jrmhlpr

Hi, I am working on a friends civic. He had a mobile mechanic replace the distributor and he left the battery connected. The new dizzy didn't fix it so the idiot decided it was the ECU and ripped it out of the car. One week later my friend called him and told him to bring back the stuff that was pulled out and asked for my help. So I replaced the ECU and had the ICM tested on the new dizzy and it was bad. I got another new dizzy, set to TDC and installed it. Still no start. Checked for spark, it was light orange so new wires and NGK plugs. Now bright white spark, still no start. Checked for fuel and replaced the fuel filter. It is getting gas but STILL NO START! I am wondering if it is flooded so the plugs are out right now so it can dry out. Could he have been right and it is the ECU. I did the jumper and pulled the codes and got 18, 52. I don't see these codes anywhere so what am I missing? The CEL stays off also.

jdmjunkieXL

What is a b16y8?

jrmhlpr

It is a 1997 civic ex. The b16y8 is the VTEC engine that came in the car.

ElectronBlue00

First, check the ignition timing.

If it checks out. Check the mechanical timing.

Note: There is no B16y8.


It's a D16y8

jrmhlpr

Sorry you're right. D not B. My GSR has a B-series and this is not my car. Mechanical timing looks good. When I put the car at TDC everything lined up and the timing belt looks brand new. I don't have a timing light. Was planning on having the timing adjusted at a shop after the car starts.

jbpnoman

Start with the simple basics. Are the plug wires in the correct order?

jrmhlpr

Yes the plug wires are in the correct order.

jbpnoman

Double check them to be sure. Do you have healthy compression in all four cylinders? Healthy being more than 135, with more than a 5PSI difference between the highest and lowest.

jrmhlpr

I don't have a compression tester or timing light. The car ran perfect until while driving it sputtered and died. The timing belt looks good and has not slipped.

jbpnoman

Those are two tools you should buy, borrow, or rent. Kind of important (read: very important) for motor diagnostics.

jrmhlpr

Ok bought a light, tested timing and compression and everything seems right. The car will still not start. Good spark, good fuel, compression checks ok. It acts like it wants to start once then has to sit before it acts like it again but just won't. What could I be missing?

jbpnoman

Air, spark, fuel, and compression are the four things a motor needs to run.

Put your foot lightly on the throttle. Don't go WOT, just give it enough pressure to open the throttle plate. Will the car start now?

You said the spark is bright white. Is it the same on all four cylinders, or did you just check one and say "good enough"?

Buy/borrow/rent a fuel pressure tester, and test the fuel pressure. You should have ~36PSI at the top of the filter with the key turned to ON(II).

You said compression "seems right". What were the exact numbers?

TripleLude

I've seen a car start with bad compression like 145, 75, 102, 160... So you need to test all 4 cylinders with wide open throttle, all plugs removed, and write down each value.

If you come back and say: 160, 10, 12, 160... That's a breached head gasket.

Or: 160, 161, 159, 161... That's great.

Or: 175, 0 176, 0... Bent valves, likely t-belt slipped.