I was helping a friend put back the head on his 91 Civic (1.5L). So we put it back, gap spark plugs, set the timming, and try to start engine. I have a clip of the engine trying to start. Around 1/3 and 2/3 of the clip you can hear it kinda of backfiring (?) but that is about all it did. What else should we check?

Also, just to be sure, the crankshaft is at TDC when the alignment mark on the timming belt cover is aligned over the 2-notch (to the left of the 3-notch mark) on the crankshaft pulley that operates the alternator, power steering, and AC, right? Also, that car has been sitting for 3 months. Would the gasoline in it be too old?

 

are the plug wires right on the dizzy cap?

well i have dual cam zc and my timing mark is the white mark.not sure if the 1.5 is the same.im sure it would be for all D-series.and how much gas is in the tank.u can sorta smell it and it would smell like old gas.u know like its been sitting for awhile that funky smell

 

dude sounds like it cranks to easly id do the timing again but check firing order first

 

there should be some marks that look like this on ur crank pulley

|-|-|------------|

----------------^ that one is you TDC mark

on the cam gear line up the two marks at 9 and 3 o clock with the head surface.

firing order is 1342 and the cylinders are numbered starting from the crank pulley

dizzy firing order looks like this
34
12

someone correct me if im wrong about the distributor order. im 80% sure about it. everything else is 100%. except if its a 1.6 liter Si then you need to line up a different mark at bout 730 ish haha with a timing cover. if its a 1.5 like u said then ur ok.

good luck


Modified by 91civicEX at 11:20 AM 11/12/2005

 

Here's an update: it was the timming after all. My friend placed the distributor 180˚ from what it should be. Ooops! We took it out and finall decided to check the manual to see the right way:



After we lined it up, all was well. Shame on me!

 

how did u put the distributor 180 degrees off? its off set and i thought it was impossible. haha i guess anything is possible. did u use a hammer or somethin?

 

the gasoline is not too old.