STOCK 1996 civic 183K 5spd EX

Heading to work check eng light came on and it ran rough. Drove it 1 mile to work and put on scanner P0301. I than pulled spark plug boot and wire and it looked good so I cleared code and tried to start it again. Now it just turns over with no start.

What is the most likely problem? Its cold out and I'm stuck.

I'll check but I'll bet it has no spark at all now.

 

That's a cylinder 1 misfire...I'd try putting in a known good plug. Did you inspect for damage? Sometimes the plug gets damaged and mess witht drivability. Happened to me, the crack was very hard to find. Compare spark from other cyls with the one from cyl 1. Do the others have spark?

 

No spark at any plug.

 

Bad coil or igniter. I'd replace both since they usually fail together.

 

^ this

 

Replaced the dizzy with a new one and it now starts and does not throw a code but it runs rough and feels like a miss. It does not rev like normal.

What do I change next?

 

Well went old school and changed plugs and wires and now it is running smoother, does not sound like a miss any longer. Time for a test drive.

 

Ok it much smoother but WAY down on power I figured due to the timing not being set yet. So I took it easy home and tried to set timing, with plug jumpered I can get it to about 2* maybe 4* but that is as far as the dizzy will turn??? What am I missing here?

 

Check the firing order with the service bulletin found in the stickies. Check all plugs for combustion conditions. Check for discoloration, excessive gapping or crushing, oil, soot, etc. Next step would be to check the mechanical timing and make sure the belt hasn't jumped time or something (it's happened to me before).

 

With plug jumpered I can get it to about 2* maybe 4* but that is as far as the dizzy will turn? So I pulled upper timing belt cover and spark plug 1, put piston in 1 on TDC and when cam gear is lined up to TDC the crank pulley is about 3/4" retarded.

Did the belt jump? What am I missing? This is an interference motor, think pistons have meet valves? What do I check next....or just do a timing belt and pray?

 

Did a compression test:

1-190psi
2-192psi
3-195psi
4-205psi

So guess time to get a belt tensioner and waterpump. Any recommendations on where to get honda parts cheap?