1988 Honda Civic Wont Start or Run

Asked by kontreeboy Mar 05, 2011 at 08:26 PM about the 1988 Honda Civic S Hatchback

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

This is a BASIC Civic. Nothing fancy, not even a cigerette lighter! SOHC. Was driving the car and engine just quit. When trying to start, there is a "POPPING" sound. Not really a BACKFIRE, but a Popping. Thought it may be out of time because of broken timing belt, but when I removed the cover, it is there. I removed Plug #1 and inserted a rod down it to crank it by hand counter clockwise til the rod was TDC, with the CAM marks aligned. The Rotor button is positioned BETWEEN terminal #2 and #1 on the Distributor. NOT touching #1 at all! I can not tell positively, but I THINK the Crank marks are aligned as well. My Crank pulley is NOT marked well. The only mark that I would consider a mark at all is in fact aligned correctly with the other items at TDC. Is there any way that the Dist. can be out it everything else is correct? Thanx for your help!

1 Answer
20,115

Mike answered 13 years ago

Sounds like it stripped the belt a few teeth - you will need to remove the front covers of the engine to verify. Usually the stripped teeth will be right under where the crack gear is.

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