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So I was 2x as high on hydrocarbons as allowed. Everything else passed fine. I was told to run a can if Seafoam thru engine. Did that. Then I did the Seafoam into a vacuum line trick but didn't ever "stall" car n wait 20-30 min like I later was told. Also I checked timing and retarded it a bit I thought..... HOWEVER... I forgot the little jumper wire/paper clip in passenger kick panel pig tail. Think I messed timing up n used WAAAY too much Seafoam. As I was driving to redo emissions it started making rattling sounds around catalytic converter and lost all power(took an hr to drive 2 miles,and had to be pulled up last steep hill to house. Now car is leaking at flex joint in Exhuast in front of cat n will not rev. As I tried to get it to rev past 4K rpm's it died after a minute and WILL NOT START NOW! Please help I'm at a loss here. How can I get back to square one?

 
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Someone plz respond! I'm in DESPERATE NEED OF HELP!!!!! Thanks in advance

 
Rep Power: 518

disconnect the cat from the exhaust or engine (disconnect at the joint that is now leaking) and see if that allows the engine to rev up correctly


feeding seafoam or any liquid into a running engine too quick can hydrolock the engine and bend connecting rod(s)

all that extra fuel can ruin a catalytic converter (seafoam becomes a fuel that feeds the fire in the cat), you can damage the element and cause it to crack or break and clog the exhaust

 
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What are you saying here? Are you saying you didn't stall the motor while inducing seafoam or are you saying you stalled it then let it sit for 20 minutes? Did you want it to stall or did you not want it to stall? I'm so confused here.
If you pull Seafoam into the vacuum line and let the engine stall, then sit, what are you doing? The seafoam isn't in contact with the fuel injectors, valve head, valve seat or valve throat. Most of it has probably gone out the exhaust valves at this point, the rest sitting on the cylinder head.



Why did you adjust the timing? You checked the timing, what was the result? You thought you retarded it? Well, did you or did you not?

What is it leaking? Could you possibly be more vague?

 
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No I did not stall car with the Seafoam. I was told that after I had done it. What is leaking is the exhaust out of the flex joint in front of the cat. As for timing I was just checking it but forgot jumper wire. Crack was a lil dirty so I didn't see the red line n the other 2 till later. So I just moved distributor forward and back a bit, looking for 3 lines. I tightened it back up then crawled under car n cleaned off crank n found the lines. After the Seafoam I **** car down for 10-15 min while I got cleaned up to go to emissions place. There was a lil rattle sound coming from exhaust somewhere. I shoulda just stopped n got back home. But I drove further n it got to where I lost ALL power. Like a dumbass I drove it home rather than towing it. Took bout an hr for a 3 min drive. Once home it WOULD NOT REV past 4K rpm. So in frustration I kept trying to get it to rev thinking that it was just gunk or something being cleaned out by Seafoam. Then as I revved it after a min it died. Hasn't started since. Checked compression n all 4 cylinders are between 100 n 115. Which I believe is low but consistent. I just want to get it started again so I can start over. Trying to be as descriptive as possible. I workin lots of my rides, I'm really not an idiot but am new to Hondas. I usually work on f150 or explorer or my grand Cherokee. Thanks for any and all input guys! I TRULY APPRECIATE IT

 
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Ezone that was my original thought was I'd clogged cat. The first bolt broke as I was trying to undo flex joint. So I got a new one and put it in but NVR did disconnect it. But the joint itself is no longer leaking. It's got a 1/4" hole in the top of the Y right before flex joint

 
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So you set the timing mechanically and it still won't start? If you didn't then get that timing set and try to start it. Is it turning over? If it is turning over are you getting ANY ignition?

Is this a D15B7 or D16 VTEC?

 
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Another thought... If you ran too much Seafoam through it you may have sooty or wet spark plugs. Pull them and clean em or replace.

 
Rep Power: 518

OMG you went backwards LOL...

Whichever is easiest for you:
You might be able to remove the front O2 sensor and gain just a little performance, that would indicate you're on the right track and need to take the exhaust apart. (I've done this on engines that wouldn't start at all due to clogged exhaust, removing the sensor allowed just enough 'breathing room' to let it start)

Then take the pipes apart there at that joint and run the engine, see if you can then rev it up freely while the cat is completely disconnected .
That would prove or disprove exhaust restriction as the problem.



Why is there a 1/4" hole?

I was thinking excess backpressure could cause the spring loaded joint to open up. I hope you still have correct bolts and springs in the flex joint....if it can't flex, you can snap the flanges off the pipes.

 
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Actually ezone was correct! As soon as I diconnected cat it fired right up then I was able to get it back accurately timed(WITH JUMPER Wire). It's running great till I try hooking Exhuast back up. So I'll take it to my friend that owns Exhuast shop n have him fix the rest. But I'll post as to weather I got hydros to go dwn on emissions or not. Thanks for everyone's help!

 
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I was mistaken on the hole it was coming out of top of Exhuast flex joint. Guess the frozen fingers mislead me there.thanks again

 
Rep Power: 518

Before your buddy welds a new cat in place, someone NEEDS to make sure the high hydrocarbon failure problem was either caused by a failing cat, or the actual problem gets fixed before installing a new cat.

2xHigh HC can ruin the brand new cat in short order.