Honda Car Forum

Sure, but think it through one more time. The distributor follows the
cam shaft, the distributor shaft is keyed and goes in the only one way,
no ambiguity. The distributor housing can only be rotated a small
amount. Thus the ignition timing will be correct relative to the valve
timing (give or take a few degrees of housing adjustment).

If the cam shaft is rotated 180° it is of no consequence, it would be
equivalent to the crankshaft being rotated 360°.

A possible problem would be ignition at BDC instead of TDC, but that
would mean camshaft of by 90°, very unlikely.

Woody does have a valid point, many engines have the distributor on the
block rather than on the head, and then you have plenty of opportunity
to get the ignition timing and valve timing out of phase with each
other.

Further discussion about this is probably of little general interest, so
if you disagree with my "analysis", shoot me an e-mail at
ng_randolph*at*yahoo.com.

jim beam wrote:
>
> Randolph wrote:
> > Good point, but not likely on an engine where the distributor runs off
> > the end of the cam shaft.
>
> valve timing, not ignition. he could be trying to ignite an exhaust
> cycle, not compression.
>
> >
> > Woody wrote:
> >
> >>Maybe it is time to check a service manual and make sure you have the cam to
> >>crankshaft timing set correctly and not 180 out.....
> >>
> >>"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.......
> >>>
> >>>

"Ropert's Aloha" <removeropertg001@hawaii.rr.com> wrote in message
news:y08od.57456$hN1.1495@twister.socal.rr.com...

> I have spark coming out of the plugs, ... coil is ok?

Yes, by chance a plug or two may die while cranking. I recommend
check all four plugs and clear the cylinders of excess fuel.

>How would I check for fuel?

Remove plug, crank, fuel should spew out.

>How can I tell if I'm off a tooth?

Twist cam by hand till the valves in cylinder 1 visibly seats. Remove
plug and check cylinder is fully at top. Or run a compression test.

>Would just being off one cause no start?

No

Just a thought...after reading all the replies......I have the same
model/year, and had the same problem after replacing just the rotor,
the distributor cap and the ignition wires(did not touch the timing
belt in my case). Following is the sequence of events that cleared
things for my problem.(Perhaps try this .....provided your TB,
camshaft, crankshaft are alignment properly);
1) Reset the ECU.
2) Cranked the engine in 5 second intervals. In my case, the engine
caught up on the sixth try. Has been running fine ever since.
I do not know whether this will solve your problem, but since you
indicate in a later e-mail that you were looking at the rotor to check
alignment, perhaps one additional thing to try??

"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.......

Problem solved!

The problem............I was off a few teeth..on the crank shaft. Since I've
only done a couple of timing belts(Mazda and Ford ranger trucks), they were
so easy. But I followed the Haynes book exactly and they got me so concerned
about the TDC(top dead center) that I didn't pay attention to the bottom of
the crank shaft. Even though I had everything lined up when I took the crank
bolt out, it tuned enough while getting that bolt off. Then I had a neighbor
tell me it doesn't matter whether you have the actual engine at TDC. All you
have to do is make sure the marks are lined correct on the cam sprocket and
the marks are lined correct on the crank shaft, and you got it. Well I did
what he said and sure enough it fired up right away.

What a stooge I am. But I have learned! Next time will be a different story!

Thank so much for your replies

Gary Ropert
Haleiwa Hawaii