Ok I know you guys will tell me to just search around but I have. I have had the car for about 6 years and it just recently started this issue (around december). I replaced the head gasket, and every other gasket from the block up and thoroughly checked my work and followed the manual precisely. The issue is it will crank but very weak and wont start up for awhile. When it does start, it sputters and sputters, and when you give it gas its as if it needs to clear itself out before running like normal. My battery, starter, and alternator are all new as of january, did a full tune up as well (distributor cap and rotor, spark plug wires, spark plugs, fuel filter, main relay). Anything you guys can help with? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

I have a 91 Accord btw

 

Since you did a lot of work, I have a bunch of questions. My suggestion would be to do some diagnostics before replacing another part.

When you changed the head gasket, did you have the head milled so it was perfectly flat?

When you say it will crank, but very weak, what do you mean? Is the starter spinning the engine slowly? Or is the engine spinning very quickly?

Have you done a compression test?

Is the running/starting problem the same as before all of the work done?

Is the check engine light turning on, or the D4 (automatic trans) flashing? Have you checked for engine codes? See the common diy thread on top of the gen tech help for a link on how to do this.

 

check all of your fuel lines for crimps etc. and do a compression test =)

 

yes I had the head checked and surfaced so the head gasket job wouldnt be a waste. It never had this problem before I blew the head gasket.
When I go to start it, it cranks slow and gets faster and faster until it starts but really rough and sputters alot until you give it gas. then it runs fine after that.
I have not done a compression test yet so ill do that and see how it goes.
No CEL at all

Now that you mention it, I did notice that some of the fuel lines underneath look like theyve been put under a jackstand and may be pinched.. I know where to lift the car so I doubt it was me who did that but I will get that looked at.

 

Sounds like a leaking head gasket to me. Does this "slow" crank only seem to happen after the car sits for a while?

 

Most of the time yes. Last night it started up okay and I drove it about 5 miles to the store and about 20 min later it did the same thing, it wouldnt start up right aaway and took a few tries before it sputtered its way up.

 

Well, the "slow crank" has me - and others - worried about the head gasket. Water does not compress very well.

 

Give it enough time to collect water in the cylinders, then remove the sparkplugs.

When you crank the starter, watch for any water coming out of the sparkplug holes.

 

Well im pretty sure its the head. Ive talked with alot of people and they all say its the head. I wanna put a h23 DOHC non vtec head on the f22a1 block. Anyone know of a thread/writeup about this and what are your opinions and pros/cons?