Ok. I am currently a Wal-mart parking lot. My Prelude isn't starting.

1993 H23a3. Bone stock.

Here what I have so far:

- The engine is turning over.
- Pulled off the negative battery terminal and left it for several minutes.
- I have verified that the fuel pump is priming both by sound and by loosening the banjo nut on the line just before the rail and turning the key to 'run' to verify that it is pushing fuel at least to the rail.
- I checked the distributor and all four plug wires.

What am I checking next?

 

turn the engine over and pull the plugs to ensure you are getting fuel.

ground the spark plug to the chassis and turn the engine over to ensure you are getting spark.

 

Heh for both of those. I need a deep socket which I don't have. But, I AM at wal-mart. Be right back. I'll update you in a few.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jeffrey9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Heh for both of those. I need a deep socket which I don't have. But, I AM at wal-mart. Be right back. I'll update you in a few.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Haha. GL.

 

Ok. Definitely getting fuel. It smells like gas in there.

And all the spark plugs work. (Verified on my arm.) *cough*

 

How old are the distributor cap and rotor?

 

Would he be getting spark to all plugs if the t-belt broke and the exhaust cam wasn't turning? I don't think that would be the case...

 

how do you verify spark through your arm?

If you are getting fuel and spark in each cylinder then the only thing that would explain it not starting would be timing.

 

Im guessing he drove the car too walmart, tried to leave and it wouldnt start.

My first guess was main relay. But he's getting fuel.

So compression might be a factor.

 

Timing belt is fine. Believe me, I'd know at least that much. :\

Rotor and cap are brand new and have been working fine for a few thousand miles.

Tested on my arm by holding the plug to my arm to make sure it hurt like hell.

Thought about the main relay myself but that doesn't explain the pumping fuel. (Would it still work without?)

Compression. Possibly. But not likely. This engine has about 50,000 miles and has always ran real strong.

Just a fluke occurrence. But that's what's happening. I'm really at a loss here.

 

check all of your engine and interior cabin fuses

 

Way ahead of ya. Done. Everything looks good.

 

grounds have a good connection?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jeffrey9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Timing belt is fine. Believe me, I'd know at least that much. :\</TD></TR></TABLE>

without pulling the valve cover, how is this?

 

Well it's not broken, I know this. And I can't imagine the timing is that off. Unless it decided to jump a couple teeth when I stopped the engine. :\

 

even if the timing was off, the engine would still atleast try to run.

Does the engine have any signs of life while cranking?

ground the plugs on the chassis. I dunno why you put it to your body, thats just asking for trouble.

 

Heh. I know. It was actually just an ill calculated joke. I did watch them spark off the car body.

The car doesn't even try. It turns over real strong, but that's all it does. No sputtering, nothing.

As far as I remember, gasoline + air+ spark = running. In a very, very simplified manner.

I'm not sure here. It seems odd that it would run just peachy the whole way there, and then just quit. That pretty much scratches compression and timing from my list.

 

well...gasoline + ignition timing (at the right time) + air = combustion

 

I know this. As I said. "In a very, very simplified manner."

 

Thanks for all the help so far. You guys are awesome.

Anyone else want to throw 2 cents in? I'm really scratching my head on this one.

A little new info: From a push start I can get it to run for a few seconds before it dies out.

That timing deal is starting to look highly suspect. I've got the valve cover off and I'm checking it now.

 

put cylinder 1 to tdc and make sure the cam gears line up and the crank pulley mark lines up with the mark on the lower timing cover. If all that is in check, then your cam timing is fine.

 

Check the main relay You can do the roling start crap when the main relay is bad. Which makes me think thats your issue.

 

bad main relay would not throw fuel at all and the pump would not prime. 9/10, if the fuel pump primes then the main relay is likely fine.

 

i would suggest pulling the plugs and clearing out the cylinders (hold gas pedal to the floor and crank engine over). replace plugs and if that doesnt work go through the same routine. you could be dumping too much fuel for it to start. if you have fuel it has to be a timing/ ignition problem.

 

Yeah I know. Its super odd to begin with.

But if he drove the car before hand and parked it and turned it off, I doubt that his timing is wrong or his comprssion went bad.