BombSquad91

I have a 1989 Civic DX Hatchback with the D15B2 motor. Yesterday I changed my head gasket, valve cover gasket, timing belt, water pump, plugs wire, rotor distributor cap, oil, intake/exhaust manifold gaskets. The car starts up fine and idles beautifully. Revs fine in neutral. When I drive though the car hesitates. If i floor it in first the car goes nowhere until the RPM's get to about 4,000. I'm estimating cause I dont have a tach. When I drive the car I have to be 1 gear lower than I normally would be in to get any power. It's like 1st gear is 2nd gear, 2nd gear is 3rd gear, and so on. No backfiring. When I took off the timing belt I din't move the cam gear or the crank pulley at all. Any movement was made while the timing belt was on and they moved together. The car doesn't stall at all. What could the issue be? Where do I start troubleshooting? Thanks in advance.

SpdySylvrEX

Go back and make sure you have the timing right. Just cause you didn't move the cam gear, doesn't mean it's correct. If that's good, did you torque everything correctly? plug wires in the right spots? (1 to 1, 2 to 2) vacuum lines all good? vacuum leaks? leave something unplugged?

BombSquad91

I used the Bentley's Manual. The way they explined it was a lil confusing. I figured if I didn't move anything i wouldn't have to bother with the marks. Could you explain or lead me to a link that explains how to check all the timing markings?

BombSquad91

Am I damaging the car by driving it?

FordSlayer

could be. any time you have to lugg down the engine, you risk bending rods.

SpdySylvrEX

try a chiltons manual, they are a little easier to read. Google search or even youtube. I am sure there is someone who has done a video on how to set your timing.

FordSlayer

http://www.clubcivic.com/board/showthread.php?t=17671

Try that. Thats what I used the first time I did mine. Ive helped other people around town with civics now, i can change it with my eyes closed.

td1238

MAP sensor and TPS will cause hesitation if not connected, though you will get a CEL. Not likely a faulty part, as the car worked before, I'm guessing, but if a temp sensor is failed or inaccurate, or someone forgot to hook it up, power can be somewhat lacking.

I find that if I mess with the TPS and don't reset the computer, acceleration is very unpredictable.

Last thing I did to my car I forgot to reconnect the vacuum line to the MAP sensor. Acceleration was terrible, but it idled like crap, too.