Car not starting. Loud popping sound from under the car.

[crxzzR]

hi, car just decided to crap itself last night.
the car is an 88 CRX DOHC d16a8
before i go on i'll let u guys know what i've checked:
- battery is fine, sparks are firing/coils are working
- there is fuel pressure
- timing belt seems to be tensioned on properly
- when the ignition is turned it will turn over.. but not start and it is then
followed by a series of mildly loud backfiring/misfiring.

possible problems which i have not looked at yet:
- exhaust valves may be deformed
- exhaust manifold gasket may be leaking
- ???
if anybody can help me out with this it would be great.. thanks in advance..

[crxzzR]

umm.. this is the technical section right???

[garett]

sounds like ignition
either coil or dizzy is disconnected or has condensation in it

check under dizzy cap check all leads are on properly and coil lead etc
the reason its back fireing is cos all the fuel is going in but not firiing and when the pressure builds up it ignites once

you havent changed the leads or anything and havent put them back in the right order?

[crxzzR]

"- battery is fine, sparks are firing/coils are working"

i've taken the leads off and anyway.. those leads come in different lengths for each chamber.. pretty hard to get them mixed up..
i'm quite certain it wouldnt have anything to do with my ignition system..
might be a blown head gasket
gonna pull it apart now and have a look

[bennjamin]

is ur car theowing any ECU codes ?

Try my DIY ECU test click here to check it out ! (http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8218) - see if ur ECU is showing a crappy sensor somewhere.....

Battery fully charged ? Starter motor ok ?

[crxzzR]

starter motor is fine. battery is charged. it was throwing an o2 sensor code(1) b4 but it was intermittent..
i would just reset it and i wouldnt get bothered by it again. i found that the code wouldnt come back after i cleaned up my panel airfilter a little bit..
i think i'm jus gonna tow it to my workshop and have a look @ it there.. don't have the tools @ home..
if anyone has come across this situation it would b greatly appreciated if u could give me a few pointers...
thanks

[garett]

it can be easy to mix the firing order up of the plugs on the dizzy cap

[crxzzR]

yeah i kno.. thats why i dont take it off unless it's necessary.. i got the service manual on pc anyway..

[Weq]

check ur timing , make sure its all lined up. sounds like the fireing order/timing is off hard.

[bennjamin]

check ur timing , make sure its all lined up. sounds like the fireing order/timing is off hard.

also make sure that the leads are connected from the dizzy to the right cylinder - 1 thru 4 etc. I made this mistake once and was stumbled for a good 1 hr lol. :wave:

good luck

[crxzzR]

nah the dizzy leads are fine.. i've only unplugged them fron the rocker cover.. not the dizzy.. connected one of the coils directly to the negative of the battery to test it.. it works with all of them..they r fine..
might help if i added this as well:
-the car was running fine... it just shat itself halfway down a street..

weq: already taken off the top cam cover off to check the timing belt tension. tension is fine.. cam gears aligned in same direction. i'll have a look @ the bottom cover with the crankshaft pulley..
i might have to check all the valves..
as well as cyl head gasket.. have a feeling that the gasket material for the inner pistons may have cracked.. and therefore loss of compression..

anyone know how to do a static compression test??? as opposed to one where the engine can start ?
thanks for the replies so far

[ECU-MAN]

do a compression test. you dont need to start the car to do it. take all you plugs out, put the pressure guage in cyl 1 hold the throttle WOT ( wide open throttle ) and crank the engine until the maximum reading is achived. do this for all cylinders. this is a dry compression test.

also will the car spark on its own on cranking. also have you got fuel pressure at the rail ?

[crxzzR]

thanks for the info about the dry comp test..
haven't checked exactly at the fuel rail.. just got my car towed to my workshop..
gonna have a go at it with a workmate..

[crxzzR]

hey guys,
i've figured out the problem.
it was a melted rotor button in the dizzy.. the copper cylinder inside probably got loose from the plastic housing and started spinning within it thus melting the plastic and screwn up the firing order...
20 buck fix..