I have a 1997 Accord 4 cyl. Had it for about 5 years. When I got it 5 years ago I had a new timing belt and water pump installed.

The car has run flawless. Never had an issue. Never had a check engine light. I have done normal maintenance on it.

About a month ago I drove it around all day running errands and parked it at the house. Next morning it would crank but not start. I heard the fuel pump prime. I checked for spark and had spark. I sprayed starting fluid into the throttle body and it would not fire. I also noticed that it seemed to be cranking faster than normal.

I figured that the timing belt must have slipped. I am new to the area and live in country outside of a tourist town. I have seen a sign (hand painted) for a local mechanic.

I went to the guys house, he had a 2 bay shop, says he has been a mechanic for 26 years, says done many of Honda timing belts. Even pointed to another Honda he had there that he was doing a motor swap on.

We agreed on $300, including timing belt, tensioniers, water pump. He would even pick up the car with his roll back tow truck.

After taking the car apart he says the timing was off a lot and the head should be pulled off to check for valve damage, I agreed.

2 weeks go by and he keeps telling me that he is having trouble getting the car timed right. Last night he tells me he is done working on it and I need to come get it.

I get to the car and notice the front bumper is tore lose (not all the way but big gaps on both sides) I ask him what happened he said the car was too low for the dolly he used (****** told me he was going to get it with his rollback) I open the door and the door panel and steering wheel are covered in grease. (I keep my cars very clean)

I start it, it has to crank for a while and give it some gas to start (not normal at all) The car wont idle and the motor is shaking.

OK - this is why I always work on my own cars. However, where I used to live I had a guy like this who did great work on my stuff and didn't charge a lot. I thought I found someone like that.

So anyway I need to get this car working right.

What is my first step? I have already looked it over to see if everything looks plugged in and it does.

I feel that I want to check compression to see if any valves are bent.

however I am wondering if the timing is off a tooth or 3 would that not effect compression readings?

Is step one pull off the upper timing cover and check that things are lined up correctly? If so is there a writeup on how to perform that?

Thank for the help!

 

Broken tbelt will bend valves. A compression ck wll show that.

 

The head was pulled off and no marks were on any of the pistons.

I just pulled the upper timing cover off and checked the timing, it is either on or very close.

I guess compression check is next.

 

*update*

I checked the timing and the marks are aligned correctly.

I pulled the codes and get

p1361

which is TDC sensor failure

Where is this sensor located and how to I test it.

Thanks!

 

It's down at the crank timing pulley. While you have the belts off, take off the sensor assembly, clean both of the sensors(tdc and ckp) as well as for the crank timing pulley and front balance shaft pulley. Put it all back together, erase the code, and see if it comes back. It's rare for the sensor itself to go bad, normally they either get gunked up with grease/oil or the pulleys do.

 

I found an aftermarket set for $23, do you think it is a better idea to clean the 200k oem set or just replace with aftermarket?

I would hate to spend the time to pull everything apart to clean and put back together just to find the sensor was in fact bad and then have to do it all over again.

Thoughts?

 

It's going to be your call. If the sensor was dirty, I would just clean it. If it, and the pulleys were clean, I would replace it.

 

I didn't update this thread.

After pulling compression I found ~155lbs in cylinders 1-3 and 0lbs in 4

I am pulling the head, have a bent valve I am sure.

I picked up a set of TDC / CPK sensors from ebay for $23

Even though I know the aftermarket ones are higher quality I plan on installing the new ones while I have the car apart.

 

please keep us posted - I am having similar issues with my '93 accord - crank but no start, even with starting fluid.

In fact, before I replaced the timing belt, I also noticed the crank seeming a little quicker than usual.

I too will re-check the compression on mine but wow - TDC sensor? Would that cause it to not start?