crxnfx

Okay, I was driving yesterday, came over a bridge and when I got down to the bottom, the car started loosing power, backfired a few times and I pulled it over and shut it down.

I let it rest a bit, then tried to start it again. The engine turns over, but it won't start up. It makes a strange noise, like the engine is compressing, but then it backfires.

I checked the cams but they are in alignment.

Battery has juice and the distributor is less than a 1000 miles old.

Any ideas?

hondazccivic

Hey, u should try checking your spark plugs, they may be a little clogged up from carbon build up, u could also try seeing if each spark plugs gives out a spark, that will let u know if the distributor, and spark plugs are good.
-Aaron-

dreaminskyline

fuel pump

dreaminskyline

wait it backfired forget it

crxnfx

thanks, but to your advice, I would ask what does the spark plug have to do with me driving? Dude, if it didn't start right away I would understand the spark plug, but I was driving and it did that.

from what I gathered, it could be a snapped cam (God forbid), a broken distributor housing, or moisture in my dizzy housing.

I'm still going to double check the cam alignment, just incase the timing belt did jump.

Fabrik8

If your cams are ok, and you didn't jump teeth, I would check the distibutor carefully. It obviously sounds like something is not timed right, which is why it's backfiring. If the cams are set, I'm guessing you've got a position sensor problem, so it's probably in the distributor unless you've got external crank/TDC/whetever position sensors somewhere else on the engine. Depends on whether you have a OBD0/1/2 B18. I think I remember OBD0 stuff has the sensors all in the distributor, but don't quote me on that, I'm no OBD0 expert..
I'm not sure the bottom of the hill has anything to do with it, unless there is moisture in there like you said. If you parked it on level ground, let it sit for a while, and it still does it I'm guessing it's not that though.

hondazccivic

You are correct, the TDC censor is located in the distributor, but if your tdc is messed up, then it should be throwing a code.

crxnfx

nope, no code. get to work on it in about 2 hours. I'll keep you posted.

crxnfx

you're not going to believe this:

the screw on the rotor in the distributor was broken in half.

opened it up, and turned the cam side of the distributor and everything rotated, turned the rotor side and only it turned. Then the rotor came off in my hand.

took 20 minutes to troubleshoot and fix. Kinda proud of myself!

hondazccivic

Hey, good job man.