FARGIN HONDAS! Halp me DG, you is my only hope!

[Thumpin455]

So I did some digging on the 01 CRV. Has great spark on every hole, checked the timing, marks line up and it has 125psi in each cylinder, and no missing teeth on the belt. So I really doubt its a timing belt issue.

I can smell fuel, the plugs get wet, so I know its getting gas. I dont see a pressure tap on the fuel line, but also I dont have a fuel pressure gauge to test it yet. Checked all the fuses, none were bad.

Under cranking, it pops on one hole as it goes around. So in my mind it is either not enough fuel pressure to the injectors due to a plugged filter or weak pump, water in the gas (which is a possibility since the owner is having a rough divorce) or something is blocking the air from getting through the MAF (or whatever Honda calls it). I know it will run without the MAF being connected, and I havent checked to see if anything is in the tube, but the filter is clear.

Fuel, air spark at the right time, why wont the damn thing run?

Stupid Honda. Ignorant me.

[milner351]

Is there a key light blinking on the dash? I wonder if it's something with the factory anti theft system.

are you using a factory key? I can't recall when they started using the chipped keys.

can you hear the fuel pump run when you turn the key to the on position?

Should run for 2-3 seconds.

Some of these have a lifetime fuel filter in the fuel pump assembly inside the tank...

[dieselgeek]

The good news is there isn't a MAF on the 01 CRV, only a Map sensor.

I'm with you on the fuel filter possibly being clogged! The good news there is, it's super easy to replace, it's up on the top of the firewall on the passenger side of the car - it's a 3 minute replacement job.

The other thing could be stuck injectors if it sat a long time. Tap on them with the butt end of a large screwdriver - no joke, this works 90% of the time to free them up.

-Scott

[dieselgeek]

OH and one other thing to check, make sure the plug wires are on in the right order. The dist cap should be labelled. There's no timing adjustment on this engine since it has a crank and cam sensors - the distributor won't rotate, but the wires need to be on in the right order. Just something to check.

[tedly]

Mass air cars can act funky if the wires on the sensor get dirty, is there a rough equivalent with MAP cars? Sorry if it's a dumb question, just not much experience with MAP systems.

[squirrel]

long shot, but on a few engines I've worked on after someone else has messed things up....putting in a set of new spark plugs magically makes them start running.

Generally that only works if someone has been fighting it for a while, and the plugs get fouled from all the failed attempts at getting everything right at the same time.

[tedly]

Is it one of those dual plugs per cylinder engines?

[dieselgeek]

The engine is a B20Z, it's single plug per cylinder and it runs Speed Density EFI, no MAF at all, it's just like a standalone EFI system.

This is also the most coveted of the pre-K-series engines for swaps, it's the highest power and torque 2.0l engine Honda made up until the K series, but since the K is "backwards" it's a bitch to use for a swap. The B20Z bolts right in place of a 1.5, etc.


Anyhow, I trust that you are seeing a good reliable blue spark - but 90% of the time when mine has an issue, it's time for cap/rotor/wires replacement. If it goes misfiring for too long, then the pricey ICM gets replaced as well. Make darn sure you get a hot and reliable spark on all 4 cylinders, and that they're wired to the dist in proper firing order. I know thumpin455 knows this basic stuff already but these are really hard engines to kill.

Meanwhile, what's the check engine light doing? flashing at all? these are OBD2 engines, they'll report trouble codes that are pretty easy to figure out.

[Thumpin455]

Thanks for the help guys. It is appreciated, but if this thing were a Pontiac, chevy, or Ford it would be running. Hell even a dodge might be running at this point.

My handheld scanner wont connect to the Honda, its domestic only. I have no idea how to check the codes on it, but I suppose google is my friend there. I checked the wires, they were all 2 ohms or less. New plugs, new cap and rotor, and enough spark that the bare coil without the small spring would jump a nice blue arc to the throttle cable when cranking sans cap.

I thought that big honkin can was the fuel filter, wanted to be sure before I started popping things apart more. Are there any hobbs switches that would kill something so it wont start? Near as I can tell its something with the fuel, unless there is a banana in the tailpipe.

As for sitting a while, it was shut off Friday night, wouldnt start Sat morning, and that is when I got involved. Owner came by and asked me if I could help with it. It hasnt been down long, but had intermittent drivability issues before it had the no start. Owner isnt car savvy at all, so information about the issues is sketchy at best.

[moparmaniac07]

Is there a key light blinking on the dash? I wonder if it's something with the factory anti theft system.

are you using a factory key? I can't recall when they started using the chipped keys.

My sister's '01 Mitsubishi Stratus used a chipped key. My '05 Stratus does, so I would assume it would have in '01 also. My other sister's '02 Liberty also uses a chipped key. No idea when Hondacars started with 'em.

That doesn't sound like it's the issue though.

[Bobbya312]

If it is a immobolizer problem(chipped key), the key symbol on the dash usually flashes- but not always

[Russell]

When the plugs are wet i take a lighter and burn the gas off of them. Works for a small engine not sure about cars. I would say replacing the fuel filter would be $6 well spent. I thought any obd2 scanner would work? Dumb question does it have gas in the tank?

[Thumpin455]

The basics are all covered guys, first thing you do is check all that stuff before you pull it back to the shop.

New plugs, good wires, new cap/rotor, new fuel filter. Has good spark, fuel, 125psi, marks line up, still no start. Plugs still fire and the new ones arent wet, but the old ones were.

What else does a honda need to run? Have I mentioned I really dont like these things because I seem to always get the ones that dont have problems that are easy to find?

[STINEY]

That's the problem with being good at what you do......... you also end up being the "person of last resort". Hence you get the weirdo problems.

Redneck in me wants to know what it does with a throatfull of ether? I know it shouldn't make a difference, but.....

Maybe tow it past the junkyard, making verbal threats?


edit: you say good wires.......what exactly does that mean? I recently rebuilt a hot VW engine that split a cylinder, it ran fine except for that.
All else being the same, it would not fire consistently and strongly until I put a different set of wires on it. The "old" ones were like new, by the way.

[Russell]

I am lost as last years easter egg! Is the fuel system returnless? Could it have crap in the rails/injectors? How was the fuel filter when you change it? How about using a tire pressure gauge (that you don't care about) to check fuel pressure (you are on you own if it burns to the ground or blinds you)? Have you shot a little starting fluid it there to see if it will run on that?