Someone who has done it before giude me through it. Did a search and really didn't find anything on it.

Thanks

if i remember correctly:

1. pull fuel pump fuse
2. pull wire and spark plug for the cylinder to check
3. attach compression tester
4. turn engine over several times with the throttle wide open
5. the highest reading is the compression on that cylinder

it might be helpful to have a friend hold the throttle open and turn the car over while you're working under the hood.

Aaron

First get a compression gauge. You seem like you have been around long enought to know what one looks like
Unplug your fuel pump fuse, crank the engine over to kill off any fuel.
Disconnect your plug wires, and coil
Unscrew a plug, and screw the compression gage into the plug hole.
Have a friend crank the engine over while you watch the gage.
Repeat this for the rest of the cylinders.
Also search for leakdown testing. This will give you some info. on the topic.
Hope this helps,
Tim

I guess he beat me to it;)

Although i did forgot to mention to turn the engine over until it won't start anymore to get rid of any extra fuel pressure, thanks!

ak

Whooo Hooo, I did not leave that out. Now I don't feel like such an ass!

iirc,the engine have to be hot.

The engine should be at operating temperature.

Pull all the plugs, then test each cylinder.

Don't forget to open the throttle. I know it has already been mentioned, but it is easy to forget.

Ok, they covered about everything. Keep in mind stock compression should read 178psi. Anything from high 150s and up is acceptable as long as its consistent. If one cylinder varies by more than 10%, you may want to do a leakdown test. The compression tester needle should rise consistently to your reading.

Also, if you readings are a little low, try squirting some oil thru the spark plug hole (referred to as "wet" compression testing), and if the readings go up, you have some fried rings.

The next step, if your compression is otherwise low, like everyone else said, is a leakdown test.

Thanks, you guys rule.

Got a compresion gauge so I'm good to go.

Your supposed to let it crank four times like rrr, rrr, rrr, rrr... should be 185, with the minimim being 156 acoording to the b15 FSM... measurements are in psi
I got 175 on the two outer ones and 170 in the two inners.. i'm in need of a new head gasket, but I really dont feel like doin it dammit

Also, according to the manual...

If one cylinder is low, pour a bit of oil into the spark plug hole and check the reading.. if it goes up then you might have worn piston rings. If it stays low, you might have a sticking valve. And as I said if two adjacent cylinders have low pressure head gasket may be leaking