No start, weak spark
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No start, weak spark
Alright, im going to sound like an idiot, but here we go. I was in a gravel parking lot, did a "j turn" to turn around, as i was going to put the car in first and drive away the car just stalled out. Hasnt started since, that was a week ago. It wasnt a very "intense" maneuver, i didnt go over 4k, and i was probably going about 5 mph in reverse. So ive been trying to find out what the hell happened. Its kind of blowing my mind. First thing i checked for was loose wires, maybe a ground came loose, everything looks fine. It turns over fine, its getting fuel, no CEL, the ignition is good because my cluster works normally, main relay clicks, fuel pump primes... Well after looking, it seems like I have weak spark. Ive tried 3 coils, and tested them with a multimeter, coil is good. Plugs look good, wires are new, cap and rotor show no out of the ordinary wear. Inside cap theres no moisture, nothing looks or smells burned. Timing belt looks good, and i hear no odd noises when turning over, but it has no hint of life when i try to turn it over. My car has extremely high miles, but ran PERFECT before this happened, it was instant.
I just did an oil change and cleaned and re oiled the K&N filter. Also there was oil in the spark plug holes, even though i replaced the gaskets a few months back, and the #4 hole had barely any oil in it, and all 4 plugs are evenly orange with spark. So i doubt that has anything to do with it. Ive gone through all of the troubleshooting in the service manual. Hopefully i can figure this out, so i dont have to get it towed to honda just for a $100 for a "diagnosis".
I just did an oil change and cleaned and re oiled the K&N filter. Also there was oil in the spark plug holes, even though i replaced the gaskets a few months back, and the #4 hole had barely any oil in it, and all 4 plugs are evenly orange with spark. So i doubt that has anything to do with it. Ive gone through all of the troubleshooting in the service manual. Hopefully i can figure this out, so i dont have to get it towed to honda just for a $100 for a "diagnosis".
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Re: No start, weak spark
Well i put in an ignitor that i pulled from my friends car at the junkyard. Im pretty sure it works, and it still has weak spark, i highly doubt that this one and mine have the exact same problem. This car is driving me insane, any ideas?
#6
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Re: No start, weak spark
im going to say wiring problem with dizzy or bad dizzy. my distributor went bad and it was weak spark. changed it and car started right up
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Re: No start, weak spark
Hmmm... It just is wierd how the second i did that j turn, the dizzy would magically go bad, and the car would go from running perfect to dead, you know? Isnt the dizzy kind of a wear item? and i would think if a wire came loose or unhooked it would just have no start and weak spark. I could try the distributor, i heard a bad battery could cause weak spark too? But like i said, how can a battery just magically go from fine to a few dead cells or something, i mean it charges up fine...
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#8
Re: No start, weak spark
2) Have you ever installed a known-good/new coil or igniter unit?
3) Did an auto parts store test the igniter units?
4) Post your resistance test results of the coil and how you did the tests.
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Re: No start, weak spark
1. I pull a plug, and ground it against the housing for the dizzy.
2.I had 2 used that i tested with a multimeter, they both seemed fine, but i bought a new one just in case, and it had the same problem, i took it back.
3. Auto parts stores around here say all they'll test is "battery, starter, and alternator" any chain of stores in particular that you know would do it?
4. The coil i had on it tested .7 ohms between + and - and the secondary winding had about 17,000 volts.
2.I had 2 used that i tested with a multimeter, they both seemed fine, but i bought a new one just in case, and it had the same problem, i took it back.
3. Auto parts stores around here say all they'll test is "battery, starter, and alternator" any chain of stores in particular that you know would do it?
4. The coil i had on it tested .7 ohms between + and - and the secondary winding had about 17,000 volts.
#10
Re: No start, weak spark
1. I pull a plug, and ground it against the housing for the dizzy.
Did you repeat this test for all four spark plug wires? If not, do so.
2.I had 2 used that i tested with a multimeter, they both seemed fine, but i bought a new one just in case, and it had the same problem, i took it back.
With the key in ON(II), do the voltage to body ground tests described in the diagram below for the Blk/Yel wire and Wht/Blu wire. What voltages do you read and how do these readings compare to the voltage you measure across the two battery posts?
3. Auto parts stores around here say all they'll test is "battery, starter, and alternator" any chain of stores in particular that you know would do it?
Some major chain auto parts stores will test igniter units, but it depends on the store. Call as many local stores as possible. It's generally a free service.
4. The coil i had on it tested .7 ohms between + and - and the secondary winding had about 17,000 volts.
Regarding the 0.7 Ohm reading, you must subtract the internal resistance of the multimeter from this measurement. You should also remove the coil from the car, bring it into your house, let it cool to room temp, and then do the resistance tests.
Internal resistance = Ohm reading when the two meter probes are touched together.
Did you repeat this test for all four spark plug wires? If not, do so.
2.I had 2 used that i tested with a multimeter, they both seemed fine, but i bought a new one just in case, and it had the same problem, i took it back.
With the key in ON(II), do the voltage to body ground tests described in the diagram below for the Blk/Yel wire and Wht/Blu wire. What voltages do you read and how do these readings compare to the voltage you measure across the two battery posts?
3. Auto parts stores around here say all they'll test is "battery, starter, and alternator" any chain of stores in particular that you know would do it?
Some major chain auto parts stores will test igniter units, but it depends on the store. Call as many local stores as possible. It's generally a free service.
4. The coil i had on it tested .7 ohms between + and - and the secondary winding had about 17,000 volts.
Regarding the 0.7 Ohm reading, you must subtract the internal resistance of the multimeter from this measurement. You should also remove the coil from the car, bring it into your house, let it cool to room temp, and then do the resistance tests.
Internal resistance = Ohm reading when the two meter probes are touched together.
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Re: No start, weak spark
Thanks ronj, and that is factoring the internal resistance, it was .2 and the meter was reading .9. Ill test the ignitor now.
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Re: No start, weak spark
Ok thanks, ill check tomorrow before work. If this doesnt figure it out im ready to part out my car and get an M3 lol
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Re: No start, weak spark
Ok i just did the test i got 12.88V for battery voltage, everything tested good, all above 12V, except the YEL/GRN. YEL/GRN had 0 V. Thing is when i hooked all the wires back into the ignitor, i tested them again, and they ALL had above 12V when everything was hooked up...
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Re: No start, weak spark
Okay then, with all the wires hooked up they were all good, and above 12V, i guess ill order a "new" new igniter, and might as well do cap and rotor. I really hope this works.
What is a good replacement brand for it? Ive heard hondas are picky with their electronic components, ill try not to pay for honda OEM parts if i dont have to, the 2 ignitors i have right now are NEC and Hitachi.
What is a good replacement brand for it? Ive heard hondas are picky with their electronic components, ill try not to pay for honda OEM parts if i dont have to, the 2 ignitors i have right now are NEC and Hitachi.
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Re: No start, weak spark
Could be a bad dizzy. Try borrowing a friends dizzy and put it on and see if there is a difference because that was what I did when my car died, and I found out what was wrong with my car which meant I saved hella $$$$$...
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Re: No start, weak spark
Got the new ignitor on, no luck. Still weak spark, new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, icm, coil... I dont know whats wrong. Im done with this car, this little problem has been going on for so long im almost ready to sell it, even after all the work i put into it. But well see... Ill try to get it to the dealership tomorrow. Any last ideas before i pay $100 for a diagnosis?
And thanks VXvtec, but i dont know anyone who owns any foreign car, detroit is domestic country, ive only seen 3 other eg/ej's around here. But isnt the only thing that can happen to the dizzy is the bearing go bad? Ive replaced pretty much all the electronics inside of it besides those little magnet things...
And thanks VXvtec, but i dont know anyone who owns any foreign car, detroit is domestic country, ive only seen 3 other eg/ej's around here. But isnt the only thing that can happen to the dizzy is the bearing go bad? Ive replaced pretty much all the electronics inside of it besides those little magnet things...
#21
Re: No start, weak spark
https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/99-dx-hatch-wont-start-3039271/
Think I'm having the same problem??
Think I'm having the same problem??
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