"Ropert's Aloha" <removeropertg001@hawaii.rr.com> wrote in message news:<gTXnd.98200$Kl3.41615@twister.socal.rr.com>. ..
> Well just when I thought I'd did good, I must have messed up. I(a backyard
> looser mechanic) replaced my timing belt and water pump on my 91 Civic Hatch
> 1500cc. After a successful ordeal getting the crankshaft pulley bolt off, I
> thought I had made it. Well I must have messed up when I put the T-belt on.
> The cam sprocket did move a tiny bit, so I moved it back to the side marks
> and the up, straight up. Thought every thing was AOK. Put everything back
> and it won't start up.
>
> Went back and took just the top timing belt cover off and when the rotor
> cap is pointed to the number one, the cam sprocket shows straight up and
> side marks where they are supposed to be. What am I missing?
>
> How can I tell if I'm off a tooth and would just being off one cause it not
> to start at all?
>
> thanks in advance
>
> Gary now stranded.......
Check the PRM-FI relay, located up under the dash, on the left side.
Unless it has been changed you almost certainly have one that is at
best marginal. In the last 3 months I have repaired 13 PGM-FI relays
in 1989 through 1994 Civics an Accords.
Most failed in hot weather, but 2 failed after the car was allow to
"rest" for a week or so in moderate, 50F, weather. Pull the realy, a
major PITA the first time, remove the old solder, and resolder.
Do NOT remove all the solder at the same time else some parts will
fall out. Desolder one spot at a time.
And be ceratin that your spark plugs are in good shape. A friend
had some minor problems, hard start, especialy after a short rest
while the engine and weather wer warm, sometimes rough idle on a
hot start, , some sputtering on heavy acceleration.
I checked his relay and sure enough it was flakey, two joints had
crystalised. I redid his realy and his car still wouldn't start.
I pulled the plugs and they were filthy. Replaced the plugs with
an used set that I cary in my Civic, just in case, and the engine
started right up. The PGM-FI relay was bad because we checked for
fuel presure at the fuel filter. He had about 10K on the plugs.
I advised him to pull and check the plugs every 30 days for a
few months, just to be sure something else isn't wrong.
There is no burst of smoke on a cold start so I doubt if his vavle
seals have failed. The enigne only has 130K on it and he is the
orignal owner and takes good care, changes the oil evey 40000~5000
miles, and changes the air/fule/ filter, pvc favle and spark
plugs onec a year even if there hasn't been enough milage to warrent
it.
Terry