I have a b18a1 motor and have been having problems detecting where and what could be going wrong but do not know where to start looking first and how to look/test the parts to see what is going wrong. compression, leak down, vacuum testing(s)? Starting month ago started to stutter, stall and backfire at times. Thought it was the timing but a mechanic said it could be either a fuel system or vacuum leak problem. Bent valves maybe if not or if others, what could be? Where to start/How can I find out if I have any vacuum leakage anywhere on my engine? Where to start and How can I determine if theirs a fuel system problem? Searched on H-T several times just to be sure nothing comes up and nothing related to my problem has been posted. Thanx for any input.

 

The first place to start is a compression test and go from there.

 

Sorry I also forgot to mention that he said my compression is good. So where else should I start? And how do I obtain the tester or how do I go about detecting problem? Or must I take apart the head and block to see what has gone wrong? Thou I wouldn't know what to look for unless there are obvious marks or defects on the problem that is causing my engine to run like crap.

 

PRoblem fixed. Thermostat housing was loose. Supposely mechanic said the housing on the block itself has a crack or something has cracked off the block where one of the two bolts goes into the threaded hole. And it was also I believe my coolant temp sensor wasnt attached or something and coolant was causing a ground to fail. I might be wording all this wrong but yea. Thanx for everyone's help trying to determine what was the cause of my problem. Honda-Tech and members are the Best.