start up problem b16 motor.

[murph]

Well guys sorry to bug you all so much but im having no end of problems. I had a terrible time getting my cam gears off, but finally did. I replaced all the seals on my b16 head, and did what i thought was put the car in TDC. I didn't mark the cams when i took them off, dumb me. Anyway i read that if u take out the number one spark plug (plug closest to the crank pully), put something down there like a steal shaft which i did, and turn the crank till the piston goes to the top of the block indicated by the rod going up and down, then lay the cams back onto the head with the arrows pointing upwards that the car will be TDC. I bolted everything back up, and now the car won't start. It doesn't even turn over. I was very dissapointed. Any suggestions??? Im thinking its the starting motor, but it didn't give me any problems before i started messing with the head so im totally lost. Need help guys and you all have been real good to me. thanks Murph

[HONDA GHANDI]

The engine doesnt even turn over? Im thinking you either have a dead battery or you have the cams so far off that the valves maybe hitting the pistons? There are marks on the timing cover to tell you what is TDC. Its the small white one. Cams are at tdc when the alignment arrows are pointing up and the lines on the sides of the gears are level with the head.

[STIBungy]

Or you could have the problem I had after just replacing a radiator. My starter solenoid was so bad that it wouldnt crank at all. After hitting the starter, it would crank again.

I ended up replacing the starter after that happened a few times and with a dying solenoid, you can easily mistaken it for a weak battery.

[Busdriver]

*edit* oops, I missed the part about it not even turning over. Sorry. Starter and battery would be the first thing I'd check.

[murph]

Honda Ghandi......."The engine doesnt even turn over? Im thinking you either have a dead battery or you have the cams so far off that the valves maybe hitting the pistons? There are marks on the timing cover to tell you what is TDC. Its the small white one. Cams are at tdc when the alignment arrows are pointing up and the lines on the sides of the gears are level with the head."

no the engine won't even turn over. I hooked it up to my mothers car to jump start it and still no luck. I took the cams totally out and forgot to mark the points they were at to begin with as stated before im an idiot. I thought i put the car in TDC rightly. I even turn the crank with the car sitting still and in neutral and there seems to be no trouble turning it. I would have thought if the cams were out of wack just a tad that the car would at least turn over. Am i correct in my method to put the car at TDC.....the cams have been off the head so im starting at scratch. I was thinking the starting motor but thats not even making a click noise either. Its just dead air. could the car not start while being jumped if the battery is gone???

[HONDA GHANDI]

Before you even consider turning the engine over you really ought to be confident in your camshaft installation. For the love of jeebus go get a haynes or something and do it right. If it even cranks over once with the starter and the cams are off, it could bend the valves and you will be learning how to pull the cyl head. THEN when that is done to your satisfaction start looking at why the starter doesnt work. This is a quick list of things to look at. Battery, Cables (+ and -) Wiring connection at the starter. Check to see that the large battery cable at the starter is hooked up and clear of any corrosion. Check the small wire at the starter for 12V when the key is in the III position. Thats about all the help I can give without the car sitting right in front of me.

[Busdriver]

Also, I'm not sure if this applies to the B16 as well but on my motor I have to have the ground wire from the valve cover to the frame bolted on or it's a no go. I'm sure you've checked all your fuses, no?

As Honda Ghandi said, you definitely want to make sure that you're not going to be wasting money on a simple project by causing extra problems with things like bent vavles, etc.

[murph]

hey guys thanks for the answers, im gonna go get a haynes as soon as poss. One last question, is it possible to check to see if you have a bent valve without pulling the head??

[HONDA GHANDI]

Compression test.

[Nate]

Compression test.

Doesn't it need to turn for that though? What about leakdown?

[murph]

Hey just a quick update, the motor turned over, thank the Lord and i didn't bend any valves. However the cars timing was off just a touch and ill be fixing that tomorrow. I went and bought a manual and everything seems to be good. The problem was a faulty ground, and troublesome battery cables. Never thought that would have such an adverse effect. Anyway thanks for all the help guys much appreciated. Will post pics as soon as poss.

[defo88hcivicc]

there should be a spot on the cam cap closest to the number one cylinder.. a little hole. and there should be a matching hole on the cam and u just put a pin through there when yer at tdc to put the cam gears on.. thats how i always do it atleast i dunno about this arrow lining up stuff yer talkin about tho

[HONDA GHANDI]

B16s dont have that hole. Only Non VTEC DOHC engines do.

[STIBungy]

;ScratchHe My GSR had it.

B16s dont have that hole. Only Non VTEC DOHC engines do.

[HONDA GHANDI]

Thats not what those holes are designed for. On the LS engines they have holes in the #1 cam journals that are designed specifically for holding the cams in place during installation. The VTEC heads have plenty of tension on them so the cams do not mive during installation. The holes in the VTEC cam plates are oil releifs. They just happen to work (sometimes) for the same purpose. But it is really easy to break tools off in them and damage the oiling holes in them also. There is a special too made by Honda to hold the cam gears to remove the tight bolts but no one ever uses them. I just use a small impact gun and they pop right off.

[defo88hcivicc]

B16s dont have that hole. Only Non VTEC DOHC engines do.

man learn somethin new everyday