Got a 1996 Civic DX D16Y7 with a misfire on cylinder 3. Changed plugs(plugs looked atrocious, see below), wires, cap, and rotor plus moved fuel injectors to different cylinders. Cylinder 3 continues to misfire. Pulled wire and little to no spark, replaced with wire from running 98 Civic and still little to no spark. Could this perhaps be the distributor? And what would cause plugs to look like this?


Previous owners plugs from when they got it and they left them in the trunk

Plugs the previous owner put in that i just pulled out

 

I would look inside the distributor to check the cap and rotors cond. Those sure are fouled..

 

Cap and rotor were replaced. But we found a bigger issue. Compression test showed:
170 cylinder 1
120 cylinder 2
0 cylinder 3
170 cylinder 4

So we found the misfire cause and need to figure out how to proceed now. I appreciate the reply tho.

 

I was going to suggest doing a compression test but damn that sucks.. time to pull the head and get in there to inspect the damage..or just swap the motor..

 

time for a valve job and a headgasket. not the end of the world, just a PIA

 

I think piston #3 will need to be checked..

Used Japanese engines are pretty cheap around $850 to $950 these days. The D16A would be a direct replacement. Just swap the intake manifold and accessories and do the CFK bypass. Super easy. Its what i did when my D16Y7's took a crap on me.

 

Just wanted to update, the issue was a blown valve. Got a new head and now it runs. Still burns oil so rings are probably bad. But that's for another time. Hope this helps someone else.

Party pooper