Hard to start and will not idle

[PearlWhiteSH]

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???

[AllmotorBB6]

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

[Gohan Ryu]

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.

[PearlWhiteSH]

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.

[Gohan Ryu]

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.

[PearlWhiteSH]

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. (!#@%*$)

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.