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I recently picked up a 89 honda civic hatchback. it was swapped with a d16y8, i got the ecu chipped. i have gotten the car to start great 2 times, the rest of the times i started it and it sounded like it was running on bad timing and would nit let me rev the motor. limp mode? Whenever we use starting fluid the engine will actually fire like it has fuel but it will backfire out the intake. i put new gas in it too. i checked the timing and it was fine. the belts were brand new. I opened up the distributor and there was a white powder in the cap as if there was some corrosion in there. i cranked it with a fuel line cracked open and it leaked which means it has fuel. i did a compression check and everything was perfect.

 
Rep Power: 126

Is the fuel pump priming?

 
Rep Power: 222

Did you verify the timing?

 
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loud humming when i turn the key so i would assume

 
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this thing has me stumped. lol

 
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yes put a pole in cylinder 1, cranked it to TDC and the marks lined up.

 
Rep Power: 222

So mechanical timing is good, what about the ignition timing? The distributor is adjustable

 
Rep Power: 229

...it shouldn't back fire out of the intake. That would mean the valves are open or damaged during the ignition cycle.

 
Rep Power: 211

Recheck firing order, the spark plug wires may be in the wrong order. Firing out of order will cause a loud noise in the intake.