Questions and Answers
Civic Missing A Cylinder?
Q. Dear Mr. Ciulla, I have a 1986 Honda Civic CRX (automatic transmission, four cylinder), and boy does it have problems. The timing belt was recently replaced, and although it's been timed, the car runs like it's only using three cylinders.
The pistons have been checked and appear to be okay, and all the spark plugs, and spark plug wires are brand new.
My poor husband can't figure out what is wrong with it! Do you have any ideas on what the problem could be? Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for taking the time to help.
Sincerely,
ElisabethA. I would check the compression in all the cylinders first. That will tell you if there is a problem with the engine itself.
You didn't mention which engine you have in that car. Both fuel injection and carburetors were used in that year. If it is fuel injected, you may have a clogged fuel injector in one or more cylinders.
If the timing belt was replaced because the old one broke, it is almost certain there are bent valves in the engine. They are interference engines which mean the pistons and valves occupy the same place in the cylinder at different times and when the belt breaks, the pistons hit the valves causing them to bend.
Additional Information provided courtesy of ALLDATA
