95 honda accord problem

So I blew a head gasket a couple months ago. I got the head milled, and put everything back together. Timed it perfectly and got it to idle after adjusting the distributer. But as soon as I go to rev the car it backfires and stalls. The speedometer jumps like its the tac as well. I am at a loss and was hoping someone could point me in the correct directions.


Thanks
Coop

Backfire through the intake or exhaust?

Does the tach work?

Crank it over a few times and recheck the valve timing before putting the timing belt cover back on?

backfire through the exhaust. It idles perfect, you wouldnt know anything is wrong when you go to start to rev it. I didnt put on any of the covers yet just incase this happens but timing is dead on. Yes tach is working as well.


Coop

Dumb question, but the throttle position sensor is plugged in, right?

This happens the instant it comes off idle? Does it even begin to rev or falls down right away?

If you open the throttle very slowly same thing?

Dumb question, but the throttle position sensor is plugged in, right?

This happens the instant it comes off idle? Does it even begin to rev or falls down right away?

If you open the throttle very slowly same thing?

Yes the TPS is pluged in. It does happen the instant it comes off idle it just wants to stumble and die. Same thing if trying to open it slowly. Whats the deal with the speedometer, should be a dead give away I would think?


Coop

Yes the TPS is pluged in. It does happen the instant it comes off idle it just wants to stumble and die. Same thing if trying to open it slowly. Whats the deal with the speedometer, should be a dead give away I would think?


Coop
Yeah that's weird...I was kinda wondering if the VSS could be plugged into or crossed up with wiring to something else. Warrants investigation. The VSS goes in the tranny case just inboard and above the inner CV joint on the passenger's side, and provides the signal for the speedo, after going to the ECM...it flashed through my mind the first time I read your post if the TPS could be plugged into the VSS or something...I don't see how, but following the wiring for both may provide answers. Sometimes when doing a head, wiring harnesses get pinched in manifolds, etc, and short together or ground out...there's several harness grounds that go to the head near the thermostat outlet if I remember right...make sure they all are connected and grounded.

Ground wire. Runs really nice now. Just updating for anyone who searches later.


Coop

Try some high octane fuel to see if the backfire goes away, could be spark knock

Try some high octane fuel to see if the backfire goes away, could be spark knock

did you read the post above it? It was a ground wire problem and now everything runs great.


Coop

I violated my own mantra here...usually I suggest checking grounds first but didn't mention it until my third post...sorry about that. In general when electrics and electronics do things you can't explain, check the gorunds first!

This even reminded me of a roomate's ordeal and I'd forgotten about it. Her Dodge Daytona would suddenly develop a rolling idle, lights would dim and tach and speedo would both jump up and down with engine speed.

She took it to the dealer before I got to look at it, they did a diagnostic and said they couldn't find anything wrong. I had to take her over to get the car after they closed, and it wouldn't start. The negative battery cable clamp had cracked and wouldn't tighten. I replaced it with new cable end, and it never had any problems again...

Whenever a major ground path is lost, components will seek a ground path any way they can...sometimes through other components in the circuit, powering them and making them do things they shouldn't be able to...

Glad you found it!

Yeah I know better then that as well. I went ahead and replaced the belts, a headlight, and wired up my drivers side window to roll down with two switches....pretty getto but its a 1500 buck car. I have a fairly good size oil leak on the back side of the block...I need to figure out it out, any suggestions?


Coop

Back as in towards the firewall, or the rear where the tranny joins?

Back as in towards the firewall, or the rear where the tranny joins?

not the tranny, its not losing any fluid...at the moment. Its like below the intake mani. I just need to get under it with some degreeser and a hose. Spray it down and then see where its coming from.


Coop

Sounds like it might be coming from the oil filter area. Does it have an oil cooler? And which ground wire was the problem and where?

I dont know which ground wire, I had to swallow my pride and take it some place. They figured it out in 30 mins so it was really cheap. No this car doesnt have an oil cooler but I will check the oil filter. Its a fram and I heard there was a recall on some of them because the element inside blew up.


Coop