I have a really specific problem and I'm not able te fix it.
Hopefully someone here has a great suggestion because I hope to drive to an event tomorrow.

I have a Honda Prelude with F20A4 engine from 1992
Engine was running great!
Unfortunately the timing belt broke recently.
It looked-like the damage was limited so intention was only to replace the head.

We did the following:
- removed cylinder head.
- bought used cylinder head (used only the valves because our own head looks better).
- grinding the valves.
- placed cylinder head with new gaskets.
- tighten intake and exhaust manifold.
- placed new water pump and timing belt.
- placed new engine coolant.
- tried to start but..... engine will not run (engine is rotating properly)

We performed the following tests:
- tested with other spark plugs if there are sparks (yes there are sparks)
- compression test will give 4 times ~ 10 bar.
- removed a bolt of the gasoline rail, gasoline is flowing when ignition is turned on.
- measured injector connectors and will give a fluctuating voltage.
- spark plug cables seems to be in the right place between spark plug and distributor.
- spraying brake cleaner in the intake will not change anything.
- spark plugs that are in the engine are rather black
- placed original ECU (normally used with Hondata ECU).

I have no idea what could possibly be wrong so hopefully somebody here has a nice suggestion!
Thanks for thinking along!

 

sensors and wires/cables?

 

Sounds like a wiring connection missed somewhere.

 

Thanks for the reactions!

I think I found something.
The TDC sensor in the ignition unit is ~180ohm and should be between 350ohm and 700ohm.
So I ordered a new ignition unit.... but have to wait a couple of days

 

 

most likely the spark plug wires are in the wrong order

 

I just did this the other day when i replaced my dizzy Took like 10 minutes to figure it out too, car was backfiring like no ones business trying to start it haha.

 

Finally we solved the problem!

It was not the ignition unit.

The problem was the TDC position on the flywheel was unclear.
The manual shows clearly a white stripe on the fly wheel (close to the 15BTDC red stripe) so the timing belt was placed wrong.

On the flywheel you have: White stripe -> 15BTDC mark -> White Cross.
The TDC was at the white cross, fortunately the valves seems working OK because engine is running nicely!
So while putting a screwdriver in a spark plug hole we figured out the TDC was on the wrong location.
Also taking the rotational direction of the engine into account starting at 15BTDC you will turn in the direction of the cross instead of the stripe.

Hopefully some more people are happy with this information

 

there should be a mark on the oil pump that corresponds with the timing gear, shouldn't really be a need to look at the flywheel

 

agreed. You don't need the flywheel for any of this. You simply need your cam gears lined up at tdc and your timing cog at tdc with the mark on the gear lining up with the mark on the oil pump. Post pics if you're unsure

 

Thanks for the info!
Next time I will take a look at the oil pump.
The service manual is only referring to the flywheel so therefore didn't check the oil pump.

Engine is running great again so I'm pretty sure that we solved the problem :D