Where to begin...ok, 91 civic 1.5, head gasket and other relating gaskets were replaced. Also decided to do a timing belt. Well, now car won't start. Here are the symptoms:
-engine turns over but won't start
-set crank pulley with tdc mark, then later decided to take pulley back off and set keyway straight up...actually sets it the same as the tdc mark, so good there
-cam sprocket set with up mark/keyway up and head marks parallel with head
-made sure I was on the compression stroke on #1 by the way
-distibutor rotor is pointing toward #1, and is actually a little past...is this normal?
-wires are in the right order
-ECU is not setting any codes
-I am getting fuel
-I am getting spark
-charger is on the battery to make sure it is cranking over good.

Initial thoughts are the timing is screwed up somehow, but I've triple checked the crank/cam sprocket/wires. Also because of the direction of the rotor I've tried the cam sprocket two notches retarded and 3 notches advanced and still no go. Also maybe a sensor, but I've got no codes...AGHHH...any ideas would be great...thanks....Erik

 

you might want to check the ground cable that's connected at the top of your cylikder head. This must be ground at all time, this happen to me when I change my timing belt too. This is the brown wire and connected to on of the valve cover nuts on top.

 

just double check all your plugs i'm sure it is something simple and stupid

DOHHHHH!


[Modified by JoshDM, 4:13 PM 11/11/2002]

 

Check ALL grounds and plugs. Also, cam gear and pulley may be set correctly but make sure that the timing belt is not off a tooth.

 

Update: First, thanks to everyone for the suggestions, but I still can't get it running. On top of everything I checked in my first post this is what I've done. I checked all grounds, and they are good. I did a compression check and the results are all over the place. I am reasonably sure the valves are ok, so that leaves valve timing. My haynes book says to set the crank to zero and the cam with up mark up and side marks parallel with the head...is this correct? Someone please verify this for me!

SqueezinEF...I guess I am not sure what you mean by the timing belt being off a tooth...won't the cam gear and crank be off if the belt is off a tooth? I do crank the engine over by hand (actually ratchet and 17mm) a few rotations just to make sure the valves aren't hitting, and I do recheck the timing marks and they are still in line. Anyway, thanks again for the suggestions...Erik

 

Sounds like the timing is off. You said you did a compression test and the readings were all over. What was the compression like before? If your valve timing is off it will not start. It's been a while since I've worked on a d-series So I do not remember exactly how to time it but I could check My books when I get home but someone will probably chime in and let you know before tomorrow morning. Good-luck

 

the engine would be able to start even if it was off a tooth but would run rough. did you happen to disconnect the ecu ground at the thermostat housing while doing you head gasket? check to see if its connected.....

 

Well, still no go. Still would like to know the correct cam sprocket setting??? I am beginning to doubt this Haynes manual, and of course not a store here has a Chilton for a civic...guess what I have on order. Also there is another mark on the cam sprocket besides the up mark and head gasket markers...what is that for?

VHD...Yeah, never removed the thermostat housing, but thanks anyway.

Erik

 

not always the mark its perfectly up with it being right on the mark. make sure u go by the mark on the block, not tthe crank key thingy... IMO its timing related!

 

After talking to the mechanics at work they all agree that your cam timing is off. The distributor should be just before the #1 spot on the cap if the #1 cyclinder is at TDC. Did you take the Dist out? Try retarding the cam timing by one tooth. You can be a tooth off and not have it fire and would also cause the compression to be all over the place. Keep me updated
also make sure the belt is on right then turn the motor over 2 complete revolutions and make sure the timing marks still line up. Alot of people put the belt on with some slack on the non adjuster side and the timing will be off.


[Modified by SIRX, 10:20 PM 11/13/2002]

 

Ok, I have pretty much eliminated all problems except the cam sprocket and distributor position. I know for sure that the crank is in the right spot, as the marks are lined up (both keyway and timing pointer to zero), I have made damn sure that #1 is on the compression stroke and I brought the piston up to TDC (even stuck a piece of wire through the spark plug hole and watched it come up) so my only question is where in the hell is this cam supposed to be. According to my manual I have the marks lined up, but...two things...the rotor on the distributor points past #1, which is the wrong place and of course the car won't start...which is really frustrating me. Anyway about the distributor, I did take it out, but could only get it in one way. From reading the manual (what a great one it is :mad it says that there is only one way to put it in. I also did try to set the belt one, two, and even three notches retarded, but no help. And every time I try the belt I hand rotate the engine a few revolutions and check the marks. Anyway I'm thinking maybe it is all in my install of the belt and maybe there is too much slack on the non adjuster side so I'll try that. Thanks.....Erik

 

Pull your valve cover off and make fo sure the rockers for the #1 cylinder are loose ( you can rattle them) just to make sure you are on the compression stroke and not the exhaust.