So Fix it

Car problems can be frustrating, especially when youre trying to get somewhere important. Before calling a professional mechanic to take a look at your Honda that wont start, try a few tips to solve the problem.

Reasons

There are several reasons why your Honda engine might turn over, but not turn on. It might be a problem with the fueling system or the ignition system. Either not enough gas is getting to the engine or the engine is not combusting fuel.

Location

First, confirm that you have sufficient gasoline in the tank. If you do, then go to the fuel tank at the back of the vehicle. Crawl underneath the vehicle and check the fuel tank for holes. Follow the fuel line from the fuel tank to the engine. Look for corrosion along the fuel line which might indicate a fuel leak. Check components that are often in need of maintenance, such as the fuel filter, fuel pump, spark plug and starter.

Troubleshooting

Put at least two gallons of gas in your fuel tank and immediately try to start your vehicle. This should cover the possibility of an empty fuel tank. Your fuel filter, fuel pump and spark plugs are easily replaceable; replace these components. If you have some automotive knowledge, you might be able to check and replace the camshaft mounted near the top of the engine as well. Also, check your catalytic converter, located underneath the vehicle, to make sure it is not warped or damaged. Consult a professional mechanic if the problem continues.

The definition of camber angle in your 1988 Mustang is: the inward or outward tilt of the top of the tire as viewed from the front of the car. Making a camber adjustment on the 1988 Mustang is a matter of moving the position of the upper strut mount relative to the lower ball joint. Moving the strut mount in toward the center of the Mustang will cause camber to be more negative and moving it out away from the center will cause camber to be more positive. The goal of the camber adjustment is to provide good steering stability, with minimal tire wear.

Instructions

1

Park the car on a level surface with the steering wheel pointed straight ahead and level. Apply the parking brake and secure the front wheels with wheel chocks wedged in front of and behind the wheels.

2

Attach the camber gauge to the front wheel following the instructions supplied with the gauge set. This varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and you should do it according to the manufacturers instructions to prevent damage to the gauge or wheel.

3

Locate the camber adjustment point on the upper strut mount. In the 1988 Mustang, this is on top of the strut towers on either side of the engine compartment. The strut mount plate is bolted to the strut tower and the adjuster is pop-riveted to the strut tower.

4

Remove the pop rivet by drilling the head off the rivet, using a 1/4-inch drill bit, and pushing the body of the rivet through the strut tower using a center punch. An alternative method is to cut the rivet head off with a hammer and chisel before pushing the rivet through the tower.

5

Place a floor jack under the front lower control arm and lift the wheel slightly off the ground. Using a wrench, loosen the three 15-mm nuts that attach the mount to the tower.

6

Insert a pry bar between the strut tower and the mount and pry the mount, in the direction necessary, to adjust the camber. Move the mount until the camber gauge shows .5 degrees +/- .25 negative camber. Tighten the strut tower nuts and lower the car to the ground. Repeat the process for the opposite side of the car.

7

Lower the floor jack and bounce the front of the car to settle the chassis. Recheck the camber reading with the car on the ground. Readjust the camber as necessary until the camber readings on both sides are within specifications and within .5 degrees camber of each other.

The Acura Legend was a series of luxury cars manufactured by Honda under its Acura brand from 1986 to 1995. The 1988 models were available with six-cylinder engines having a displacement of either 2.5 liters or 2.7 liters. The procedure for installing a timing belt is the same for both engines. The timing belt on a 1988 Acura Legend keeps the rotation of the camshaft and crankshaft synchronized, so that the cylinder valves open and close at the correct time.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the cable on the negative battery terminal with a socket wrench. Detach the cover for the crankshaft pulley and the harness cover above the upper timing belt cover. Release the clamp for the engine sub-harness. Remove the support bolts and side mount brackets for the engine.

2

Raise and support the engine with a chain hoist. Disconnect the lower splash guard on the engine with a socket wrench. Remove the adjusting bolt on the idler pulley for the air conditioner, and disconnect the air compressor drive belt. Disconnect the mounting bolt and adjusting bolt for the alternator. Detach the drive belt for the alternator and remove the alternator.

3

Remove the mounting bolt and the drive belt for the power steering pump with a socket wrench. Disconnect the power steering pump. Remove the upper covers for the timing belt.

4

Turn the crankshaft clockwise so that the number-1 piston is at its top dead center position by aligning the timing marks on the crankshaft. Remove the bolt for the crankshaft pulley with a socket wrench and detach the crankshaft pulley. Disconnect the lower cover for the timing belt.

5

Loosen the adjusting bolt for the timing belt tensioner with a socket wrench. Push the tensioner to relieve the tension on the timing belt and tighten the adjusting bolt. Remove the timing belts, and adjust the crankshaft again to align its timing marks if necessary.

6

Place the new timing belt onto the crankshaft, front camshaft, water pump, tensioner pulleys and rear camshaft, in that order. Turn the bolt on the belt tensioner pulley a half-turn counterclockwise with a socket wrench. This allows the tensioner spring to set the timing belt tension automatically. Tighten the pulley bolt to 31 foot-pounds with a torque wrench.

7

Turn the crankshaft six turns clockwise so that the crankshaft and camshaft timing marks align again. Continue turning the crankshaft to align the blue mark on the crankshaft pulley with the pointer on the engine. Loosen the pulley bolt on the timing belt tensioner, then tighten it with a socket wrench.

8

Tighten the crankshaft pulley bolt to 83 foot-pounds with a torque wrench. Perform steps one through three in reverse order to install the remaining components. Torque the bolts for the engine side mount bracket to 40 foot-pounds.