slow_low_eddie

Sup everyone.

Before anything, I have searched. Hours, different forums, and all give suggestions that I have done. Just making this thread to see if anyone has any other suggestions or advice.

Just picked up this 1999 EX Civic two days ago and have been stumped on a problem.

History on the car, it overheated and the previous owner bought a new car. Seemed like an honest guy and NEVER tampered with the car. He was the second owner and I still have the price tag of the original sale in 99.

I tore it apart, replaced the head gasket along with a clean d16y8 head that I had laying around. Cylinder walls looked great, barely any carbon deposits on the top of the pistons.

After puting it all together, the car just cranks. When I do give it gas, it SOUNDS like it wants to start, just one time, and then continues to crank. Now, I have checked for spark at all four spark plugs. I checked for fuel, at the line to the fuel rail, even made sure that every injector was firing.

Main relay clicks.

Did a compression test, read 150 all across except for cylinder 1 that read 120.

I have checked mechanical timing about 3 times already, TDC at the bottom with the white mark is dead on, cam gear marks also line up with the head itself and UP is UP.

Also, transmission ground was loose, so I removed it, cleaned and sanded it down a bit, tightned it, but still no start. Checked other grounds as well.

Yes, the car has a CEL right now, what it is, I don't know. I know I should pull these codes, however, currently working on getting one borrowed since I am not able to take the car to Autozone.

Lastly I had someone crank it while I advanced and retarted the ignition timing. Since I don't have a timing light, I understand ignition timing may be off, however, so off that it won't start?

If anyone knows anything else I missed, please let me know.

Former User

Post the CEL codes. See CEL codes sticky.

What color was spark at the plugs?

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-...blems-2919450/

slow_low_eddie

Just the person I was hoping would respond.

The color was white, but hard to see in daylight. I was just looking over your sticky for spark, go figure. Waiting for a buddy to bring his scanner, I'll keep you posted.

Former User

A code reader is not required, but would also work. See CEL code sticky.

slow_low_eddie

IAT was the code, I had it disconnected.

Double checked the spark, although it has, it looked orangish to me. So with that being said, I will double check that tomorrow.

Thanks for the quick reply.

Former User

Also verify that the plug wires are installed in the correct firing order.

And if you have an aftermarket distributor, it's possible in some cases to install it 180-grees out of phase.

slow_low_eddie

Verified the firing order is indeed correct.

Can you elaborate on the "180-grees out of phase"? As far as the distributor itself being installed? Or a part within the distributor itself?

More than likely sure the distributor is OEM, but I don't mind triple checking anything.

Former User

This^

slow_low_eddie

I want to say that I understand what you are saying. Basically the part that goes into the cam itself, correct?

If so, yes sir, I can ensure it's installed correctly.

Former User

Ohm test the coil removed from the distributor.

slow_low_eddie

I couldn't get a hold of the proper tool to test the coil. However, I am about to grab a known working distributor from a buddy of mine. So I can slap on.

mk378

Take upper timing cover off and rotate the crank by hand to TDC1 the crank and cam. Take distributor cap off. Confirm the rotor points at wire #1. If it points at wire #4, (180 degrees wrong) take distributor off, rotate distributor shaft 180 degrees, and put back on.