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I have a 91 integra and while driving the car, it suddenly sputtered then died on may 13 of 2016. The car has been sitting since. Replaced distributor and fuel filter . The car would crank but wont turn over. There is spark and fuel. It has low compression, but is there a way to start the car. I heard of cars that run but have low compression. The valves arent leaking and arent bent. The fuel pump primes when i turn on the ignition. The camshafts roate when i crank and the timing belt is good and doesnt skip any teeth. Im really stuck!
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How low is compression?
https://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-automotive-no-start-problems
[quote=”Henrysmyname29″ post=169654]The lowest compression reading i got was 30 psi[/quote]
Your not going to run with that my friend.
Sudden low compression in one cylinder would lead me to believe that you may have skipped a tooth on the timing although you say its not skipping any teeth now. You may have to remove the timing belt covers and confirm that all timing marks are properly aligned bringing it to Top Dead Center along with removing the valve cover while your at it. That’s where my money is at!
That was the lowest i got,
Left to right
1 ~ 30 psi 2 ~ 72 psi 3 ~60 psi 4 ~ 120 psi (Dry)
1 ~ 30 psi 2 ~ 150 psi 3 ~ 70 psi ; ~ 130 psi (wet)It wasnt tested on a hot engine because the car wouldnt start and has sat there since may 13 of 2016
I’ve seen engines in which they were reassembled with incorrect timing and caused fluctuating compression…Whether this is the absolute final problem or not, your next logical approach would be to get the timing belt covers off and check your marks and remove that valve cover. Rotate the engine by putting a long ratchet on the crank and put it to top dead center and make sure the valves are closed from where you removed the valve cover. If you find that everything is timed dead on after all this, if you have an air compressor, you could pressurize each cylinder one at a time, making sure the corresponding intake and exhaust valves are closed. I’ve also seen engines that were way out of time start and run for just a second or two, even ones that had damaged valves, etc. Check the timing bro.
Here’s the thing, cars rarely in my experience just one day stop running due to low compression. Something had to cause the low compression in the first place, what was it? We are always looking a cause and effect when it comes to automotive mechanics and if only one cylinder had bad compression, wouldn’t the other cylinders at least try to start or perhaps the car would run but just really crappy? Let me know what you find after you carefully check the timing, if you don’t have the haynes manual for it you should be able to google enough info about where to find the marks for TDC and once again, make sure number one cylinder valves are both evenly closed and the cam lobe toe is half way/ in the middle. I wish you all the best of luck and let us know what you find!
Check for coolant in the oil and oil the coolant.
I’d say you’re looking at removing the cylinder head if you want to explore further.
From the results of the compression check, it looks like normal internal engine wear/mileage on a quarter century-old car have caught up to you. This smells like a complete engine rebuild project, which isn’t a bad thing. With the right frame of mind, you could learn a lot, if you want to.
a little far out idea is to check the PCV valve … its a simple check but I have see a car will not start because of a bad PCV valve weird but PCV valve controls pressure clean it out with starter fluid on top and bottom and check to see if the float shakes easily… just something easy to check … I would think it would effect all the valves the same but hell I would try it just in case
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