Ok this might be a newb question I dunno, but my 1990 Civic SI Hatch will either not start or barely start and then quickly sputter down as soon as I hit the gas and die out. I just replaced the head gasket and spark plugs and have no idea what it could be. Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks.

 

Check for three things: Fuel, Spark, and Timing. Make sure you are getting fuel by checking the spark plugs for gas on them, check that the fuel pump is priming. Then if that's ok, check to see if ur getting spark. See if your plug wires are shooting sparks when you hold the plug up to the dizzy. Just unplug the wire from the dizzy cap and hold it up the the socket and see if it shoots a spark across.

If you have spark and fuel, most likely your timing is off. Check the TDC mark on the crank puley and make sure it lines up wth the TDC marks on the cam gear.

Also, take off you distributor cap and make sure the rotor is spinning. and make sure it is in the right place.

 

BTW: here, i just found a list of **** to check I have on my computer. My car wouldn't start so i compiled a little "to do" list.

it's a rough list, but it should give u an idea.

-Reddish Dust inside distributor (Internal Crankshaft Sensor shot...)
-Rotor attatched?
-"Air Flow Meter" (butterfly like device in the intake of the throttle body)
-Hold plug wire to dizzy to check for spark
-One click from CEL once it turns off after KOEO. no click = bad solder joints on main relay
-Fuel filter
-Distributor (Inside, sensors?)
-you can take a screwdriver and bridge the little black wire going into the starter and the main cable that comes from the battery to the starter and the car should start as long as it's not the starter
-Check spark plugs for fuel
-Fuel pump whirr?
-Kill switch (Un-wire it and try)
-Timing belt: Is it snapped? Is it there? is the cam timing correct? Grab a 24 wrench (if i remember correctly) or 22. And twist it all the way around to look for bad teeth.
-Take the dizzy cap off and have someone crank it over to see if the rotor spins. if it spins the timing belt aint broke.
-Plugs may be fouled or gap out of spec slight possibility
-spray some starter fluid right into the intake tube to see if its a fuel problem
-check engine coolant sensor. its right on the block just underneath the dizzy slightly to the right

 

definitely timing is off

 

check the timing sounds like the cam is off a couple of teeth

 

thanks guys ill check the timing asap appreciate the help