ok, on monday my car broke down on me. Left me on foot walkin to work. Lucky for me a couple of guys from work were late and picked my up. well i got around to getting it towed yesterday (it sat for 2 days because i had no $$$) and i got it home and the guy who towed it said "yeah its the fuel pump" i was like "ok i can do that i think" so a few minutes ago i did like i read in a post on here and had my girl friend turn on the ignition and i listened to the bottom driverside of the CRX. I heard the pump turn on and off with the key so i was like "ok thats not a problem" So..on to #2 checking for spark (this is where it gets sad for me) first one (closest to driverside #4 i think) comes out no problem...second one is a little stiff and comes out drowning in oil ...the 3rd one is completely stuck, and the forth had the little "L" looking thing ( i forgot the name because i'm so mad) bent down to the point. So here is my question...is my engine savable? Or should i just go visit the junk yard and get a new engine when i can offord it? Either way i'm not gonna let this make me sell my CRX i love that little car and i just want to know on a scale of 1-10 how bad is this? Oh and for the record i have almost no real hands on experience with engine work but i have alot of common sence so...how hard and please don't sugar coat it..thank you all

 

Compression test it and see how that comes out. Even if the motor is toast that just gives you a good excuse to do a swap, DOHC or a SOHC ZC can be picked up relatively cheap.

 

How about a little more info-like how many miles on it?-did it make ungodly noises right before it stopped running,etc

 

i dont' know about a noise but milage...about 175,000 miles on the engine and its never been rebuild. now, right before it died it kinda "hesitated" like as if it was low on gass and kinda had a really jerky acceleration. thank you very much

 

OK when was the timing belt changed at last?(mileage why's)

 

Hmm. So you only found the spark plug to be in bad condition?

Try this - remove your valve cover and the upper timeing belt cover. It's EASY so don't sweat. 2 bolts on the timinge blet cover and 2 on the valve cover.

Is the belt still there? If so, pull on it... did it slide off or is it still there good and tight?

If the belt is on there then it's probably just going to cost you some new spark plugs.

If the timing belt is GONE then you might have had some nasty piston to valve slapping action go on in the engine causing the damage to your spark plug. That would be a lost cause to try to fix.

Anyway, I suggest you check for the belt. If that looks good then do a compression check. Pull all your spark plugs out and do the check. Get new cost effective NGK copper plugs (none of that platinmum crap), gap them properly (ALWAYS do this to plugs regardless if they say "pregapped") and start your car.

 

ok here is another note i should have added (sorry my mind is kinda smokin) the timing belt broke while i was in motion a few months ago but not more than 3 months ago..but, because i was afrade of the whole timing thing i didn't do it myself and everyone i knew explained to me about the whole pistons slapping the valves thing, but the thing is that the compression was a little low on cylinder #3 ( second from the passanger side) but it still ran perfect with no problems until now. Also..the spark plug on #3 wouldn't come out( i worked at Jiffy Lube before i i know what it feels like when i bolt is stripping) and i felt it starting to strip or maybe i was paraniod, either way it didn't come out it was REALLY tight. and #4 ( passanger side) spark plug was bent, and #1 was fine
....
(sigh) i'll try taking off the valve cover in a few minutes thanks again everyone.

 

Note that a sohc usdm can no hit pistons to valves... cams and pistons are not big enough.... ***


I would shot for the common tune up... check that timin belt... and maybe even the ecu fuse..

 

so is your timing belt broken right now?

 

Well, I've personally had a motor that survived 4 belts snapping while in motion. I wouldn't be too paranoid about that. It could be something to wonder about if your current belt is fine, but the compression check comes out low.

You need to get that one plug out.

 

ok, i'll go check that here in a minute, i dont' know how many posts i can do as a newbie but i'll try to keep you guys (girls?) updated with everything i don't know what i'm looking for when i take off the valve cover though so i'll brb and take it off and see what i can see and if this happens to be my last post of the day, can someone please IM me on Yahoo my screen name is mr_valentino20032000 ...thank you all again time to get messy

 

[QUOTE=havok hybrid]Note that a sohc usdm can no hit pistons to valves... cams and pistons are not big enough.... ***

What fairy tale book did you get that from?,lol

 

If you just joined you get 5 posts a day I believe.

 

ok i just got the valve cover off and good news..the timing belt is tight and perfect condition...now that BAD news the #3 spark plug that i couldn't get out. well i got it out and the whole tip is gone..looks like a animal chewed it off everything under the valve cover looked ok from what i know to be ok ( the cam was fine no dents dings or anything)..oh here is a quick pic of the spark plug...[IMG][/IMG] i don't know how to put in a pic of it either way its UGLEE....what do i do now? i can't do a compression check till later on when i can go to AutoZone and get a tool

 

OK then,have you checked what codes it showing yet?Just pull down the carpet on the pass side and watch the flashes on the ECU.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by havok hybrid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Note that a sohc usdm can no hit pistons to valves... cams and pistons are not big enough.... ***</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lil Red CRXsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What fairy tale book did you get that from?,lol

</TD></TR></TABLE>


LOL!! My friend (rest in peace) snapped his timing belt on his d16a6 and when the head was taken off, there was a valve in his piston. It was time for a new motor.

 

sounds like you smoked the plugs 3mo ago when the T-belt snapped. I say do a good tune up (plugs/wires/cap/rotor/fuel filter/air filter) and turn tha key!

 

pull that head off and find that plug

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vitrox &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">pull that head off and find that plug </TD></TR></TABLE>

uhm, ya, do that too. lol