87 Accord Not Starting...

I have an '87 Accord LX. It's a 4 banger, pos basically. It does however, get me where I'm going very reliably. I went to go to work last night though and it wouldn't start. It seems to be getting fire, just not turning over, and when it does start (for a few seconds) it runs really ruff and just dies. Think it could be out of time or something? Maybe jumped time? It has about 185k on it.

Thanks...

Michael

if it dies humm..how is that battery...but it should be more within the problem of a timming adjustment, fuel delivery, or something else. those motors are carb i believe...

does it still do it? what if u start it and step on the gas..does it stay on..

Fuel relay, fuel pump, or possibly out of time. Depends carb or fuel injected? Fuel aire mixture? Could be starving for fuel. Worst case, you have managed to jump time. which is hard to do with the older Accords, they have big timing belts, with large teeth. If you have a bad belt, sheared teeth on a gear, or the tensioner isn't tight enough, you can jump time. Pain in the butt to fix, but you can manage it yourself with tools, time, and patience. You have to remove the crankcase pulley to get to the lower timing cover. Get a haynes manual at auto zone for around $15-20, it will be a big help. When you look for the timing setting inside the bellhousing, don't forget that there are 2 plates inside one blank and the other has your crank timing mark. Something no-one tells you, nor will you find that in the haynes manual. have someone turn the crank with a 17mm ratchet, while you find the marks, when resetting time, and put the crankshaft (upper timing gear) in the upper position of the intake combustion stroke #1 bank. Replace belt, and put her together. You should be ready to go. Good Luck.