92ehatch

ok ive had a problem with my car stalling out and idleing rough or up and down.

d16z6 port n polished head, 3 angle valve job, milled head .010.

the problem usually arises when it is hot outisde (above 70 degrees) or when there is a larger electrical load (radiator fan, ac, brake lights, headlights)

i been working off the helms manual and this thread by pdiggitydog

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1975745

ive replaced and or checked everything that he has.

i replaced my spark plugs about 7k miles ago and this is the first time ive checked them since then.

number 2, 3, and 4 spark plugs are perfect. number 1 is fouled off pretty bad (picture as soon as my camera batteries charge)

i checked the injector as per the helms manual (~12 ohms), voltage at ecu 2.55 (same on all cylinders) voltage at injector plug is 12v like it should be.

can the main relay be the issue ? would it just affect fuel injector firing to only one cylinder?

i replaced the distributor with a used one (off a car that didnt run btw) but nothing changed between the two dizzys

#1 spark plug wire shows about 14 ohms (within specs)

i dont know what else to check, my cam/crank timing is off about 3/4 tooth (milled head) and my adjustable cam gear just arrived today (but that shouldnt be the issue, or all 4 would be fubar)

im open to any other suggestions, as im going to keep looking myself in the helms manual.


replaced

IACV
MAP
TPS
Whole intake manifold and throttle body
injectors
spark plugs
distributor
cap and rotor
alternator
ecu (auto ecu converted manual)

my timing belt is off about 3/4 tooth from the head milling, just got my adjustable cam gear to fix it

ignition timing is set at 16 BTDC

compression test was done, but i think my harbor freight comp tester isnt functioning properly (it iwll show 30 then 130, then 60, its never consistant)


Modified by 92ehatch at 9:55 AM 9/26/2007

92ehatch

here are the pictures. i left them a little large to show better detail

number 1 is on the right, number 2 is on the left. all the others look like number 2



second picture, number 1 on left, number 2 on right.

92ehatch

bump

thesmogman

If it is #1 then check everything that is associated with it.

It could be in the cap, a wire, the plug itself, a stuck/plugged injector, valve adjustment, etc...

Swap #1 wire with #2. Swap Inj 1 with inj 2 and so on. Til the problem moves.

92ehatch

cap and rotor are new, new wires are now on, it did it with the d15b7 injectors and the z6 injectors, valve adjustment was done recently with no help.

i have some other oem injectors in my room, but i have no idea what they are from they came on the car when i got it, but they arent stock d series injectors.

i suppose i need to get a good compression tester and pray it comes out good

also, found out the headgasket on my motor is a felpro (advance auto) i was told it was OEM y8 with the middle layer taken out.

mabey that hunk of crap is leaking oil into cyl 1

xxtimlintxx

you DID change the spark plugs?

looks like there is oil on the threads of 1.. i had valve cover gasket leak and there was a little oil in my cylinder.. the oil burnt off, i fixed the gasket, and new plugs

fixed

92ehatch

yes, 7k miles ago, number 1 is where the problem lies

i changed them again yesterday

xxtimlintxx

still idle bad like.. RIGHT after you changed em?

92ehatch

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by xxtimlintxx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">still idle bad like.. RIGHT after you changed em?</TD></TR></TABLE>

yes, changed nothing.

when its cold outside the idle is up and down (because i have the throttle screw out almost all the way)

when its hot outside or im using AC or something, the car misfires, sputters, idles really low, dies out.

if i set the idle properly, it will idle fine when its cold, but still misses and sputters.

it only does this under 1500 rpm or so.

once i pass that point the car runs strong, its faster than my friends zc swapped hatch. so its only a low rpm/ idle misfire

92ehatch

i started to think maybe the pcv valve is leaking alot of oil into cyl one so i got a new one, havent put it on yet.


that spark plug appears to be oil fouled

rleonekc

i had the exact problem with my 94 civic and it was the throttle body went bad, and its very expensive to fix.

92ehatch

already replaced the whole intake manifold and throttle body.

all sensors are working and within specs

i have more money in trying to fix this one problem than in the whole motor.

i didnt know it was a misfire until i saw the spark plugs.

at least i know where to concentrate on. but it doesnt make since to me why it only does it when it is 70 degrees or hotter outside, or just with electrical load.

it runs way too good to be a headgasket, or bent valve, it runs wonderful when its cool out (like at night)

10.2 1/8 mile time with a horrible 60 foot

DCSportEJ1Civic

both of the plugs have burnt a groove in them. you need a colder burning plug. i have the same problem on my mildly modded z6. is the plug firing at all. when the engines running pull the plug wire off of #1 and see if the engine runs differently, like it dropped a cylinder. if it runs the same you know the plug isnt firing at all.

92ehatch

if i pull the plug it dies.

also, that groove is normal, they are ngk v power. aka, the electrode is a V

EL Vap133

Wow, no CEL at all?

DCSportEJ1Civic

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 92ehatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> that groove is normal, they are ngk v power. aka, the electrode is a V</TD></TR></TABLE>

really, mine didnt have the groove when i bought them. at least i dont remeber them having it. i always thought it was a sign of the wrong plug. or thats what id been told. i dont know much about plugs ill admit that. and your problem is strange to be isolated to one cyclander. i know i blew the rings in my #1 and it still ran good. it just smoked really bad. but had power. idk why it would be stalling. the only thing i can think of is ur maybe ur looking at two different problems. like a bad ring or valve seal, and something bad in the ignition like the coil or dizzy. maybe valve train.

92ehatch

i put all new plugs, wires, dizzy cap, rotor to no avail

changed injectors didnt help

compression test

150, 125 , 125 , 160 (not looking so good)

after changing the plugs and wires and such i started pulling plug wires out while it was running.


pull plug 1 it dies

pull plug 2 it dies sometimes, it runs sometimes

pull plug 3 and it still ran

pull plug 4 and it died

it is definately a misfire but now it looks like its a problem with 2 and 3. but why was number 1 plug so fubar? i did change the dizzy a bit ago, but it was a used dizzy of a car that didnt run, so there was no guarantee it works.

this motor was supposed to have a fresh rebuild on it, but now i think the guy lied and i have a hunk of crap.

pulling head next weekend i believe

92ehatch

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EL Vap133 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Wow, no CEL at all? </TD></TR></TABLE>

nope, the only cel it has ever thrown was for tps when i had my aftermarket tb on it and map when my map sensor went bad. both have been fixed for a long time.

this problem started happening last winter


also, this thing doesnt smoke, it runs absolutely wonderful

its got the most power ive felt from a z6 (butt dyno)

this idle problem and bad gas mileage (about 29 mpg) are the only problems im having with it.

92ehatch

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 92ehatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">nope, the only cel it has ever thrown was for tps when i had my aftermarket tb on it and map when my map sensor went bad. both have been fixed for a long time.

this problem started happening last winter


also, this thing doesnt smoke, it runs absolutely wonderful

its got the most power ive felt from a z6 (butt dyno)

this idle problem and bad gas mileage (about 29 mpg) are the only problems im having with it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i take that back, my friend said its smoking like a freight train, looks like it might be a head gasket

EJ1_Sleeper

well youve done everything else, id yank the head off and go from there.

92ehatch

leakdown test shows the following results. leakdown % in cyl 1-4

60%, 90%, 90%, 40%

its amazing this thing still runs.

anyways

i can hear air leaking between the cylinders

ex. tester on cyl 2, air coming out of cyl 1 and 3

looks like i have a headgasket problem.

i will be pulling the head this weekend to check it out, but if its not just a headgasket ill probably be in the market for a new motor.

thanks for the help/ suggestions guys