Specifics

-89 CRX SI
-Engine - stock D16A6, I made it with a head from one A6 and a block from another

So Far:
-All 4 cylinders get fuel spark
-All grounds are good (tight, and clean contact areas)

Im throwing a Code 20, which is ELD (Electronic Load Detector) and by searching I found that is remedied by putting in a new Fuse box under the hood.
Ive replaced mine with 3 others that are 100% for sure good, and all grounds are tight and clean.

The engine starts, but its rough, and doesnt run longer then 10 seconds.

Im thinking timing for the running issue, but the code 20 got me stumped?

 

Have you reset the ecu and it still does it? (prob. obviously) Is your main relay acting up? My buddies car does the same ****

 

have u done any thing to the car in the last day or so make sure u get your ground on like the termo ground and the main relay go go bad they are right next to your coin tray thing above the hood release

 

keep looking. code 20 won't and will never affect engine startup.

 

check compression.

 

-checking compression after I mess with timing, compression could be affected by timing

-to my knwledge unpluging the battery and ecu resets it, both have been done numerous times

-tonight I grinded down the transmission ground, main neg. battery cable ground, thrmo housing ground and valce cover ground. on each I cleaned both the connect and contact areas by wire wheeling them to the bare metal

-Im gonna have to check out the main relay. This car wasnt in running order when I bought it so I dont know what all problems there could be elsewhere in the system. I just know its getting spark and fuel so those systems are fine
Its definitely a problem with the firing function, so its either the electronic management or the manual management (timing)

Ill check it out tommorow and get back to you guys, any further suggestions are appreciated

 

possible short in any of the other wires? are all of the under hood fuses good/blown? even the heavy duties?

 

yea, all the fuses are good.

I dont know if the wires are shorting, all the electrical components of the car work: injectors, spark at all 4 cylcingers, rad fan kicks on....

Timing is going to be adjusted right now

 

alternator wires are good, alternator fuse

 

so it was definitely the timing.

put on a new belt and it ran fine.... for about 10 seconds. then it threw a piston rod through the block.

Im not an expert on timing and all that, but if the timing was bad, wouldnt it had hit a valve or damaged the head? Im curious why it decided to through the rod.....