Hi! I'm having problem getting my ls/vtec engine to start up. The engine is in the car and everything is hooked up except for the header. When I turn the key the engine cranks over and there are flames (flames shoot out all the way to the AC fan) shooting out of the engine. The flames shoot out from the number 3 and number 4 exhaust port of the cylinder head. It would also shoot out from the #1 and #2 ports also, but not as often. I can see the flames and hear the air getting sucked back into the engine. Flames also shoot out of the throttle body when I give the engine gas and the butterfly opens. The spark plugs are wet when I remove them. Does anyone have any ideas to help me out?

 

you really need to get a header on there to prevent damage to your valves/ valve guides...

 

put your header on. If your plugs are wet, then you are running it WAY too rich. If you are shooting flames out the exhaust ports, then the cylinders are firing, so you rignition should be ok. I would say lean out the fuel some, you are probably flooding the engine, and it won't start if you do that.

 

Thanks, 92CivicS
How do I lean out the fuel to the engine? I have the stock injectors mounted on an AEM fuel rail and a stock fuel pressure regulator. Is there a way to dry up the fule in the cylinder? I can remove all the spark plugs and let it sit for a while. Any other advice would be appreciated.

 

If your plugs are wet I'd try making sure that you have the cam timing set right... if it's advanced or retarded too much this will be a result (I know, because I did this )

 

Yes, my plugs are drenched when I pulled them out. I set the distributor right at the middle. The timing is set by setting the both cam gears marks (white degree marks on the Skunk2 cam gears) facing up around twelve o'clock. I then set both the 90 degree mark on one cam gear and the 270 degree mark so that they are exactly aligned next to each other and the marks are also lined up with the timing belt cover dash mark (marking on the black plastic piece that sits behind the cam gears). I then turned the crankshaft pulley until the number one piston is at top dead center. I know the is is at TDC because I lined up the arrow marking on the water pump with the mark on the crankshaft gear that the timing belt goes around. I also checked it by putting a long screw driver in the number on cylinder and watched it move to the highest point. I then put the timing belt on clockwise starting from the crankshaft gear. I turned the crankshaft puller around many times to make sure that the valves are not hitting the pistons. I then turned the pulley counterclock wise for three to four teeth and tightened the tension bolt. Am I doing this right? Any other suggestions is appreciated. I will try clearing the fule out first. Am I setting the timing right and is it OK to leave the distributor at that position at the initial start up.

 

Did you ever adjust the valves? If the valves are not closing completely, this will allow combustion gas go blow out the exhast.

 

RioNinja,

Thanks for the reply. I sent the head out to Skunk and had them do the whole head work (port and polist, oversize stems, retainers, and valves). They sent the head back to me with the new skunk2 cam rods set aside in a separate package and the skunk2 cam gears in another box. I put them in.

 

The chances are pretty high thats what the problem is. I know, because i did the same thing once myself.
good luck

 

I would think it would need some backpressure.

 

I put the header back on and re-did the timing again and it still doesn't work. I checked the order of the plugs and the order of the fuel injector wiring and everything seems to be right. However, when I go to start the engine up, I am getting the suction sounds and a flame shot out of the header outlet. There's a flame shooting out of the throttle body when I open up the butterfly. Any other suggestion would be appreciated.

 

Just to let you guys know. I am using a 94 integra wiring harness and did not hook any wires to the vtec selenoid yet. Will this make a differenence? Just to be sure, I hooked the spark plug wires up in this order.

Distributor:
3
1 4
2
In clockwise order with 1 being the position with a little "c" stamped on the distibutor.

Engine:
4 3 2 1 One being the end closes to the timing belt.

 

normally the firing order is 1-3-4-2

move #1 piston to TDC. check your distributor and thats where you put your #1 spark plug wire to...

the next plug wire clock wise will go to #3 piston spark plug

next will go to #4 spark plug
and last will go to #2 spark plug.

going clock wise around your distributor.

in discribing your proceedure for your cam gear and timing belt installation, it sounds good to me, thats how i replaced my timing belt when it went out on me .

hope that helps.

 

did u check the valve adjustment yet?

 

That's the way I wired up the spark plug wires.

RioNinja,
I did not check the valvel adjustment. I will check it today.