Xscort

Quick Scenario, 99 EX with 111k miles. Replaced the headgasket, valve seals, IM & EM gaskets, thermostat, replaced broken knock sensor, new plugs, etc.. (all OEM) and installed ARP studs. I've gotten everything put back together and did a comp test to see where I was standing. Fired her up, she tried to start and quickly died!! The comp results were worse off than before doing the gasket install. I got 150-125-100 and I didn't even bother doing no. 4. I figured that car sat for 3wks with just a bottom end that it wouldn't build compression right off the bat, so i just popped the spark plugs in and tried firing her up, NO start. I did turn the ignition to prime the fuel pump a couple of times, the timing is aligned (didn't do timing light tho).

I am stumped. I torqued the studs to ARP spec which is 60 ft./lbs w/ ARP Moly Lube. ONE THING I did not do was adjust the valves/valve clearance, after the valve seal install. I was planning on doing, but I wanted to see if the car would start. Could that absolutely have anything to do with the car not starting, since I didn't do the valve clearances right away???

boostedcivicsir

if you did a valve job, you nee to lash them, they are closer to the rocker now, and tighter, may be hanging open a little.

if the t belt was off, compression would be uniform.
for it to be that erratic, start looking at valve lash.

if you have access to a leak down tester, use that to see actually where the compression is goin.

Xscort

appreciate the quick response, i will do the valve clearances in the morning. I'm just a neighborhood mechanic, lol, i just wouldn't have thought that if the valves were fine before, and now its not even starting. But I just hope and pray that the valve clearance will fire it right up!!!! Oh yeah, I didn't do a valve job, I just clean off the carbon on the valves with a lil polish wheel and installed new valve seals. I know I'm supposed to automatically do a valve clearance since I removed the valves, but i thought i could get away just seeing if the car would start.

Xscort

bump, anyone else??

Xscort

Another thing is i believe i put the dizzy on with TDC being on #4 instead of #1, I'll have to double check that. Is that a big problem??

99GreenEX

yes, because your firing order is 1342, yours is gunna fire on each cylinder as it is on the exhaust stroke...

Xscort

ok i double checked the dizzy and it was set to TDC for #1(i checked the rocker arm to make sure they were loose as well, i knew it was on #1), and i did the valve clearances and maybe 2 or 3 were off by .001-.002, but other than that the clearances were good. Still no luck. I'm gonna drop the car back down to see if that helps, maybe fuel is getting hung up since the front end been jacked up 2feet for about 3wks now.
quick question: Is there a ground that goes on one of those thermostat housing??? I hooked one up to there, and I believe thats where it went.

Xscort

bump for more input

Xscort

I checked the compression, 100-125-90-115ish, I checked the timing belt and redid the belt again. Still nothing better, I don't have access to a leakdown tester. The valve seals were changed and they clicked down, I adjusted the valve clearance, and still nothing.

So I believe because of the low compression the car isn't starting right??? Or should I expect it to be that low until it's cranked since its been sitting so long???

I really do believe its my valves, I did clean off all of the deposits with a wire brush. Possibly they're not seating again???



Modified by Xscort at 3:02 PM 7/28/2008

Xscort

will compression with 100 still start???

D16SiHatch

maybe, but probably just barely. you can try droppin like a teaspoon of oil down into each cylinder and then rechecking the compression. If it remains unchanged then you know the cylinder walls are sealing fine, and its escaping through the valve clearances. If it jumps up to like 200 then you know the piston/oil control rings aren't sealing for some reason.

Xscort

hmmm, i'll try that tomorrow, do you think since the car has been sitting for a few weeks that the walls dried up or messed up the rings?? or because i cleaned the deposits off of the valves and now they're not seating right??