Honda Civic 97 Carburated Engine won't start only if time advanced very far. What is wrong ?

Question

Civic 87 1.5L Carburated After Motor Head replacement the car won't start. Timing marks all aligned. It only starts if I advance the timing moving the distribuidor too far advanced (bolt removed) Once it starts the timing can be set again back to 20 BTDC ... what is wrong ? Could be the ignition not advancing the timing for starting ?

I have checked the timing marks, and they are OK, I also use a timing lamp to check for the red mark dot once it is started.

The red mark shows at 35 or 40 after started, and I manually set the distribuidor back to the middle when it shows 20 BTDC red mark, but it left that way car won't start. I have the book and shows the marks right were I have it on the both pulleys.

Answer 1

if you replaced the head, i would think that maybe you messed up the Timing belt, possibly by one tick mark

this would explain why it start but has to have the timing advanced to make up for the improper Timing belt

trying looking at a book at autozone and recheck that the Timing belt is set properly

Answer 2

Have you checked the coil on the motor? Could be almost anything that is causing you to have low spark. The coil is a good place to start to make sure that it is giving out good spark. If seems to be average, then the next best thing would be to check the distributor itself because the bushings in the bottom of the distributor could be weak. Then if all else fails, replace the timing chain and gear.

Answer 3

I'd say that the distributor is in wrong. Sometimes because of low oil pressure at startup timing chain tensioners aren't tense.
Best to take it to a mechanic.

Answer 4

Messed up putting the timing belt back on....

Answer 5

THE CAMSHAFT TIMING AND THE CRANKSHAFT TIMING IS OFF THE PROBLEM MAY BE INCORRECT TIMING BELT....GOOD LUCK

Answer 6

you just missed a tooth in your timing
get a dentist

Answer 7

find a new mechanic, someone reinstalled something backwards