honda305

I just recently installed a b16a2 in my 96 civic ex, I couldn't use the b16 ecu on my car because it didn't plug into my harness so right now I'm running the car on the obd2a sohc ecu. When I first started driving the car with the new motor everything was normal now all of a sudden the car is starting to smoke alot(looks like white smoke) is it smoking because the motor is running on the wrong ecu or just beacuse I have another problem?

Also when I pulled the spark plugs one of them were really black with buildup the other three were white and the pcv valve was clogged

jsant07

ecu and maybe a bad head gasket...get a jumper harness and put in the right ecu

B16AGUY

White smoke usually mean collant is getting in somewhere... Have you inspected the head gasket?

honda305

There's no pressure in the radiator so I doubt its the headgasket. I'm never low on coolant either

THC07

thats not because of the ecu.

are you sure its not just morning condinsation

honda305

Sometimes when I stop at a light you can see the smoke pass me, and if I get on it there's smoke behind me

SOHC_4dr

no pressure in the radiator but your not low on coolant? there should always be pressure. check it again. its prolly leaking out. have you noticed your car trying to over heat?

Mr.Chow

its not the ecu....sounds like a head gasket...you may not notice a coolant loss right away, but white plugs means your burning coolant. As for running a sohc ecu...I would keep that baby out of vtec, cause if you don't its going to run very lean and could do some serious damage aka blown headgasket...or burnt valves, etc.

honda305

I worded it wrong in my old sohc my upper radiator hose would always expand due to all the pressure in the system in the b16 it doesn't do that. That's what I meant by pressure

honda305

just checked the radiator and its still full

jsant07

if the upper hose doesnt expand that could create some issues but are you over heating?

TSXecutive

Is that black spark plug carbon build up or is it oil, because I would say that maybe your valve seals or piston ring could be leaking. I would also do a compression check to see if there is any loss of compression. If you are burning coolant you would definitely be able to smell it, and you also want to keep and eye on your temp gauge and see if it reads higher than normal. I would also recommend putting in the proper ecu as soon as possible because how you have driven your car since the install could really play a factor on the condition of your motor without the proper tuning.

blaze the chemi

Um your wire harness is OBD2a and your ecu is OBD2b. Either get a 99-00 civic wire harness from the ex or si, or get the jumper harness for obd2a-to-obd2b. The second option is probably cheaper and much easier.

Where did you get the used motor from? Did your injectors come from that engine too? Check compression first after buying the correct wire harness or jumper and installing it. I'd check the ohms of the injectors too to see if they are good. If they are try switching out the injectors to other cylinders and see if the plugs change appearance. Good luck.

honda305

fo sho i gettin the ecu tomorrow, but before i put the ecu in ima check the spark plugs and see whats going on down there

chayce

was your d-series burning coolant? If so you may still have coolant in your exhaust system sometimes it takes a while to burn out

honda305

everything was wrong wit my sohc lol so idk

daymkimchee

o yea 96-98 is a different harness u need a OBD2a to OBD2b harness to make the ecu fit in the mean time your ex ecu should work perfectly fine

daymkimchee

o yeah by the way white spark plugs can also mean carbon build up from bad gas maybe bad gas

slo_hatch

the ecu will not make your car smoke white...if it causes it to smoke it would be black because you would be running rich. white smoke usually means a head gasket. but if it was a head gasket it would most likely be overheating. the black plugs you mentioned means your running rich...and someone mentioned why they were white.

here is what i would check...check head gasket, thermostat, and make sure there is no air in the system (just to make sure); and i would definately change your ecu as soon as you get a chance. i chimed in what i knew...maybe someone else can add something to what info you already have. good luck.

EGhatch87

sounds like a head gasket...also if your gonna change out your ECU got yourself a OBD1 ECU with a OBD2a to OBD1 jumper harness...itll be better they going with the OBD2b

Burntz

If your radiator hose is expanding, I'd replace it, because good hoses are not squishy, etc. They should be semi firm.

Check the oil cap. Is their any milky residue under it? Change the oil, is it milky at all? White smoke = coolant, or its really cold out lol. Blue smoke = oil. Black smoke = fuel.

Also, smell your exhaust. Not for prolonged periods of time mind you, but if it smells sweet and not like your normal exhaust, its your headgasket. You could also do a compression test.

shirecain

your plugs when burning properly should be a light grey to ashy white.
your ecu isn't the right one but can work with vtec on a switch. you should replace when you get the cash or chip the one you have.
the smoke rule:
white smoke is water,like steem from a kettle on the oven
black smoke is oil, thats common sence
light blueish to verl light grey is exess fuel, you should have back firing.
good luck

honda305

How do I check if its the headgasket?

wrenchez81

compression or leakdown test...