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The nightmare continues

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Old 09-03-2021, 07:01 AM
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Default The nightmare continues

My son has an 89 Civic wagon b17 YS1 swap.
it has run fine for 6 years and driven occasionally, it's his second car.

One day it just would not start, it would crank but no start.

So far we have checked wiring including grounds.

Replaced
ECU
Distributor
Main relay

Any more ideas? this just isn't normal to start one day and nothing the next.
The only other thing we have done recently is replace fuel tank, but drove it several days in a row afterwards.


Old 09-03-2021, 07:03 AM
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Default Re: The nightmare continues

Add fuel see if it starts.
Old 09-03-2021, 07:06 AM
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Default Re: The nightmare continues

Not a lot of info.

When you say "checked wiring", do you mean checking continuity? checking for power where its supposed to be and ground where its supposed to be? or what?

Does the fuel pump prime? Does it crank? Spark? Fuel?
Old 09-03-2021, 07:07 AM
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Default Re: The nightmare continues

Originally Posted by KYFarmer
My son has an 89 Civic wagon b17 YS1 swap.
it has run fine for 6 years and driven occasionally, it's his second car.

One day it just would not start, it would crank but no start.

So far we have checked wiring including grounds.

Replaced
ECU
Distributor
Main relay

Any more ideas? this just isn't normal to start one day and nothing the next.
The only other thing we have done recently is replace fuel tank, but drove it several days in a row afterwards.

Originally Posted by Ryanthegreat1
Add fuel see if it starts.
It has almost a full tank and getting fuel to the rail.
Old 09-03-2021, 07:09 AM
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Default Re: The nightmare continues

Originally Posted by Full_Tilt
Not a lot of info.

When you say "checked wiring", do you mean checking continuity? checking for power where its supposed to be and ground where its supposed to be? or what?

Does the fuel pump prime? Does it crank? Spark? Fuel?
That is correct.

It does crank just does not seem to be getting spark.
Old 09-03-2021, 07:52 AM
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Default Re: The nightmare continues

Clarification
by checking wiring , yes multimeter was involved, grounds were all checked and cleaned.

Basically it ran one day as it has for 6 years the next day no start.

Does the GSR B17 have a crank sensor , I put a timing belt on a few months ago and don't remember seeing one near crank pulley although it's possible I just wasn't paying attention.

BTW I've worked on Euro cars for years and I'm stumped.
Old 09-03-2021, 08:44 AM
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Default Re: The nightmare continues

Is it getting good spark as well? If you have fuel and spark it should start unless timing is off..
Old 09-03-2021, 10:13 AM
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Default Re: The nightmare continues

Originally Posted by ef n around
Is it getting good spark as well? If you have fuel and spark it should start unless timing is off..
Timing is fine put a belt on a few months ago and have been driving it off and on , it does not seem to be getting fire too plug wires.

Towed it to a buddies shop who has more time to fool with it.

Does the main relay control spark as well as fuel, I have two but it's a possibility both are bad , I don't think so but stranger things have happened.
Old 09-09-2021, 05:31 PM
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Default Re: The nightmare continues

I would suspect either the igniter (a.k.a. "ignition module"), the ignition coil or the spark plug cables are bad, in this order.
Old 09-09-2021, 05:33 PM
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Default Re: The nightmare continues

Originally Posted by honda.lioness
I would suspect either the igniter, the ignition coil or the spark plug cables are bad, in this order.
Is the ignitor in the distributor?
Old 09-09-2021, 05:52 PM
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Default Re: The nightmare continues

Originally Posted by KYFarmer
Is the ignitor in the distributor?
Yes. Below is a drawing from bkhondaparts.com. The ignitor is part #10. The coil is part #15.
Below is a photo of the bottom of a 1991 Civic LX's distributor housing. The rotor is at the top. The connection to the camshaft is at the bottom. On the right side, about mid-body, are two of the screws that hold the igniter in place.
Lots of sites discuss how to test the ignitor. E.g. https://easyautodiagnostics.com/hond...system-tests-1

If you look up the part number at bkhondaparts.com, and then google on the part number, photos will come up to help you identify the part on your Civic.

In my opinion, best practice is to replace both the ignitor and coil at the same time. A worn down igniter wears down the coil faster, and vice versa. If these parts have never been changed, they're due, even if they do not fix the problem. (On older vehicles, I am in the camp that thinks some 'throwing parts at the problem' is appropriate.)

Last edited by honda.lioness; 09-09-2021 at 06:22 PM.
Old 09-10-2021, 02:37 AM
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Default Re: The nightmare continues

Originally Posted by honda.lioness
Yes. Below is a drawing from bkhondaparts.com. The ignitor is part #10. The coil is part #15.
Below is a photo of the bottom of a 1991 Civic LX's distributor housing. The rotor is at the top. The connection to the camshaft is at the bottom. On the right side, about mid-body, are two of the screws that hold the igniter in place.
Lots of sites discuss how to test the ignitor. E.g. https://easyautodiagnostics.com/hond...system-tests-1

If you look up the part number at bkhondaparts.com, and then google on the part number, photos will come up to help you identify the part on your Civic.

In my opinion, best practice is to replace both the ignitor and coil at the same time. A worn down igniter wears down the coil faster, and vice versa. If these parts have never been changed, they're due, even if they do not fix the problem. (On older vehicles, I am in the camp that thinks some 'throwing parts at the problem' is appropriate.)
thank you..
I'm assuming the 93 Acura GSR dist is the same.
We have thrown an ECU and dist at it already but both are used.
Old 09-10-2021, 06:28 AM
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Default Re: The nightmare continues

Oh right. You have a swap. Yes, the igniter should have come with the Acura Integra distributor you installed. Did you buy an OEM distributor or aftermarket distributor? If aftermarket, consider testing the igniter anyway.

The ignition coil remains a candidate for the cause of the no spark.
Old 09-10-2021, 09:00 AM
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Default Re: The nightmare continues

Originally Posted by honda.lioness
Oh right. You have a swap. Yes, the igniter should have come with the Acura Integra distributor you installed. Did you buy an OEM distributor or aftermarket distributor? If aftermarket, consider testing the igniter anyway.

The ignition coil remains a candidate for the cause of the no spark.
Distributor and ECU were both used.
I learned years ago not to buy aftermarket parts.

Last edited by KYFarmer; 09-10-2021 at 09:01 AM. Reason: Addition
Old 09-12-2021, 04:46 AM
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Default Re: The nightmare continues

Have you verified you have no spark?
Old 09-13-2021, 11:47 PM
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Default Re: The nightmare continues

have you checked to make sure the screw that holds the rotor in place in still there? Also make sure the spring that connects the coil to the cap is still in good condition/present.
Old 09-14-2021, 02:44 AM
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Default Re: The nightmare continues

Originally Posted by crx_si-r
have you checked to make sure the screw that holds the rotor in place in still there? Also make sure the spring that connects the coil to the cap is still in good condition/present.
I have not, but it has been in my buddies shop for two weeks and last week he was on vacation.
I'm riding by there today and will check.

I have a feeling the used distributor is bad or something in the distributor.

Also going to check the ignition switch.

I really wish there was a dedicated Honda tech near me ( besides the dealer)

At this point I'm ready to pay anyone to fix it.
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