I have a friend who has not taken the care needed on his 96 civic non V 4dr auto.It has had a new dizzy an it was not retimed to get timing set correctly.Timing appears retarded .The plug you jumper was not reset either.They drove it a while with low rpm @ 500ish at warm idle an low power..Now the oil pressure light is coming on.Oil was 1 qt at low[ pressure light never came on before from low oil but is now] just added oil .What kind of damage can he do an what damage is happening as he still drives it in this condition?
.Engine failure from low compression?

I know it's not going to be good till the timing is set an this issue may end the life of engine possibly if not fixed fast .
Any info is appreciated

 

Have you now added engine oil to the full mark on the dipstick?

How many miles are on the D16Y7 engine?

 

Yes

 

NEVER run an engine when the oil warning light stays on. If you do, the engine may be destroyed, if it isn't already.

How many miles are on the D16Y7 engine?

 

I cant agree more..
it's actually flickering-light on oil pressure
180k mi

Has retarded timing changed the pressure reading ,an light flickering ,due to over stressing motor an loss of oil[ no visable leak

 

^Unlikely

But you definitely should set the ignition timing with a timing gun, if you are sure that the engine mechanical is perfect. If you go this route, also connect an oil pressure gauge to verify that the oil pressure is in fact low.

 

What is the pressure supposed to read warm at idle ? No less than 10

An what is likely happening to cause the flicker?

 

How are you verifying oil pressure?

 

Yes I'm gonna get the timing set tommorow.
Will I need to jumper that connector as resetting timing?
Also ,is rotating dizzy toward front of car advancing timing ,or retarding?
I've use the ELM an saw it's really too low an 560ish rpm at warm idle .Is it supposed to be 700 rpm at warm idle?
In pic it's at a light in drive an way too low.


What else will I need to look at when setting it.
Can the ELM work to know the exact rpm#s as I set it..

Once it's set what order do you reconnect the jumper an connection .. turn off ,disconnect jumper

..reconnect an restart?

Idle warm /way too low.

.

That was a old reading with some throttle..not current.
- pic of elm reading /rpm.
An can I use that ignition timing advance cyl 1 line on pic- as a guide..with RPM read too.
An if I can what should it be @? 16.0°


-
Would be great if I could use the ELM tool / the degree reading adv cyl 1 line / alone to read it as I adjust /tweak it on the advance of dizzy..instead of a light.That way I'd have the numbers to go by ..
I'm not sure if thats possible though is it?

 

The first tach picture is showing roughly 600-700 idle rpm. The first line is 500 rpm and it's above by roughly 100 so is in spec.

The flickering oil light is concerning.

Ignition timing is set with a timing light with car fully warm and service connector jumped then adjust distributor until you hit the red centered 12* BTDC is in the sights.

Also, you are picturing the 92-95 fsm pages, you are working on a 96-98 obd2a vehicle. It's 12 degrees not 16 for the 96-00. It changed after 95 to 12 degree.

 

Got it adjusted to 730ish rpm without a light!!
It runs an drives great now!! Did all kinds of testing an drive cycles when monitoring things!
That ELM tool an App worked great to measure exact tdc an rpm etc as adjusting dizzy.It needed advancing. . I jumpered the connector also. It's at 12 degrees an steady.Had been 11 .


No hesitation now an just a even smooth spark.At street lights an going on interstate,even unexpected drive changes it levels out evenly it is where it should be !.
Amazing what you can do with the smart phones an Elm tool!!!

Oil light was from low fluid.

Thanks much !