90 civic dx doesn't get spark

[babybluecivic]

I bought this car not running, owner said the car stalled while in gear and hasn't started since. He had a mechanic, or mechanic buddy (not sure which) tell him it was the distributor. So I went to the junkyard and pulled a distributor off a civic. No luck, tried again and still nothing. So finally today I installed a brand new one. I haven't checked it for spark since (I don't have someone around to help me with that) but seeing as it wasn't throwing spark before and there were no codes thrown I am assuming it is still a problem with the electrical stuff. I have a multimeter but I am unsure of how to use it properly, I also do not know how to look for the timing belt and whether it is still intact. The original distributor (and every single one at the junkyard) was leaking oil.

I should also mention the fuel pump primes when the key is turned on, there is gas, and I recently charged the battery, all other electronics work.

What should I look for first?

 

[Avant Uprising]

no offense if you dont know how to check the timing belt you need to take it to a shop to have it looked at and tested and timed correctly before you cause more damage.

 

[babybluecivic]

I work at Toyota and my neighbour also works there, I will be getting his help if it passes my abilities. That said i don't want to waste his time or my money. My previous repairs have never brought me close to the timing belt so i have never tried to get the information. All I want is to diagnose the problem and then work towards fixing it.

 

[codeman76]

To check your timing belt just pull the valve cover and the timing belt upper cover. You will see the timing belt.

 

[babybluecivic]

And in my situation that's what you would expect over the ignition switch or something other then that?

 

[Avant Uprising]

well the distributor has to be lined up and retimed to get tdc then you should have spark if not you need to start testing your leads into the dist. coil. icm etc

 

[babybluecivic]

Even if the dist. Is not properly lined up it should start, just run rough right? I will try to borrow or buy a timing light in the next few days. That should also tell me if there is power through to the plugs right?

 

[Avant Uprising]

if the icm and coil are functioning properly it should.http://www.clubcivic.com/board/showthread.php?t=180000
you can take the coil and icm and autozone will test them for free. its hard to diagnose problems over the computer. with limited info and lack of honda knowledge on your part sorry.

 

[babybluecivic]

Well I've finally got around to looking into this problem more, with someone more knowledgeable beside me and we decided that we had both fuel and spark. There is at least some compression, but when you put your hand over the exhaust and crank the engine it actually creates a vacuum. Any reason it would do this?

 

[RonJ]

Sounds like the timing belt probably skipped a few teeth, causing a piston to collide with an exhaust valve. Compression test the cylinders and, if one or more cylinders has low compression, then also do a cylinder leak down test to pinpoint the problem.

 

[babybluecivic]

Thanks, we had already figured that was what happened (the belt doesn't appear to have jumped any teeth). Unfortunately taking off the valve cover is proving more difficult then it should be, it has been off before since it had silicone around it and the one bolt won't properly loosen off, the bolt seems to turn and loosen from inside the engine but won't come out all the way. In reference to the exhaust valves, for it to create the problem it has, wouldn't all the exhaust valves be broken?

 

[RonJ]

Have you checked the mechanical timing? Post pictures of the cam and crank at TDC1.

Loosen all the valve cover bolts -- then whack the valve cover with a rubber mallet.