I'm posting for a friend.

Car is a 1990 CRX Si with D16A6.

OK, so on a trip one time and the rpm needle starts going nuts yet the engine rpm stays the same, then the car starts miss firing something crazy and eventually drops down to 2 cylinders.

swap out the dizzy with no luck, swap out coils still nothing. The car will start but won't rev past 3500 now. everything looks good as far as sensors and hoses, checked timing it's dead on..?

Now I'm out of ideas. Sorry this is so long, but thanks in advance.

 

Any CEL?

Check spark plugs and compression.
Test or swap out spark plug wires if you can.

 

plug wires are good, plugs look good also. The motor was recently built for boost. (scat rods, vitara pistons, cometic head gasket, arp studs, new water pump, timing belt and all that.

ALSO, the dizzy rotor looks good?

 

It looks like you are ruling out the igntion.
Only other suggestion I have at this point is to do a compression check.

 

alright, just drove the car and it has NO power.. piston rings on upside down maybe?

Also, getting a CEL code 9

 

9 points to the CYP


The distributor you swapped out for was 100% proven working condition?

Other than that, check all the plugs (make sure all the pins in the plugs are sticking out properly, no corrosion, fit well) and wiring from the distributor to the ECU.
Pop open the distributor cap and make sure that CYP is hooked up!
Do continuity checks on the wires.
I'm sure there is a test for the CYP, but I don't have my book =/

 

thanks for the pic, i'm checking the cyp sensor right now. The dizzy was a re manufactured dizzy, which could be the problem.

 

The timing didn't jump, did it?

 

My crx has the same problem. I have a 90 HF. Ive changed the fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator, spark plugs, plug wires, dizzy cap and rotor. Replaced the coil, Tried different ECU's, New O2 sensor, hollowed out the cat, new fuel filter. tried a different resistor box, New alternator, nothing. Not throwing a code or anything. When its in neutral, it revs up fine, and when I barely accelerate, it will rev up, but once I try to give it some gas and go, It just bogs down. My timing is good. Any help would be great.


Oh, and i checked my fuel injectors with a noid light. They are good and my fuel pressure is 32 I believe.

 

UPDATE!

Checked compression, cylinders 3 and 4 have 160. cylinders 1 and 2 have 170. Does this seem high for "low compression" pistons?

checked various sensors, everything is good. checked vacuum hoses, their fine also.

Took the valve cover off, valves are within spec (checked with a feeler gauge)

Checked the timing again with a timing light, it's a few degrees retarded, but not much (last mark on the crank pulley). Could the car be 180 degrees out of time? the header doesn't glow red when it sets for a few minutes so it must not be too bad off?

Anyone have any other ideas? I have no clue what to check next.