In need of a check list: Random Misfires after Timing Belt replacement
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Hey guys,
I have a 2003 Honda Civic EX with ~178k miles, which ran perfectly fine before I dove into replacing my timing belt, tensioner, and water pump. Now, it idles fine but stumbles under load. I had the codes ran and they came back reading random misfires. I have done a few quick searches and have turned up a rash of information. What I am asking from you is a comprehensive checklist of possibilities causing the random misfires.
The story:
…it was about time to replace the timing belt. Using multiple write-ups around the Internet and my dad whom successfully performed the same job on his 2002 Civic weeks earlier, I felt confident in tearing my Civic apart.
Everything went well, we had no issues performing the job in a single evening. We were very adamant about lining up the timing marks on the crank/oil-pump and the cam "UP"/cylinder-head dash-marks. We turned the engine over by hand, making full revolutions without coming across any binding.
After buttoning the engine up, we filled it with fresh oil, coolant, and rechecked all our bases. Then, we confidently started it...
...it ran great.
I took the car for a test drive around the neighborhood, and it drove well for over a week. It seemed to me it was running smoother than ever. Then, it started to stumble. The misfiring was obvious, we took it to the nearest auto parts store and had the codes checked. The codes that were ran at the auto parts store showed random misfires on all cylinders.
The next step I took to fix the problem was cleaning some dirt/grease found around the coils and plugs. This may have helped tremendously with the "stumble" and seemed to smooth out the misfires. However, my clutch failed in the process of testing
Could anyone help me by putting together a checklist to pin point my random misfires.
I have a 2003 Honda Civic EX with ~178k miles, which ran perfectly fine before I dove into replacing my timing belt, tensioner, and water pump. Now, it idles fine but stumbles under load. I had the codes ran and they came back reading random misfires. I have done a few quick searches and have turned up a rash of information. What I am asking from you is a comprehensive checklist of possibilities causing the random misfires.
The story:
…it was about time to replace the timing belt. Using multiple write-ups around the Internet and my dad whom successfully performed the same job on his 2002 Civic weeks earlier, I felt confident in tearing my Civic apart.
Everything went well, we had no issues performing the job in a single evening. We were very adamant about lining up the timing marks on the crank/oil-pump and the cam "UP"/cylinder-head dash-marks. We turned the engine over by hand, making full revolutions without coming across any binding.
After buttoning the engine up, we filled it with fresh oil, coolant, and rechecked all our bases. Then, we confidently started it...
...it ran great.
I took the car for a test drive around the neighborhood, and it drove well for over a week. It seemed to me it was running smoother than ever. Then, it started to stumble. The misfiring was obvious, we took it to the nearest auto parts store and had the codes checked. The codes that were ran at the auto parts store showed random misfires on all cylinders.
The next step I took to fix the problem was cleaning some dirt/grease found around the coils and plugs. This may have helped tremendously with the "stumble" and seemed to smooth out the misfires. However, my clutch failed in the process of testing
Could anyone help me by putting together a checklist to pin point my random misfires.
Random Misfire Checklist:
1. Compression; what should compression be?
2. Fuel Pressure; what should fuel pressure be?
3. Coils (spark plug); what is the best way to test these?
4. Crank Shaft and Cam Sensors; what is the appropriate way to check for problems?
5. Timing Belt alignment/positioning;
6. ? (your input would be greatly appreciated!)
2. Fuel Pressure; what should fuel pressure be?
3. Coils (spark plug); what is the best way to test these?
4. Crank Shaft and Cam Sensors; what is the appropriate way to check for problems?
5. Timing Belt alignment/positioning;
6. ? (your input would be greatly appreciated!)
#2
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Rep Power: 288 Re: In need of a check list: Random Misfires after Timing Belt replacement
1. Compression should be even across the board. The numbers will vary depending on the engine but as long as they are all close and not ridiculously low your okay.
2. Not sure.
3. If it was the coils you'd know it. The car would stumble a lot and hardly run. These parts also very rarely break down. Especially four at once.
4. These sensors would toss you a CEL.
5. Timing belt shouldn't lose its alignment after it's set unless something is very wrong with the install.
6. My input? Recheck your work. Remove the upper timing belt cover and make sure nothing has happened. You should also check to make sure the timing belt hasnt skipped a tooth or two.
2. Not sure.
3. If it was the coils you'd know it. The car would stumble a lot and hardly run. These parts also very rarely break down. Especially four at once.
4. These sensors would toss you a CEL.
5. Timing belt shouldn't lose its alignment after it's set unless something is very wrong with the install.
6. My input? Recheck your work. Remove the upper timing belt cover and make sure nothing has happened. You should also check to make sure the timing belt hasnt skipped a tooth or two.
#3
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: In need of a check list: Random Misfires after Timing Belt replacement
If it drove fine for a week after the timing belt job, this is quite likely a brand new problem.
Post the actual code number(s) and the freeze frame data.
Post the actual code number(s) and the freeze frame data.
#5
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
#7
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
#8
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Unfortunately, the car isn't in front of me ATM
Will a moderator please delete this reply as well as a few of the previous?
I was actually seeking information on some mechanical excellence of any kind. Based on my previous request, If you could kindly remove yourselves from this forum so that it can be used for future mechanical problems it would be greatly appreciated. I feel confident that I am speaking for myself, as well as others that may have a similar problem in the future. Thank You for taking the time to solve my current issue, but I would rather take it from here on my own. Keep posted for positive results if anyone is interested.
Sincerely,
G.Verner
Will a moderator please delete this reply as well as a few of the previous?
I was actually seeking information on some mechanical excellence of any kind. Based on my previous request, If you could kindly remove yourselves from this forum so that it can be used for future mechanical problems it would be greatly appreciated. I feel confident that I am speaking for myself, as well as others that may have a similar problem in the future. Thank You for taking the time to solve my current issue, but I would rather take it from here on my own. Keep posted for positive results if anyone is interested.
Sincerely,
G.Verner
Last edited by Creager; 01-16-2013 at 12:53 AM.
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Rep Power: 338 Re: In need of a check list: Random Misfires after Timing Belt replacement
any thoughts on your spark plugs, by any chance? new? 1/2 life? long time ago?
understand you did not do a head gasket, but i did and they got dirty during the job, so i changed them anyway, so just a wild guess.
understand you did not do a head gasket, but i did and they got dirty during the job, so i changed them anyway, so just a wild guess.
#11
Re: In need of a check list: Random Misfires after Timing Belt replacement
my guess is your belt is loose and has jumped/skipped a tooth....
i would start by pulling the top timing cover and rechecking the timing marks....
did you use the grenade pin method when torquing down the tensioners bolt?
there is a specific method that must be followed....
with the belt off, the grenade pin installed, and the spring installed on the tensioner ONLY....
1- install tensioner and tighten bolt just snug
2- loosen the tensioner bolt half turn
3- install timing belt
4- install tensioner spring
5- turn crank by hand two full revolutions
6- check timing marks
7- repeat 5+6 one more time
8- tighten tensioner bolt and torque to spec
9- remove grenade pin
did you follow this procedure? if not, you need to rip it all apart again and reset the tensioner using this procedure....did you use a torque wrench on the tensioner bolt?
there is too much of a coincidence here....you had a fine running car, then you did a major repair, and now a week later you have a serious problem?....hhhmmmm.....if i was a gambling man, i would bet my house it has something to do with the repair you performed
i would start by pulling the top timing cover and rechecking the timing marks....
did you use the grenade pin method when torquing down the tensioners bolt?
there is a specific method that must be followed....
with the belt off, the grenade pin installed, and the spring installed on the tensioner ONLY....
1- install tensioner and tighten bolt just snug
2- loosen the tensioner bolt half turn
3- install timing belt
4- install tensioner spring
5- turn crank by hand two full revolutions
6- check timing marks
7- repeat 5+6 one more time
8- tighten tensioner bolt and torque to spec
9- remove grenade pin
did you follow this procedure? if not, you need to rip it all apart again and reset the tensioner using this procedure....did you use a torque wrench on the tensioner bolt?
there is too much of a coincidence here....you had a fine running car, then you did a major repair, and now a week later you have a serious problem?....hhhmmmm.....if i was a gambling man, i would bet my house it has something to do with the repair you performed
Last edited by mikey1; 01-16-2013 at 10:19 AM.
#12
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Rep Power: 288 Re: In need of a check list: Random Misfires after Timing Belt replacement
Can't you help someone resolve their issues and have a little bit of fun at the same time too? Didn't realize that life was this serious.
#13
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: In need of a check list: Random Misfires after Timing Belt replacement
Ermmm, AFAIK these will shut down at 2 seconds if the cam-crank relationship is out of sync (timing belt skips a tooth).....True or false?
If it did actually continue to run with the belt a tooth off, it would just be a bit low on power and possibly set codes related to that.
OP described what sounded to me like a cylinder miss under a load:
Does it misfire sitting still and revving the engine?
Does it ONLY miss while driving? Full throttle? Steady speed?
What? What?
If it did actually continue to run with the belt a tooth off, it would just be a bit low on power and possibly set codes related to that.
OP described what sounded to me like a cylinder miss under a load:
it idles fine but stumbles under load. I had the codes ran and they came back reading random misfires.
Does it ONLY miss while driving? Full throttle? Steady speed?
What? What?
#14
Re: In need of a check list: Random Misfires after Timing Belt replacement
Ermmm, AFAIK these will shut down at 2 seconds if the cam-crank relationship is out of sync (timing belt skips a tooth).....True or false?
If it did actually continue to run with the belt a tooth off, it would just be a bit low on power and possibly set codes related to that.
OP described what sounded to me like a cylinder miss under a load:
Does it misfire sitting still and revving the engine?
Does it ONLY miss while driving? Full throttle? Steady speed?
What? What?
If it did actually continue to run with the belt a tooth off, it would just be a bit low on power and possibly set codes related to that.
OP described what sounded to me like a cylinder miss under a load:
Does it misfire sitting still and revving the engine?
Does it ONLY miss while driving? Full throttle? Steady speed?
What? What?
Last edited by mikey1; 01-16-2013 at 01:13 PM.
#15
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: In need of a check list: Random Misfires after Timing Belt replacement
(Just to clarify here, since I did ask earlier.... On a thread somewhere.... Was it here? Did it get removed?)
2000 and earlier will run a tooth out, the PCM does not judge cam-crank sync on those.
#16
Re: In need of a check list: Random Misfires after Timing Belt replacement
yes i have seen (with my own 2 eyes) a 7th gen run one tooth off without shutting down
#17
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: In need of a check list: Random Misfires after Timing Belt replacement
Ok cool. What year car?
I'm trying to figure if it applies to the whole generation or if there was a programming change somewhere in the middle.
See, I just know what I have seen. I didn't recall ever seeing one still running with only one tooth off, but then I normally don't get to see/deal with the broken cars until there is a huge problem.
I have never seen this phenomenon documented in print on the Honda site, but my experience with other manufacturers leads me to "think outside the box" at times.
I'm trying to figure if it applies to the whole generation or if there was a programming change somewhere in the middle.
See, I just know what I have seen. I didn't recall ever seeing one still running with only one tooth off, but then I normally don't get to see/deal with the broken cars until there is a huge problem.
I have never seen this phenomenon documented in print on the Honda site, but my experience with other manufacturers leads me to "think outside the box" at times.
#18
Re: In need of a check list: Random Misfires after Timing Belt replacement
Ok cool. What year car?
I'm trying to figure if it applies to the whole generation or if there was a programming change somewhere in the middle.
See, I just know what I have seen. I didn't recall ever seeing one still running with only one tooth off, but then I normally don't get to see/deal with the broken cars until there is a huge problem.
I have never seen this phenomenon documented in print on the Honda site, but my experience with other manufacturers leads me to "think outside the box" at times.
I'm trying to figure if it applies to the whole generation or if there was a programming change somewhere in the middle.
See, I just know what I have seen. I didn't recall ever seeing one still running with only one tooth off, but then I normally don't get to see/deal with the broken cars until there is a huge problem.
I have never seen this phenomenon documented in print on the Honda site, but my experience with other manufacturers leads me to "think outside the box" at times.
#19
Re: In need of a check list: Random Misfires after Timing Belt replacement
I'm having the same problem with my 97 civic but I haven't changed the timing belt I have changed the spark coil I Jerry rigged it by turning the idle up what should I do to fix it
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