alupso

I recently swapped a DOHC ZC into my HF and everything went fine. On the initial first time trying to start the engine would try and turn over but it seemed to have no spark. The spark plugs were new but the plug wires came with the engine. I bought new NGK blue wires for a 88-89 Integra and put them on yesterday but still wouldn’t start. I used a timing light, hooked it to the wire for the No.1 cylinder and tried crank it again and the light flashed so I know I have spark.

Thinking it might be a ground I double checked all the grounds and even took some sandpaper to the thermostat housing to make sure it has a good connection and verified the clutch cable holder ground and valve cover ground and they all seem good.

Thinking it might be a fuel problem since I was using the fuel line that came with the engine I put the old original fuel line that goes to the fuel filter back on and it still didn’t help. When I was changing it, fuel did come out of the filter and fuel rail so I know the fuel is flowing. After changing that and the car still not starting I spray a bunch of carburetor cleaner in the throttle body and the car did start only for a few seconds, but it did start and idled extremely low probably from lack of fuel.

What would cause the engine to not start when I turn the key but start when I spray carburetor fluid in the TB? The only two things I can think of would be either a bad PM6 ECU (haven’t tried another ECU yet) or the injectors have been clogged.

Note: I bought the engine off someone who bought a car with the engine in it, it was still taped up like it had been recently bought but never hooked up. The guy never started the engine and took it out after receiving the car because he planned on putting a different engine in.

Snailed EF

I doubt all four injectors would be so blocked that the car wouldnt start. Is your main relay good? Can you hear the fuel pump prime? The pump could be bad and still get fuel to the rail just not enough fuel pressure for the car to start. Ive had that problem occur before.

alupso

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Snailed EF &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I doubt all four injectors would be so blocked that the car wouldnt start. Is your main relay good? Can you hear the fuel pump prime? The pump could be bad and still get fuel to the rail just not enough fuel pressure for the car to start. Ive had that problem occur before.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I guess it's true that all four injectors could get clogged at the same time but it was a thought since there's no telling how long the engine has sat.

I can definitely hear the fuel pump prime and turn on when I turn the key.

I could always take another relay from a known working car and swap it over and see if that helps.

Snailed EF

If you hear the relay click like normal than chances are its fine. When my fuel pump went bad I could still here it prime but it wasnt putting out enough pressure. I only knew this though becaue i had an ajustable fuel pressure regulator. If you think its the injectors than just swap them out since its the easiest to do then go from there.

alupso

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Snailed EF &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you hear the relay click like normal than chances are its fine. When my fuel pump went bad I could still here it prime but it wasnt putting out enough pressure. I only knew this though becaue i had an ajustable fuel pressure regulator. If you think its the injectors than just swap them out since its the easiest to do then go from there.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I forgot about the click on the relay but it was working fine about a week and a half ago when I had a B18 in the CRX. I'll probably still swap out another relay just to make sure.

I have a complete CRX Si intake that I can swap the injectors from to test also. If that still doesn't work then I might need to start looking at the fuel pump. The car has probably only been driven about 20 miles in almost 2 years.

tico

in that case sounds like th punp picked up any sediment that was at the bottom of the tank. i would pull the fuel filter and the the fuel pump, pump gas into a can or something and see if the gas is clear or dirty looking. pull ur injectors and dip thim in carb cleaner just in case debris clogged them. if ur pumping gas and u only get a trickle its from the fuel line to the tank. if u get a staedy strem then its the filter to the injectors. try and isolat where the problem might be

alupso

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Snailed EF &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I doubt all four injectors would be so blocked that the car wouldnt start. Is your main relay good? Can you hear the fuel pump prime? The pump could be bad and still get fuel to the rail just not enough fuel pressure for the car to start. Ive had that problem occur before.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I swapped out the relay from my '89 sedan and it took a couple tries but fired right up. Now I just need some axles and an exhaust and it will be finished.

Thanks Snailed EF, I would have never thought about the relay.

Snailed EF

No problem man glad to hear it

xsirenax

do you have gas in the tank?

it happens sometimes

alupso

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Snailed EF &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">No problem man glad to hear it </TD></TR></TABLE>

The weird thing is that I put the old relay from the CRX that wasn't working back into the sedan and the sedan fires right up like there's no problem.

Snailed EF

could just need to be resaudered (sp). when my main relay went bad I would hit the dash where it was located and it would help the relay make a connectoin and the car would start.

therotaryrocket

I had to resolder two connections inside my main relay, it's a common repair and if you search you can find a write-up on it with many pictures, even close-ups of the two solder connections that commonly break.

The main relay should click twice it seems like one as you turn it to start and one 3-4 seconds later. You can check with a light or multi-meter to see if power is getting to the pump via a connector under the back seat. There are four wires and I can't remember which two are for power, but there's probly a wiring diagram online? Also I don't think using carb cleaner on a FI engine is a good idea, next time starting fluid and don't overdue it, i hear it's not very easy on a gasoline engine. but i've never messed one up, except for once when I caught this saturn on fire.....we poured a bottle of water on the intake box to put it out. gl

alupso

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by therotaryrocket &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I had to resolder two connections inside my main relay, it's a common repair and if you search you can find a write-up on it with many pictures, even close-ups of the two solder connections that commonly break.

The main relay should click twice it seems like one as you turn it to start and one 3-4 seconds later. You can check with a light or multi-meter to see if power is getting to the pump via a connector under the back seat. There are four wires and I can't remember which two are for power, but there's probly a wiring diagram online? Also I don't think using carb cleaner on a FI engine is a good idea, next time starting fluid and don't overdue it, i hear it's not very easy on a gasoline engine. but i've never messed one up, except for once when I caught this saturn on fire.....we poured a bottle of water on the intake box to put it out. gl</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks for the advise but switching the relays fixed it, maybe just knocking it around got it working again and I probably should fix or replace them.