Tommycils

I have a 98 Civic, it started by stalling while driving, then after anywhere between 2-10 mins, would start back up and run fine..I've done so many searches to figure it out because it's not throwing any codes..I was told by a Honda tech, that it was most likely the fuel pump, I replaced that, it ran good for about 4 days, then started the stalling while driving again..I talked to a Honda freak and he said he's had 5 of these, and every one of em it was the distributor..Sooo..I just replaced the whole distributor, and now she won't even crank over..even after putting the old one back in and trying it..Now I'm stuck..the car atleast started before with the old one, and wouldn't stall until the car was warm..now it won't even cold start..it's gettin spark(but looks weak)..I just don't know what I can do next..ppl say the cam or crank sensor?, some ppl say some ground wires under the exhaust manifold?..some say coolant temp sensor??..I'm lost n don't want to keep throwing money away if there's something I'm overlooking..but now since it won't start with a new distributor, I need to handle that first and atleast get it running again, before troubleshooting further..please help me out..

Former User

Did you install the plug wires in the wrong firing order?

Did you install a new distributor or used one?

eghatch9295

iTrader: (1)

your no start sounds MUCH more typical of an ignition switch than a distributor. coils are usually the culprit with them, and they take a lot longer than a few minutes to cool down. diagnostics necessary here.

Tommycils

I'm 100% positive they're in the right order, even if they weren't it would atleast start I believe, it would just run like crap..And the distributor was brand new, not just the cap and rotor, the whole coil, module and everything inside..there was a recall on the ignition switch on those, but Honda said that was done in '02..

Tommycils

Tommycils

Yeah, there were recalls on the switch, but Honda said it was done back in '02..n it's frustrating now beings that the damn thing won't even start after simply un bolting the old distributor, should I try plugs?..would plugs be a reason it wouldn't start?

Former User

Wrong

Does the fuel pump prime?

What makes you call the spark weak?

Does the CEL work?

New aftermarket or Honda distributor?

eghatch9295

iTrader: (1)

an ignition switch from 13 years ago could certainly be worn out again. easy to test.

tony_2018

I notice no one said this yet, did you install the new distributor correctly? The distributor slides in easy one way and is hard going in the other way.

Tommycils

The fuel pump primes, I stuck a Philips head in my spark plug wire and held it by a bolt and had someone crank it it's jumping, but it's orange, and was told it should be blue usually..

Tommycils

It seems there's only one way to fit in, the teeth on it fit right into the crankshaft..any other way and the bolts to bolt it on won't line up..and supposedly there's these lines on the little circles that are supposed to be lined up, but there's no way possible that they can stay lined up while trying to install the distributor..

Tommycils

It seems there's only one way to fit in, the teeth on it fit right into the crankshaft..any other way and the bolts to bolt it on won't line up..and supposedly there's these lines on the little circles that are supposed to be lined up, but there's no way possible that they can stay lined up while trying to install the distributor the right way..

tony_2018

You need to spin the shaft on the distributor, not try and mount the distributor in differently.

Hondaciv866

suprised no one has mentioned this.. whenever you get your distributer issue fixed and if you still have random stalling try replacing the main relay.. A bad main relay (this can be found under the dash, do a search) can be the cause of issues you originally mentioned.

tony_2018

Main focus atm is that the car isn't starting up AFTER the distributor replacement.

Tommycils

Is there a way to spin the bigger circle on the distr. tho?.. The smaller one will spin freely, and I didn't really mount it in differently, I don't think there's even a wrong way to
Mount it?..

Tommycils

I did go
And buy one the other day, that will be next
For sure..will the ignition switch go bad again?, it was recalled and taken care of back in 02, wasn't sure if I should get that after handling the dis issue

tony_2018

No wrong ....you ****** kidding me? DAMN

Tommycils

I mean unless you're just plain dumb, it's not really science to re-install the distributor..line the teeth in the distributor up with the crank and put it in..but with a no start still, I'm curious about these little lines on the dizzy..cuz there's no way to install it right and keep those scored lines together, without being able to line your bolt holes up how they should be..I just don't have all the testing tools, so I'm trying to figure it out if possible before taking it anywhere, my mechanic I trust is in a neighboring state, and I'm trying to avoid towing it that far..

Former User

Carefully read the forum Rules sticky before you make anymore posts in this forum.

What color is spark if you use a new properly gapped NGK spark plug to test spark quality? A new spark plug costs about $2. Spark should be bright white.

Answer all questions posted in your thread.

And post pictures of the firing order of your spark plug wires running from the cap to the valve cover.

Tommycils

I did the fuel pump, it ran fine for 4 days, started stalling while driving again but would start after 5-10mins, running fine until it would do it again..Was told it was the ignition coil and/or module..just went ahead and did whole new distributor..Still stalled again after an hour while driving..did the Main Relay and it seems to be fine after driving another hour..if this persists, any other professional suggestions??.. Esp after throwing no codes?..I'm throwing parts at it and I'm hoping it was the relay, but just in case, I'd like any more suggestions..thank you!

Former User

You are allowed one thread per topic, as stated in the forum Rules sticky. Answer all questions or this thread gets locked.

mechanix619

Systematically test components. Don't purchase a part until you know the current part is faulty.

Check spark, fuel, ect.

Check for spark at the coil and plugs. If both check good then move onto the next test.

When I had a random stall/no start issue a few years ago the issue ended up being a faulty MAP sensor.

A little history on the car wouldn't hurt. What was done to the car prior to this issue?

Good luck.