98 Integra DOHC 4 Door with 198K miles(not a VTEC). This car has been truly amazing with almost NO trouble for years. This morning, it started right up and then died immediately. Car will crank over just fine but no start. I figure.. damm, I should have changed the timing belt like I planned last month (90K on belt) I hope I didn't bend up any valves. I pull the valve cover, and spin the motor using a wrachet on the crank; the belt has no missing teeth and all the timing marks line up (cam UP marks, cam indents, and crank/timing cover mark all line up just fine at TDC). I check all spark plugs and I'm getting spark to each one. AhhHaa, it must be fuel...NOT. I spray some starting fluid in the intake (I've removed the air cleaner by this time) crank it over and the engine and cams spin but no start. I pull all plugs out and get a mist out of every spark plug hole when cranking and the plugs are wet, I think I'm getting fuel OK besides, it should have kicked over using the starting fluid unless...compression. I put a compression tester on each cylinder and I get readings of 120 on #4, 50 on #3, 30 on #2, 30 on #1. WTF???? Recheck several times and #4 drops to 40, all others remain about the same. WTF is going on here??? Since this is a brand new compression tester that has sat unopened for about 5 years I have some doubts and am going to check again. I don't really believe the compression figures. How do you lose 3 cylinders in 2 seconds of running first thing this morning. Car has good antifreeze so there should not be a cracked block or head. This car ranb GREAT until this morning

Any ideas??? What am I missing here? (I'm assuming the compression numbers are not accurate but will test again) If the compression is accurate, how do I lose compression in all cylinders this quick> I've never seen a head gasket failure affect more than 2 cylinders at once, and usually just 1.

jmd_forest

 

A leak down test will tell you exactly why your loosing compression. Google will help you if you dont know how to perform one. That should be a good start.

 

Double check compression first.

 

I figured the compression test was bogus so retested and got many variable readings from 120 to 30 lbs on random different cylinders and the same cylinder. Gauge must be bad. Time to think a bit. I noticed during the compression tests that the tester was being seriously doused with gas. Maybe Its not starving for gas but flooded. I disconnected the injector harness, sprayed some starting fluid in the intake and ...vaarooom... started right up and ran as long as I babied it with starter fluid. Definitely a fuel problem. I pulled off the fuel pressure regulator and shot it up with some carb cleaner and actuated the vacuume by mouth and cleared it out with compressed air. Put it all back together and she's running fine.

Time to get that timing belt done, and replace plugs cap and rotor (198K on all of them). Does anyone know if this engine will bend up valves if the belt breaks??

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jmd_forest &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Does anyone know if this engine will bend up valves if the belt breaks??</TD></TR></TABLE>

You will be luck if that's all it does.

Nice job on fixing it up.

GL with the timing belt.

 

I appreciate the quick replies I got in the forum even though I wound up solving the problem myself. Maybe my experience will help the next guy.

This will be the second time I've replace the timing belt. It's a PITA but not rocket surgery.