jayc

okay to start with i have a b16 swap in a 92 hatch.
it recently died while driving and i managed to coast to where i was going.
after that the car will start randomly, but not very often, and sometimes runs for a 2 minutes and shuts off.. its getting fuel, its got spark, it has compression, timing is on, and i have changed the wiring harness just to be sure it wasnt a wiring problem, i cannot think of any other things to check and tired of looking at it sit.

Former User

Any CEL codes?

jayc

no codes at all, tried 3 different ecu's.
it will sit and crank all day; but will not start.

Si_chRis

Check the ignition switch on the end of the tumbler, the opposite side of where you stick the key in the ignition.

Also, main relay?

acake em1

does it get a constant spark? cause i know my dizzy before it when out was working off and on kinda( i dont know how to explain it, but it would work some days and others it wouldnt)

jayc

considering my fuel pump always pumps i doubt its the main relay.
i have also replaced the distributor.
im stuck.. thats why i came here.

acake em1

hmm i dunno then man i hope someone can help ya out

jayc

thats what i am hoping.
i have gone through everything.
if i could just figure out why it wont start everytime that would be the best.
ive fixed a lot of hondas, but never seen something like this.
it has everything it should need to run; but it just cranks.. and cranks.. and nothing else..
am i missing something?

acake em1

it sounds like fuel if its getting a spark, but you say the fuel pump primes so i dunno man

shak3yb0n3z

if it's not starting you're missing either fuel or spark. pull the plugs and inspect them. you didn't snap a timing belt did you?

double check fuel and spark. maybe the plugs are just saturated. pull the plugs, crank it a few times to empty out the combustion chamber and throw some new plugs in.

check your timing belt?

Former User

Does the CEL work?

What color is spark at the plugs -- bright white or weak orange or blue?

Post pictures showing the cam gears and crank pulley at TDC1.

Is fuel getting to the cylinders? Will the engine start with starter fluid?

jayc

well i tested spark and its getting at least an inch of spark, and its a whitish color spark.
i pulled the fuel rail off and tried starting the car and watched the injectors spray.
it will not start by spraying starting fluid.
timing belt is good and is in time.
i just put new plugs in 2 days ago.
its will start 'some times' as in like once every 100 times i try..
i figured it had something to do with the plugs but i have tried 2 new sets and still the same results..

eglover20

Are your spark plugs gaped properly? This once happened to me, the gap on the spark plugs were to close together.

jayc

spark plugs have been gapped.
any other ideas?
it has to be something litte..

eglover20

Just a shot in the dark but, did you check the firing order maybe?

jayc

haha i wish that was it, but no the firing order is correct.
i have checked it many times i have changed the distributor 3 or 4 different times..
ANYTHING ELSE?
someone on here has to know..

jayc

any other ideas?

ej_man

u sure its not ur main realy because my cousin had somewhat of the same problem but it was the main relay it would work when it wanted to so i would try to check that? hope some1 can help you out with this problem

Former User

kaduku_

i would say the main relay. ive just recently ran into that problem.

the deal with the main relay is that after some time (and yours being a 92) the solder in the relay tend to crack from heat, sometimes the crack is sooo tiny you cant see it well. and when the interior get hot the solder expands and makes it even harder to make contact. you can either take your main relay out and de-solder all the points and apply new solder on them or you can simply buy a new or known used working one.

i would switch it out with a known working one to see if thats even the problem but you seriously have all the symptoms i had.

sorry for the long post

kaduku_

when the solder and the points make contact everything works as it should but you could be driving and you car would just shut off and this is because it vibrated loose. i bought a main relay off of pep boys and they had a more solid configuration.

so i know its money well spent because it was built to last

Former User

If the OP truly has both fuel and spark, then the main relay is likely fine. However, the OP also says the mechanical timing is fine, but I'd like to see this verified with some pictures.

jayc

well it wasnt timing; i found the problem today. even though the distributor was getting spark it was trying to start on 2 cylinders. that and i noticed that one of the nuts for the valve adjustment were missing. not sure how one came loose but i found it and adjusted the lash and the car starts and runs good again.
thanks for all the help trying to trouble shoot, just glad its running again.

jayc

how much did it cost from there, been looking for one for my integra.