civic won't start after timing belt change-HELP!

Well just when I thought I'd did good, I must have messed up. I(a backyard
looser mechanic) replaced my timing belt and water pump on my 91 Civic Hatch
1500cc. After a successful ordeal getting the crankshaft pulley bolt off, I
thought I had made it. Well I must have messed up when I put the T-belt on.
The cam sprocket did move a tiny bit, so I moved it back to the side marks
and the up, straight up. Thought every thing was AOK. Put everything back
and it won't start up.

Went back and took just the top timing belt cover off and when the rotor
cap is pointed to the number one, the cam sprocket shows straight up and
side marks where they are supposed to be. What am I missing?

How can I tell if I'm off a tooth and would just being off one cause it not
to start at all?

thanks in advance

Gary now stranded.......

On Sun, 21 Nov 2004 07:57:00 GMT, "Ropert's Aloha"
> wrote:

>Well just when I thought I'd did good, I must have messed up. I(a backyard
>looser mechanic) replaced my timing belt and water pump on my 91 Civic Hatch
>1500cc. After a successful ordeal getting the crankshaft pulley bolt off, I
>thought I had made it. Well I must have messed up when I put the T-belt on.
>The cam sprocket did move a tiny bit, so I moved it back to the side marks
>and the up, straight up. Thought every thing was AOK. Put everything back
>and it won't start up.
>
>Went back and took just the top timing belt cover off and when the rotor
>cap is pointed to the number one, the cam sprocket shows straight up and
>side marks where they are supposed to be. What am I missing?
>
>How can I tell if I'm off a tooth and would just being off one cause it not
>to start at all?

Did you do the usual check for fuel and spark?
It's natural to assume the belt is the problem but you may have
knocked off a wire somewhere. Did you change the fuel filter at the
same time by any chance?

On Sun, 21 Nov 2004 07:57:00 GMT, "Ropert's Aloha"
> wrote:

>Well just when I thought I'd did good, I must have messed up. I(a backyard
>looser mechanic) replaced my timing belt and water pump on my 91 Civic Hatch
>1500cc. After a successful ordeal getting the crankshaft pulley bolt off, I
>thought I had made it. Well I must have messed up when I put the T-belt on.
>The cam sprocket did move a tiny bit, so I moved it back to the side marks
>and the up, straight up. Thought every thing was AOK. Put everything back
>and it won't start up.
>
>Went back and took just the top timing belt cover off and when the rotor
>cap is pointed to the number one, the cam sprocket shows straight up and
>side marks where they are supposed to be. What am I missing?
>
>How can I tell if I'm off a tooth and would just being off one cause it not
>to start at all?

Did you do the usual check for fuel and spark?
It's natural to assume the belt is the problem but you may have
knocked off a wire somewhere. Did you change the fuel filter at the
same time by any chance?

i had the same prob with my 1995 civic...its was the coil in the distributor
"John Ings" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 21 Nov 2004 07:57:00 GMT, "Ropert's Aloha"
> > wrote:
>
> >Well just when I thought I'd did good, I must have messed up. I(a
backyard
> >looser mechanic) replaced my timing belt and water pump on my 91 Civic
Hatch
> >1500cc. After a successful ordeal getting the crankshaft pulley bolt off,
I
> >thought I had made it. Well I must have messed up when I put the T-belt
on.
> >The cam sprocket did move a tiny bit, so I moved it back to the side
marks
> >and the up, straight up. Thought every thing was AOK. Put everything back
> >and it won't start up.
> >
> >Went back and took just the top timing belt cover off and when the rotor
> >cap is pointed to the number one, the cam sprocket shows straight up and
> >side marks where they are supposed to be. What am I missing?
> >
> >How can I tell if I'm off a tooth and would just being off one cause it
not
> >to start at all?
>
> Did you do the usual check for fuel and spark?
> It's natural to assume the belt is the problem but you may have
> knocked off a wire somewhere. Did you change the fuel filter at the
> same time by any chance?
>
>

i had the same prob with my 1995 civic...its was the coil in the distributor
"John Ings" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 21 Nov 2004 07:57:00 GMT, "Ropert's Aloha"
> > wrote:
>
> >Well just when I thought I'd did good, I must have messed up. I(a
backyard
> >looser mechanic) replaced my timing belt and water pump on my 91 Civic
Hatch
> >1500cc. After a successful ordeal getting the crankshaft pulley bolt off,
I
> >thought I had made it. Well I must have messed up when I put the T-belt
on.
> >The cam sprocket did move a tiny bit, so I moved it back to the side
marks
> >and the up, straight up. Thought every thing was AOK. Put everything back
> >and it won't start up.
> >
> >Went back and took just the top timing belt cover off and when the rotor
> >cap is pointed to the number one, the cam sprocket shows straight up and
> >side marks where they are supposed to be. What am I missing?
> >
> >How can I tell if I'm off a tooth and would just being off one cause it
not
> >to start at all?
>
> Did you do the usual check for fuel and spark?
> It's natural to assume the belt is the problem but you may have
> knocked off a wire somewhere. Did you change the fuel filter at the
> same time by any chance?
>
>

> Did you do the usual check for fuel and spark?

I checked for spark by simply taking out a plug and wire and then cranked. I
saw spark from the plug. I didn't do every plug, but assume that means I
have spark.


Did you change the fuel filter at the
> same time by any chance?

No, didn't change the fuel filter. How would I check for fuel? I really
didn't do anything but take the valve cover off and disconnected the air
cleaner. I looked at all the connections over and over. Maybe I'm missing
something...........

> Did you do the usual check for fuel and spark?

I checked for spark by simply taking out a plug and wire and then cranked. I
saw spark from the plug. I didn't do every plug, but assume that means I
have spark.


Did you change the fuel filter at the
> same time by any chance?

No, didn't change the fuel filter. How would I check for fuel? I really
didn't do anything but take the valve cover off and disconnected the air
cleaner. I looked at all the connections over and over. Maybe I'm missing
something...........

>i had the same prob with my 1995 civic...its was the coil in the
>distributor


But was it after changing the timing belt?? It started fine before changing
the T-belt. I have spark coming out of the plugs, wouldn't that mean the
coil is ok?

>i had the same prob with my 1995 civic...its was the coil in the
>distributor


But was it after changing the timing belt?? It started fine before changing
the T-belt. I have spark coming out of the plugs, wouldn't that mean the
coil is ok?

On Sun, 21 Nov 2004 21:43:47 GMT, "Ropert's Aloha"
> wrote:

>No, didn't change the fuel filter. How would I check for fuel?

There's usually a plug at the end of the fuel rail.

The reason I asked is this: If somehow the fuel system has been
drained, the short time the fuel pump runs when you turn the key on is
not enough to refill it. I once changed my fuel filter and then
wondered why the engine wouldn't start. The reason is that it takes
maybe a dozen key-on-key-off cycles without turning the engine over
before the fuel rail is filled and at full operating pressure. The ECU
will not let the pump run for more than a couple of seconds if the
engine is not running. The same situation can occur if you have
leaking injector.