I have a 96 civic ex and I have a problem starting the car when it is cold or has sat longer than 3 hrs. When it tries to start it will backfires threw the intake. Then it might start after 4 or 5 tries. I changed out the head but that was a no go still does the same thing. It sometimes starts to missfire when its hot and even tries to die at a smooth speed around 30 mph. My tac bounces from 3000 rpm to 0 about 4 or 5 times and then dies. I have changed the fuel filter, fuel injectors, plug wires, plugs, coil, cap, rotor, and fuel pump. But No Go One other quick note this might help or not. During acceleration my car goes to lean and not to rich. Sorry about my rambling but any help[&o] or comments would be greatly appreciated. Thank You

 

did you check the valve lash on the new head.
also, check your timing.

 

I did set the valve lash and timing, but still a no go.

 

did you set the timing with a timing light. i still think your timing is off.
how many miles ??
cel on ???
rebuilt head or from a junk yard ??
is that tbi or port ??? new fuel injectors ????

did the head ; but not the rings.
reason that you put on a different head ??
may need to do a compression check.

 

did set with a timing light.
225k miles
23 inHg of vacume
Rebuilt head
Compession around 195 in all cylinders
New injectors
Bottom end was changed around 60k miles ago
I hope that could help you out

 

wish i could help - but just dont know.
Cel is Check engine light - but i guess that is not on or you would have mentioned it.

i had a miss in mine and could never figure it out and just kept driving it until it stranded me.
still could not find the component and had to replace the entire dist. i am leary of replacing the coil because of the other components in there that could also be going out (unless it is deteremined for sure that the coil is bad). also have the ignitor and the pick-up coil in there.
i do not think that those components will last the mileage that you have (something in mine did not last 185,000).
but definitely do not want to make a recommendation to replace the dist unless a component in there was found to be going out (which in the case of something intermittant is very hard to do). does the tach run off of the dist ?????

those timing belts will slip also. did on me, but to the extent that it would not start. and that was after puttting on a new belt. not much in the way of honda as far as putting on a timing belt - no instructions about how to tighten it (just over the pulley and tighten that with the spring - i went and replaced my spring).

Did you put on a new timing belt ??

 

I did change the timing belt and water pump around 20k ago. and checked it again when I changed the head. It was still in good condition. I order a new dist. from honda and hopefully that will fix it. I have no check engine lights as of now but still has a hard time starting. The tach is run of the dist...it is the blue wire on the harness from the dist. If you can think of anything else please feel free to let me know. If That fixes it I will be sure to post it up here to let people know if they have the question in the future. Thank You

 

I was able to fix my civic. FYI I changed my dist. and the TDC sensor was bad and the ignitor had bad ohms. Just thought you would like to know if anyone else has this problem. It may help you out. Thanx