Possibly a MAJOR problem

[mean87]

I was driving along the highway on the way to my parents this morning and all of a sudden the car is only running on 3 cylinders. I get there and open the hood and notice one of my spark plugs is snapped, but when I finally remove it from the head it looks like it was hit HARD from underneath. I haven't been to town yet to get a new plug, simply because I don't wanna possibly damage another. Any ideas? What could cause this? It's an F22A1 BTW

[Otto]

hmmm...I JUST woke up, but sounds like maybe the piston and plug got to know each other real well One way to check if the piston is still connected to the crank: stick a long screw driver or similar impliment down the spark plug hole and turn the engine by hand. Obvisously, if it doesn't go anywere, you gotta problem. Or if you just push down and the piston drops.

Best of luck man

[southsidecb7z]

hmmm...I JUST woke up, but sounds like maybe the piston and plug got to know each other real well One way to check if the piston is still connected to the crank: stick a long screw driver or similar impliment down the spark plug hole and turn the engine by hand. Obvisously, if it doesn't go anywere, you gotta problem. Or if you just push down and the piston drops.

Best of luck man

x2, sounds like a rod let go or something...that sucks man good luck, let us know what happens

[mean87]

I took off the valve cover and checked around in there, everything looked fine. I put in an old plug and replaced the wire (old wire had a piece of the plug still in it) and started it up and it seemed to work fine, went for a drive and only made it about half a minute before it lost the cylinder again. When I got home I checked the same plug and although it wasn't broken to pieces like the last one, it had been hit on the bottom enough to close the gap. I may have to check the piston like suggested, if that's the problem it sounds like that's the end for this car

[lxinks]

dont callit quits just find another motor costs less thana new car

[southsidecb7z]

I took off the valve cover and checked around in there, everything looked fine. I put in an old plug and replaced the wire (old wire had a piece of the plug still in it) and started it up and it seemed to work fine, went for a drive and only made it about half a minute before it lost the cylinder again. When I got home I checked the same plug and although it wasn't broken to pieces like the last one, it had been hit on the bottom enough to close the gap. I may have to check the piston like suggested, if that's the problem it sounds like that's the end for this car

The end for this car? Why? Because a roughly 17 year old engine took a shit? I would rebuild it or go for some kind of swap...but its your car...whatever you do...please dont crush it lol

[jas_r34]

have you been messing around wwith the timing or anything recently or did this just happen out of the blue?

time for a swap

[Flatline]

The end for this car? Why? Because a roughly 17 year old engine took a shit? I would rebuild it or go for some kind of swap...but its your car...whatever you do...please dont crush it lol

agreed...persevere don't adapt!

[mean87]

Haven't had to touch the engine in ages, and have never played with the timing, I don't think it's timing anyways because the other 3 cylinders are fine. A swap is out of the question, I have no money or time for this, rebuilding may be an option but again the money is a problem. The cost of a replacement engine plus labor would be alot, I could probably sell this for parts or repair and get a different car for the same or less. Whatever I do I need a running car almost immediately.

A Honda technician suggested running a shorter plug in that cylinder and hoping that there's enough clearance. Anyone know of a shorter plug that will fit?

I'll do what I can to keep this car, I've put so much work into making it what it is, I've got an attachment to this car

[southsidecb7z]

Haven't had to touch the engine in ages, and have never played with the timing, I don't think it's timing anyways because the other 3 cylinders are fine. A swap is out of the question, I have no money or time for this, rebuilding may be an option but again the money is a problem. The cost of a replacement engine plus labor would be alot, I could probably sell this for parts or repair and get a different car for the same or less. Whatever I do I need a running car almost immediately.

A Honda technician suggested running a shorter plug in that cylinder and hoping that there's enough clearance. Anyone know of a shorter plug that will fit?

I'll do what I can to keep this car, I've put so much work into making it what it is, I've got an attachment to this car

Shorter plug? Yay lets jimmy rig it...seriously though, you might just be able to replace that rod and piston and keep riding(correct me if im wrong) but thats what i would look into if money is an issue as you say...ask somebody with more knowledge if this is possible. But first, find out for sure wtf the problem exactly is.

[Flatline]

Shorter plug? Yay lets jimmy rig it...seriously though, you might just be able to replace that rod and piston and keep riding(correct me if im wrong) but thats what i would look into if money is an issue as you say...ask somebody with more knowledge if this is possible. But first, find out for sure wtf the problem exactly is.

BIG option with the money issue... i was told less that $100 for a stock piston and rod...

[southsidecb7z]

BIG option with the money issue... i was told less that $100 for a stock piston and rod...

That dont sound too bad if he knows how to do this

[mean87]

All good ideas guys, keep 'em comin!

Honda technician also said that the crank could be bent???

[southsidecb7z]

All good ideas guys, keep 'em comin!

Honda technician also said that the crank could be bent???

If the crank was bent i think you would know it...once again correct me if im wrong.

[H22Artman]

pull your head.

its not hard, wont cost you anything, and it will almost certainly point to your cause of trouble.