My problem on my 2.3 vtec have about 90 psi on just one cylinder n the other 3 doent have any compression at all it does have a new timing belt pulleys water pump the car will crank up n run but u can tell it has a misfire do I just need to replace or rebuild the eng I dont know much about the car I bought it cheap n was told it needed a timing belt I bought the belt n everthing but when was ready to replace it it had a new one on it wasnt broking but notice the scear key was broking replace it n this where I'm now. Thanks for any help

 

Hard to know for sure, but it sounds like the timing belt broke while the engine was running and damaged the valves. Assuming this is the case, your two best options are to yank the head and have it reconditioned and new valves put in, or buy a used engine and have it put in.

Regarding the head, the best way to know if the valves have suffered damage, have a leak down test performed on the engine and have the cylinders bore-scoped.

 

Thank you

 

If you had only compression in one cylinder it would not run..

 

I'll check again I get a different compressor tester

 

Recheck the compression, and even go as far as doing a leak down test. This will tell you if the cylinders are sealing (at the head).
If it had been running when the timing belt broke, I for see an engine change in your future, and a head replacement at minimum (due to bent valves). Once you pull the head, you'll know what kind of carnage was done (it might have damaged some pistons too). These engines are interference engines, which means timing IS critical.

 

The only possible good news here is, while valve damage is all but guaranteed when the timing belt breaks, piston damage is exceedingly rare.

 

Good to know. I've always wondered about that,even though I replaced the timing belts in both of our 6th gen Hondas. So damage for the most part would be limited to the head then (valves and guides).

 

Yup.

Over the years I think I'm only seen or heard of one instance where the pistons sustained damage, and so far at least, I've never heard of this happening to a Honda motor.

 

Very good to know. I've always worried about.