96 SRV won't start!!! Desperate! - Honda Prelude Forum

prairieSRV · 06-02-2009, 10:13 AM

Hi all,
I am desperate. I have been without my beloved prelude for 2 months. I have a "mystery" problem. I had my timing belt go and was replaced approx. 2.5 months ago. Approx 2 weeks later, I was driving to work, stopped at a stop sign, went to go and it just stalled. All it would do after that is turn over. At 1st I thought it was the fuel pump. It was towed to my mechanic.

- Has 180 PSI accross all cylinders
- Has spark
REPLACED ITEMS AS FOLLOWS:
- Cam Sensor
- ECU
- complete distributor ( wierd tho because this car appears to use a distributor that says it for a 5th gen Prelude)
- Ignition module

Car will only turn over. WILL NOT FIRE!
In my humble opinion, it never seemed to run right after the timing belt R/R. Seemed growly and low in power...with a slight hesitation. took it back to my mechanic a few times and he said everything was fine. Then it stalled and has not ran since. I am really at my witts end here. If anybody has any suggestions I would be more than happy to hear them. Maybe someone has experienced something similar to this and could give me some insight. Also, does anyone know if these cars came with a one-peice machined cam shaft or if it the type with the spreaders that grab the lobes? If that sounded like greek then no worries but its how someone else explained it to me???

Thanks for looking people and I look forward to getting some responses!

Honda....the automotive industry's mechanical marvels!

G_Loc · 06-02-2009, 11:16 AM

Are you getting fuel to the injectors?

Might be your main relay: where is the main relay

X01VTEC · 06-02-2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prairieSRV

Hi all,

- complete distributor ( wierd tho because this car appears to use a distributor that says it for a 5th gen Prelude)

this is correct, in 96 the prelude went to 0bdII. this is the oddball 4th gen. the sensors that would be in the distributor to allow for manual changing of timing were moved to the crank behind the timing gear. thus the 96 prelude got a hollow distributor like the 5th gens.

AliKhan · 06-03-2009, 04:07 AM

When the timing belt was replaced, was the hydrolic tensioner replaced? I'm assuming that you have a hydrolic tensioner.

prairieSRV · 06-03-2009, 07:39 AM

I didn't actually change the timing belt myself. When the timing belt went it sorta piled up in the housing and damaged the cam sensor at the same time. I had my mechanic do the belt. I don't know if it is a hydraulic tensioner in the timing belt unit. I believe there is fuel going to the injectors. I am wondering about correct PSI going to the injectors? Seems to me that if there was even a little bit of fuel making it to the injectors it should atleast sputter. I say this because I know the fuel pump is working, I have seen the fuel pump out. But someone did suggest that certain vehicles need a particuar PSI to run...at all. I figured even if it wasn't the correct PSI, it should atleast sound like it was going to start. But it just turns over...not even a hint of firing. It is all really quite baffling! I am interested in knowing more about this main relay.

Thanks for the posts guys...keep em coming! Numerous heads are better than one and at this point, I am so frustrated that I don't think I am seeing it clearly anymore..LOL!

X01VTEC · 06-06-2009, 01:16 AM

the problem with the main relay is the solder points on the circut board inside, over time they tend to pull apart and crack due to years of temp and humidity changes, this usually results in tempermental starts and sometimes eventual no starts. you can pull the relay out and resolder the contact points. if the relay went bad this almost always fixes the problem.

you can check for fuel if you dont have a pressure gauge by turning the ignition to the on position after releasing any connection in the line. you can disconnect the fuel line coming to the fuel rail and point it into a container. be sure to cover the top with a rag or something to avoid spillage and or sprayage, especially the kind towards your face. another hand to briefly turn the ignitoin to the on position and back off will quickly tell you if you have fuel coming to the motor. YOU SHOULD NOT NEED TO TURN THE KEYTO START. accessory/on will tell you what you need to know