How do i check the compression on my 90 accord?!

i can't find it in my service manual. it tells me how to replace valves, but not how to check the compression. i am going to get a guage now.

1. Take out the spark plugs and clip them back into the plug wires
2. Remove the fuse to the fuel injectors
3. Screw the compression tester into the number one cylinder.
4. Ground all of the spark plugs to metal on the car....all of the plugs can be set into the cylinders, but the cylinder w/ the tester needs to be grounded differently.
5. Have someone crank the car over until you see about 4 cycles on the pressure tester. The pressure that you see in the end....the highest pressure....is the pressure that you go w/.
6. Repeat for the other 4 (or 6) cylinders.

thank you for those great instructions..i am new to this. what is the best way to ground the cylinder that i am testing.

thanks...i am hoping this car trouble will end! what turned out to be something simple (i thought) is now threatening the valves and i might need a new engine?! if only i had the $$$ to put in an h22 ;o)

anyway, thanks for the help.

4. Ground all of the spark plugs to metal on the car....all of the plugs can be set into the cylinders, but the cylinder w/ the tester needs to be grounded differently.

the plugs dont need to be grounded; if they are they will fire.

if the plugs aren't grounded you can burn out the coil. I put in the directions to disconnect the fuel injectors so they're not going to fire anything...there will be a few small pops when residual gas is burned, but they won't fire anything.

if the plugs aren't grounded you can burn out the coil. I put in the directions to disconnect the fuel injectors so they're not going to fire anything...there will be a few small pops when residual gas is burned, but they won't fire anything.

by fire i mean spark.

http://www.motomodz.com/compression.jpg

http://www.c-speedracing.com/howto/comptest/comptest.php

just apply it to your accord. same concept.

So you don't have to do anything w/ the plugs??? I was told to ground them otherwise you could burn out the coil. I'm just going by what i was told in school.

So you don't have to do anything w/ the plugs??? I was told to ground them otherwise you could burn out the coil. I'm just going by what i was told in school.
the only time we grounded it was when we were trying to check for spark. if you do as the instruction says above from the helms and disconnect the coil plug; no current even ever goes through the coil so there is no risk to the coil.

http://www.c-speedracing.com/howto/comptest/comptest.php

just apply it to your accord. same concept.

....

thanks guys...i figured out that my new guage from pep boys came busted. i bought the better one and got readings of 190 in all 4 cylinders.

thanks a lot!
chris