how can I tell if 1.5L spark is weak?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Rocky - 30 Jun 2005 01:37 GMT

I did a head gasket on a 1994 Civic 1.5L
now it won't start.
it cranks, battery has good charge.
TDC was set correctly.
inline spark tester has a slow, dim orange glow at night when I test each
cylinder.
New spark plugs are wet, gas odor, black soot on them.
Any suggestions on what to check next?

Reply to this Message

TeGGeR® - 30 Jun 2005 02:09 GMT

> I did a head gasket on a 1994 Civic 1.5L
> now it won't start.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> New spark plugs are wet, gas odor, black soot on them.
> Any suggestions on what to check next?

Floor the gas pedal and leave it there. Crank until it starts.

That procedure shuts off the injectors to clear a flooded condition, which
it appears you've got.

Signature

TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Reply to this Message

Rocky - 30 Jun 2005 02:17 GMT

I already had tried that - how long should I let it crank? The car has 176k
miles on it.

I've already had to charge the battery once - the car was sitting for a few
weeks before I had time to put the head back on the motor. It started and
ran fine before I pulled the head off.

The head I put on was from a 1995 with 80k miles on it. The shop said it
passed the tank and pressure test and they planed the bottom.

>> I did a head gasket on a 1994 Civic 1.5L
>> now it won't start.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> That procedure shuts off the injectors to clear a flooded condition, which
> it appears you've got.

Reply to this Message

TeGGeR® - 30 Jun 2005 03:09 GMT

>> Floor the gas pedal and leave it there. Crank until it starts.
>>
>> That procedure shuts off the injectors to clear a flooded condition,
>> which it appears you've got.
>
> I already had tried that - how long should I let it crank?

Until it starts.

> The car has 176k miles on it.
>
> I've already had to charge the battery once - the car was sitting for
> a few weeks before I had time to put the head back on the motor. It
> started and ran fine before I pulled the head off.

Leaky injector? Are ALL the plugs wet with gas, or just one?

Do you get a spark at the plugs?

Signature

TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Reply to this Message

jim beam - 30 Jun 2005 04:05 GMT

> I did a head gasket on a 1994 Civic 1.5L
> now it won't start.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> New spark plugs are wet, gas odor, black soot on them.
> Any suggestions on what to check next?

dumb question, but have you double checked the firing sequence?

Reply to this Message

r2000swler@hotmail.com - 30 Jun 2005 12:03 GMT

Tripple check it!
I hate to admit it but I once got a tad mixed up and
spent an hour witht he smae syptoms before I noticed
that I had offest everything by one. It is easy to get mixed
up, even when you lable the cylinder, cap anb cables.

Even with a weak spark you ought to get some attempt
at starting. A weak spark can cuase major divibility issues.

Terry

Reply to this Message

Rocky - 01 Jul 2005 18:45 GMT

I replaced the distributor, cap, rotor and wires - the car ran for 5 seconds
and died. I re-checked TDC & the cam position and found it was one tooth
off. Once I made that adj, it started instantly. Now the alternator is
seized, but that is easy to replace.
thanks for everyones ideas.

>I did a head gasket on a 1994 Civic 1.5L
> now it won't start.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> New spark plugs are wet, gas odor, black soot on them.
> Any suggestions on what to check next?

Reply to this Message