Engine Loses Power

[ShyBoyCA6]

Ok my engine is running like crap since the rebuild. It will run like its running on 3 cylinders for a bit till i play with the gas pedal and then run like nothing is wrong. The the only thing i suspect is my dizzy cap and Ignition rotor since i haven't replaced them since i got the car. I only say this cause the Number 1 on the cap has black pieces of the cap and possibly not making the correct contact i need. 4 2 and 3 are ok and clean. I have no check engine lights of any kind and no i did not mickey mouse or did lazy work on this car. Everything is hooked up and functional. I recently re did the timing again and starts on the first crank. Would adding a third engine ground help? Since the battery ground is in the trunk?

Any Opinions on my answer please let me know what you think it could. Thank you Very much Guys.

[2oodoor]

I see you are missing the engine ground to rad support, the one that goes on the valve cover stud.

[gfrg88]

Start with the cap and rotor, which should've been replaced along with the rebuild.

[ShyBoyCA6]

I see you are missing the engine ground to rad support, the one that goes on the valve cover stud.
i moved that wire to the back but will add another one.


Start with the cap and rotor, which should've been replaced along with the rebuild. yeah but didnt have money to buy it at the time.

[Dr_Snooz]

x2 on the cap and rotor.

[ShyBoyCA6]

Changed the cap and rotor and added the ground again with a thicker than stock wire. Will test it out tonight to see how it runs. Thanks guys

Hope this works :)

[ShyBoyCA6]

Well guys back to the drawing board...Seems the problem is still there.

Running out of ideas here but i have a injector question that i think might be related.

Sucking up a bit more gas than it should would the plastic piece on the injector tip be needed? would that cause the injector to throw out more gas than it should? Mine cracked in pieces but its not leaking gas...

Josh told me it could be the TPS sensor is bad. whenever i go near 3k its acts out.

[Civic Accord Honda]

did you test the TPS with a multimeter ? pretty easy to test...also did you properly break in the motor?

link on breaking in the motor (http://www.d-series.org/forums/engine-building/164166-how-long-should-take-new-rings-seal-properly.html)

do you have a spare set of injectors just to try? that plastic cap at the end normally always cracks and i haven’t had issues..i also remove the little filters from them lol

also if you have a spare dizzy from your black coupe you mind as well try that too

[ShyBoyCA6]

did you test the TPS with a multimeter ? pretty easy to test...also did you properly break in the motor?

link on breaking in the motor (http://www.d-series.org/forums/engine-building/164166-how-long-should-take-new-rings-seal-properly.html)

do you have a spare set of injectors just to try? that plastic cap at the end normally always cracks and i haven’t had issues..i also remove the little filters from them lol

also if you have a spare dizzy from your black coupe you mind as well try that too

I haven't tested it yet but switched them already and problem is still there.

I drove it regular and on the freeway short distance though like 5 miles doing 70-75 and just driving at different speed so the rings would seat properly.

I actually dont have spare injectors :/ should of saved the Dizzy from the black car but used it on the sedan when the dizzy went to shit.

Also on thursday i put 20$ of gas and its already gone. I only drove like 20 miles and then around the city so i would say less than 65 mile? Also took the car for smog the other day for a practice run and numbers were high as shit. I starting to think that i may not be able to fix this problem...I wish it will throw a code to know what im fucking looking for.

When i stop driving the car due to a High Rev (engine will race slightly and reach 4k and keep going) i wonder if that had anything to do with the way its acting now? Please note this engine is not from this car.

My next bet would to do a Comp Test and see how it reads... gonna check my spark plugs and see the shape they are in.

[Dr_Snooz]

Also took the car for smog the other day for a practice run and numbers were high as shit.

What were the numbers? What do your plugs look like? Does the exhaust smell rich? Check the condition of your plug wires. If there is a crack in the insulation, they can ground out and cause your symptoms. Test your coil just to be sure it's within tolerance.

[ShyBoyCA6]

What were the numbers? What do your plugs look like? Does the exhaust smell rich? Check the condition of your plug wires. If there is a crack in the insulation, they can ground out and cause your symptoms. Test your coil just to be sure it's within tolerance.

If i remember correctly i think CO was 11.something CO2 5.

O2 3.54?

Im not sure if those are correct but those are what i saw on the on screen.

[2oodoor]

Isolate the systems in your mind while you are figuring this out.
You got good bang bang ? Compression
You got corrEct air for idle? Air controller, vaccum leaks like intake manifold gasket, egr sealing
You got correct fuel metering? Fuel rail hardware, pump and filter, engine grounds, O2 and ect sensors
You have sufficient fire for boom boom pow pow? Ign leads, dizzy, coil, plugs

Try to focus on the systems responsable function and dont throw shotgun patterned dignoses theory it only confuses. Hope my over simplifing helps you get there!

[ShyBoyCA6]

Isolate the systems in your mind while you are figuring this out.
You got good bang bang ? Compression
You got corrEct air for idle? Air controller, vaccum leaks like intake manifold gasket, egr sealing
You got correct fuel metering? Fuel rail hardware, pump and filter, engine grounds, O2 and ect sensors
You have sufficient fire for boom boom pow pow? Ign leads, dizzy, coil, plugs

Try to focus on the systems responsable function and dont throw shotgun patterned dignoses theory it only confuses. Hope my over simplifing helps you get there!

Thank you ill look into when i get back from work. come to think of it i never finshed welding the EGR plate where the pipe use to be. could that be a culprit as well.

[kentwat]

I'd recheck the tps ohms and verify the sensor is good. Then pull your plugs and see if there are any signs to help diagnose. My plug wires were going out and I was getting all kinds of random crap. I swapped plugs and wires and it started running like a champ. It will also help with gas mileage.

[Buzo]

Also on thursday i put 20$ of gas and its already gone. I only drove like 20 miles and then around the city so i would say less than 65 mile? Also took the car for smog the other day for a practice run and numbers were high as shit. I starting to think that i may not be able to fix this problem...I wish it will throw a code to know what im fucking looking for.

The main reason a car would go to that low fuel economy is when its running in 3 cylinders. Focus your analysis in the ignition system: coil, dizzy, wires and spark plugs.

[ShyBoyCA6]

I'd recheck the tps ohms and verify the sensor is good. Then pull your plugs and see if there are any signs to help diagnose. My plug wires were going out and I was getting all kinds of random crap. I swapped plugs and wires and it started running like a champ. It will also help with gas mileage. do you think autozone has that tool for rental? So far for the Ignition i replaced the following when rebuilding the motor: New MSD Blaster Coil, New NGK Spark plugs, Spark plug wires are semi new not long ago that i got them, Dizzy Cap and Ignition rotor. the only thing i haven't replaced for ignition is the Dizzy it self which has about 212xxx miles on it.

It was working fine with the MSD blaster coil on the old engine before the rebuild.


The main reason a car would go to that low fuel economy is when its running in 3 cylinders. Focus your analysis in the ignition system: coil, dizzy, wires and spark plugs. Yes Buzo it feels like its running on 3 cylinders then i play with the gas pedal a bit and picks up power just fine. I should do a video on this for real. I got time off tomorrow so ill be up early in the morning doing a video.

[MessyHonda]

sounds like your O2 sensors. when i installed my headers i plugged my o2 sensors the wrong way making it sputter till it hit 3k

[Civic Accord Honda]

so you said you changed the TPS. when you change it you need to recalibrate it
heres a link on how to its the same for all hondas pretty much and very easy to do...i had one way out of spec once and it caused all kinds of issues so start there
http://www.d-series.org/forums/diy-forum/118594-diy-ralibrate-tps.html


your still running OBD-0 right?

[ShyBoyCA6]

sounds like your O2 sensors. when i installed my headers i plugged my o2 sensors the wrong way making it sputter till it hit 3k

hmm interesting but wouldn't the check engine light go on if that were true? I think the computer would ignore the sensor and on the ecu it self to make it run better... I have Left is green and Right is White or tan.

[ShyBoyCA6]

so you said you changed the TPS. when you change it you need to recalibrate it
heres a link on how to its the same for all hondas pretty much and very easy to do...i had one way out of spec once and it caused all kinds of issues so start there
http://www.d-series.org/forums/diy-forum/118594-diy-ralibrate-tps.html


your still running OBD-0 right?
Yeah i still running OBD-0

Thanks ill look into it right now. I dont have a Dremel tool :/

[ShyBoyCA6]

Here are the plugs.
#1
http://i981.photobucket.com/albums/ae295/Prettyboi_22_/2012-10-24_15-50-19_446.jpg

#2
http://i981.photobucket.com/albums/ae295/Prettyboi_22_/2012-10-24_15-57-25_623.jpg

#3
http://i981.photobucket.com/albums/ae295/Prettyboi_22_/2012-10-24_15-57-15_394.jpg

#4
http://i981.photobucket.com/albums/ae295/Prettyboi_22_/2012-10-24_15-57-07_417.jpg
Only put 223 miles so far.

[ShyBoyCA6]

..

[ShyBoyCA6]

The car failed the test.
http://i981.photobucket.com/albums/ae295/Prettyboi_22_/2012-10-24_16-23-19_746.jpg

[MessyHonda]

check your valve adjustment and timing

[ShyBoyCA6]

check your valve adjustment and timing

Yeah thats next on the list.

[Dr_Snooz]

Those compression numbers don't look that bad to me. You may have some slight roughness, but it shouldn't be very noticeable.

[ShyBoyCA6]

Can anyone tell me how a Cylinder Head works?

Was doing the valve adjustment but it seems confusing since ive never done this type off work. Right now the piston #'s 4 and 1 are up but the valves are closed. The only one that are open is number 2 on intake but 4,3,1 are closed while piston 4 and 1 are up. looks like Cylinder # 3 exhaust is open slighty? The Manual say to adjust one by one and turn crank 180 degrees while the cam turns 90. I have a feeling the shop did something wrong but i really don't wanna waste time to argue if i can do the work myself. I sent the head for new valves and seals.

[Civic Accord Honda]

just do the valve adjustment according to the book and it will come out fine . its pretty simple was the first "big job" i did on any of my cars lol.

[Dr_Snooz]

Basically, when a valve is fully closed, you should be able to jiggle the rocker arm by hand. You don't want to do any adjustment on a valve that isn't fully closed.

Does that help?

[ShyBoyCA6]

Thanks for the input guys and yeah it helped. I finished the valve adjustment and will drive first thing in the morning if the problem still occurs then the distributor might be shot, as the the only thing in the ignition that has not been replaced. Will let you know how it turns out.

[Oldblueaccord]

Id go with new ngk normal plugs with the correct gap.

Wp

[ShyBoyCA6]

Problem is still there..... suspecting my distributor might be going out soon.

[MessyHonda]

swap out the distributor

[firefighterwhite89]

Did you ever resolve this?

Sent from My Samsung Galaxy Prevail

[ShyBoyCA6]

Nope not yet.