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1992 Honda Prelude 1992 Honda Prelude won't start, no one k

Tiny
BLACKDRAGON
  • MEMBER
  • 1992 HONDA PRELUDE
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 172,000 MILES
Hi,
I just got a 1992 Honda Prelude S with an F22A6 2.2 litre engine. It's a 5 speed manual, and It started fine the day I got it. I started it about 10 times no problem and drove it about 100 miles, also no problem. It sat in my garage for about a week while I was changing 2 tires, added a cv axle nut, and two mirrors. The only other thing I did was clean out the throttle body with carb cleaner because the throttle was slightly sticking.

Here's my problem: The car won't start now, and I replaced the spark plug wires and the plugs are giving off a strong blue spark. The timing belt looks like it's in time, the distributor is fine, the fuel pump primes and I can smell gas when the I turn the engine over. The starter turns the engine over, turns the flywheel and the timing belt, but it doesn't seem to be firing up. I tried to push start it a few times, and all I get is a few clicks just like I get when I try to start it, but still no ignite. Please, any suggestions will help tremendously.
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Saturday, March 7th, 2009 AT 11:25 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi BlackDragon,

Get the compression tested.

While cleaning the throttle body, carb cleaner could have washed some of the dirt onto the valves and stopped the valves from closing fully reducing the compression ratio.

Alternatively the rings could have gone dry reducing the compression and some oil into the cyliinders should help increase the compression.
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Sunday, March 8th, 2009 AT 7:56 AM
Tiny
BLACKDRAGON
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thank you for the quick response.

My buddy is bringing over a compression tester in the next day or two, and I'll try that. I've also been told that it might be a crank sensor or some relay went bad causing the timing to be off on the crank or cam, does this sound feasable?

Thanks again,
BlackDragon (Tony)
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Sunday, March 8th, 2009 AT 12:03 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
If it is the crank sensor fault, you would not have sparks.

Likewise a problem with the PGM-FI main relay usually results in no fuel supply.

You have both so it is not likely to be the cause.

If the Check Engine Lighi is showing and not going off or delayed by more than 5 seconds, then it could be the PGM-FI main relay, ECM or bad ground connection at thermostat housing.
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Tuesday, March 10th, 2009 AT 12:21 PM
Tiny
BLACKDRAGON
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Alright, so I haven't had access to the comprssion tester yet, and won't until saturday.

I tried putting some oil in the cylinders, and it almost started. I got a split second ignition and went right back to the same thing it was doing before. From what you were saying, this would be a compression/seal problem, what would be the next step in rectifying this?

I'm trying to do this myself as I don't have the money to pay a mechanic, but I don't have an engine hoist, so If it requires taking the engine out, I guess I have no choice.

Thanks again for your help, I will definately make a donation when I have funds :)
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Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 AT 4:54 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Add a little more oil into spark hole, crank engine for 10 seconds without the spark plugs.

Reinstall spark plugs and try starting.

Recheck for sparks and fuel.

Without compression test, don't disassemble engine. Need to verify what is wrong first.

Quite likely there is no need to remove the engine. Taking the off cylinder head and crankcase would enable you to remove the pistons for ring replacement. Honda engine seldom requires reboring of cylinders but it would depend on whether oil chage was regular.

.
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Thursday, March 12th, 2009 AT 8:46 AM
Tiny
BLACKDRAGON
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Alright, so I can't get the compression test until Tuesday now. I have to have my friend tow it to his place because he is borrowing the tester from another friend.

I tried more oil into the plug holes, and turned over the engine for 10 seconds like you suggested. Oil shot out everywhere btw, lol. I didn't think that one through. I reinstalled the plugs and tried again, but there was no difference this time.

I tested again for spark, and I can still smell fuel when I turn it over. There's still a strong blue spark from the plugs.

I have 4 friends that are or have been mechanics, and 2 of them on hondas, and no one seems to know what to do. This is so frustrating.

Again, I appreciate your help in trying to help diagnose this problem here! While we haven't figured it out yet, you're the only person so far with ideas that I haven't tried yet!
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Saturday, March 14th, 2009 AT 12:53 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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  • 41,814 POSTS
Ok, will wait for the compression test results to proceed with next step.

Btw I understand Autozone has a tools loan program which you can enquire if it is of any use to you.
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Sunday, March 15th, 2009 AT 1:23 AM
Tiny
BLACKDRAGON
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
So I had to take it to a mechanic because I couldn't figure it out or get ahold of compression testers.

He said this:

It needs the master cylinder rebuilt
Cylinders need work
Cam shaft spoon busted
Crank shaft busted
Wrong wiring harness for engine and car
Wrong engine for car
Bad valves
No water in radiator, so there's a problem there too!

He's not sure how it was rigged up to run in the first place and says that it should've never made it the 100 miles and started the 10 times it did when I bought it, but it's as good as a paper weight now.
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Monday, April 6th, 2009 AT 3:27 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
So the engine has been certified dead.

If faults are as stated, it definitely is a miracle the engine can be driven. However it would depend on the term busted. Honda engines are known to work with a great amount of tolerance before the parts finally gives way.

From the above, I would guess the last straw was the lack of coolant that really killed the engine.
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 AT 7:35 AM

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