Hard to start and will not idle

ok I have a 99 prelude type sh, it has about 115k ok it and this is the problem. Maybe about 2 months ago it wouldn't crank like it wasn't get enough fuel or air. I tried for about 2 min and then it cranked and it hasn't had any problem until now. It didn't want to crank and it took me about 5-10 mins to get it started. The battery almost died and I almost cooked the starter. Well when i got it cranked a little white smoke came out of the exhaust. I ran it up the road to recharge the battery and stuff and when I pushed in the clutch to gear down and turn it died. It wouldn't idle. I just released the clutch and it came back on because i was still moving. Well I had to keep the gas pressed until I got back home and when I stopped, pushed in the clutch it died. I cranked it (it cranked fine this time) and it cranked and then ran down in rpms until it died. I did this about 5 times it just wouldn't stay running. I thought maybe it wasn't holding compression but I was also told it might be an air sensor of some kind. The fuel pump comes on and it has no problem when I get into it and will run great in VTEC so I don't know if its a fuel problem. Any ideas???

hmm, sounds to me like you have an oil pressure problem.

Your starter only cranks sometimes? Or do you mean the engine cranks but won't start?

Could be a whole bunch of reasons - clogged fuel filter, bad fuel pump, fouled plugs, shitty wires...
You need to start troubleshooting - is enough fuel being delivered consistently? Good spark to all plugs? ECU throwing any codes? More info...

Just a wild guess but I had the same symptoms (but much worse) when the sensor in my distributor died.

the starter works but the engine tries to turn over but won't. i thought it was a fuel problem but It has not problem when driving, the plugs are new, My check engine light did come on but went off before i could check it. Will it still read it if the light is not on? I thought maybe it might be losing compression but I don't know. I bought the car with 98k on it so I don't know how it was treated before I got it.

Search around for instructions on how to pull the ECU code from your car. If you do have a CEL it'll be throwing a code.

ok did a compression test and this was my results(not pretty)

#1-87 #2-125 #3-80 #4-100

then after a wet test(thanks forrest)
#1-121 #2-118 #3-138 #4-139

so that means my motor is on its way out. Just in time for the holidays. :2cents: (!#@%*$) :banghead:

so it looks like the rings need to be changed. I bought the car with 98k on it so no telling what happened to it before i bought it. oh well. I guess i can start on my turbo build now. :evillol: