1997 Type SH Starting Problem


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Old 07-01-14, 09:47 AM
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1997 Honda Prelude Type SH Starting Problem

I have having a problem getting my car to start. It has a newer battery (1 year old), and spark plugs replaced 2 years ago. It will crank but it will not turn over, below is a video of what it is doing. I have tried 10+ times with the same results.

20140701_092954_zps446eed18.mp4 Video by shizulz | Photobucket

Any suggestions?
 
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Old 07-01-14, 07:00 PM
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It will crank but it will not turn over
Huh!!!! ................
 
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Old 07-01-14, 08:09 PM
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Did you watch the video? It will just crank and crank but will not actually start. The sparks plugs are sparking (I tested several of them even though I only needed to test one), the fuel pump turns on when I start the car.
 
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Old 07-02-14, 04:38 AM
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Translation, Joe: cranks but won't fire.

And it's got a busted timing belt. Bad news, going to need a new head.
 
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Old 07-02-14, 06:01 AM
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Translation, Joe: cranks but won't fire.
hahaha I figured that out from the first post. My point is that cranking IS turning over.
 
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Old 07-02-14, 06:10 AM
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Sorry guys, I am not all that mechanical savvy. Do you know about how much that will run? We are right on the fence on just getting a new vehicle and wanted to see if it was worth it to replace it.

Also how could I test to make sure it is the timing belt?
 
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Old 07-02-14, 06:49 AM
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We are right on the fence on just getting a new vehicle and wanted to see if it was worth it to replace it.

Also how could I test to make sure it is the timing belt?
Your trade-in value will be severely diminished if the car isn't running, I'd get it fixed. You'll have to get it towed to a shop for a final diagnosis and repairs.
 
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Old 07-02-14, 06:57 AM
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Sounds good, thank you so much Joe and The Tow Guy, I really do appreciate your help.
 
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Old 07-02-14, 07:33 PM
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You're going to be into the high side of $1000, easy. You're probably going to spend more than it's worth for trade-in to get it running. That's an interference engine - aka "valve-bender" - and when the belt breaks, it bends some of the valves. Every so often someone is living right and they break a belt on an interference engine and it doesn't take out the valves. Unfortunately the only way to be sure is to either remove the head or replace the timing belt and try it. Either option will run you $200-300 I'm guessing. The sound is pretty distinctive, so unless I'm hearing it wrong, that's what you'll find out from a garage. You didn't mention how many miles on it, the recommended interval is 105K miles and on Hondas (and some others) it's really critical to have done.

Your terminology wasn't hard to decipher; I hear people use that same description pretty often.
 

Last edited by the_tow_guy; 07-02-14 at 07:48 PM.
 

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