reason the car doesn't start it is a good likelihood that it won't start when you get the rebuild done. That would be frustrating.
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Thursday, January 11th, 2007 AT 7:53 AM
Tiny
SPLUVS2INSTALL
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No! If you actually think that through all this stuff that the wires on the cap would be wrong, you are crazy. The distributor aint the problem. First the car was running, but runn9ing like crap and smoking like a bat out of hell, then we did a tune up and oil change and it started to run crappy and then sounded like it was missing a cylinder. THEN after I couldnt think what the hell it was still smoking, the person who sold me the car said that I had th timing off, so I redid the timing and it just cranks now. I made the timing perfect. I put the marks to exaclty where they were supposed to be. I get spark, I get gas, I get air, I get no catch and when it wants to catch it doesnt! Hope this will help
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Thursday, January 11th, 2007 AT 10:52 AM
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
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If you put it back together and you lined up everything properly it should start. I ask you to look one more time at the location of the plug wires on the distributor cap. If it sounds like it wants to start and won't but you get spark, check the wires.
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Thursday, January 11th, 2007 AT 11:56 AM
Tiny
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OK, I will check the wires one more time. That is the least I can do on something as much as a problem I am having. I will get back to you about that for sure
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Thursday, January 11th, 2007 AT 2:32 PM

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