Starting Problems with 90' CRX SI

[krad25CRX90]

Hello,

I am having starting issues with my stock ride & engine 1990 Honda CRX SI. It has 200k miles on an original d16a6 engine, and it ran good until this issue occured.

It was due for a Timing belt.



I replaced:

• The timing belt with quality belts,
• replaced the waterpump
• seals to the engine, (distributer and
• new valve cover gasket,
• new standard single wall radiator,
• oil change with synthetic
• Performed the routine valve clearance gap check
• timing light to synchronize the engine.

After the maintenance the car worked good for about 1500 miles. Then the engine stopped running.

I am able to turn over the engine, and hear the fuel pump run. I smell gas out of the exhaust when trying to turn over. I do hear a backfire from time to time after applying the gas when trying to start. I believe it to be getting spark. I checked the timing position when I hit TDC the white line on the pulley reads with the arrow on the plastic cover.



Since the engine stopped running I replaced:

• The entire distributer
• Spark Plug Wires
• New spark plugs
• Main Relay
• Double checked valve clearances

The Car has been sitting for about 6 months as I have been going through this process, and I am at the end of my capabilities without outside help so I thought I would try the forum. If this does not work Im afraid I will have to break down and take the girl to a shop. I am truely missing the 37 mpg!

Thanks for reading, I would appreciate any beneficial comments or help.

[swingline]

You need to verify that you have spark. Get a spark tester at a parts store or pull a spark plug and ground the electrode to the block.

[krad25CRX90]

I broke down and took the CRX to the shop. They found a couple problems with the situation.

The first was that the rotor screw had come loose (again ) and was periodically spinning giving me a couple of sparks intermittently. This explains the issue of using the timing light to figure out when I was getting spark on one cylinder and realizing that I was getting the spark from time to time.

The second problem was being off 1 tooth for the timing after performing the work myself. This combination is allowing the engine to run well.

This was about 2 hrs of work so the price was not out of line.

I have a few other issues to work on now, such as better balanced wheels and new tires. Also doing the upper lower and tie rod joints.

But I am getting 30 mpg, and I believe that is due to the balancing issue. I get a wobbling effect when getting up to speeds 50+mph. The shop did a poor job with the balancing.

[mellowboy]

Originally Posted by krad25CRX90

But I am getting 30 mpg, and I believe that is due to the balancing issue. I get a wobbling effect when getting up to speeds 50+mph. The shop did a poor job with the balancing.

Take it back to them or have it done somewhere else. Usually Discount Tires does a good job at balancing.