hello honda-tech community,
First post on ht,i have an 89 civic lx my old lady's college car 1.5 liter sohc I4.
158k car- was a daily driver for the past 8 months after sitting for a year and a half. Car always started and ran great until one cold morning- went to go to work, engine fired then died, sounded as if had no compression. My first thought was the timing belt jumped a tooth or two. Checked timing -belt timing, and it appeared to be fine. Checked compression (held throttle to the floor, removed ECU fuse) got 60, 60, 120, 120 1,2,3,4 respectivley. Ignition is present by putting plug in the wire and rolling the engine over. I think I may have a bent valve or two- have not performed a leak down test yet. I did check the valve lash and was within a couple of thousandths. Had begun to remove the head was looking for any input from the experts on Honda Tech

 

If the timing belt is still intact, I would rule out a bent valve, unless you over revved the engine. You say it sat for 1.5 years, did you get to drive it for a while before the comp test?
If the rings were dry, that could explain the low numbers.
Try dropping a few drops of oil in each cylinder and do the test again. Even if the valves were bent it might still run, crappy but run.

I think the problem might be a bad main relay. The engine will fire and run for a second or so, but then stalls.

 

bad main relay,thats why i posted on ht.i talked to several people about this problem and no one even mentioned a main relay.so bear with me a main relay is part of the ignition system correct?i know on that cold morning when the problem arose,after the engine fired for a moment,then died,then i tried to restart the car and it just cranked and cranked but the motor just sounded different.it sure sounded like it had no compression.thanks for the quick reply thdog

 

Yes, the releay controls the fuel pump among other things. It is common for them to fail specially in cold weather. The relay is under the dash, left of the fuse panel, almost on the side.

 

i did drive this car to work for 8 months after it had sat for the 1.5 years.the car always ran great.with gas nearing $4 a gallon i really want to get this car rolling again.thanks again for the quick replys thdog