Hi everyone,

Well, it's kind of a long story, and some people from this forum have been helping me along the way:

I have a 1989 Honda Civic Dx 1.5, it broke down a little while ago. I had it towed to a mechanic, who told me that the distributor "had no spark," and I needed a new one. So I bought a used one, installed it, but could not get the car to start for several days, while I learned about TDC, but no luck. I checked the fuses just for fun, and my alternator fuse was broken. I replaced it, and now the car starts, but the check engine light comes on from the start, and the car idles funny. The engine kind of shakes back and forth. I haven't tried to drive it yet.

Any ideas what could be wrong? Do I still not have the ignition timing set right?
Could it be that the fuse was the problem the whole time and the distributor was ok?

Thanks,
Bob

 

if you replaced with correct distib, you should not have any problems.. but in mechanic adjusted timing that is whats wrong, you also might want to clean the cap, rotor, and check spark gap on plugs..make sure all your grounds are connected as well..

 

I'm pretty sure it is the correct distributor, it has the same model number anyway. I've been screwing with the timing a lot, so that could definitely be it.

Do you think I'm off just a little bit?

 

What's the code for from the check engine light? If its something to do with the distributor then you may have a bad "new distributor"

 

How do I find the code?

 

Another thing to doublecheck is plug wires, making sure they are in the correct order...

Also, what code is it throwing? Look at the ECU, and little window is on the top of it, and the red LED will flash a certain amount of flashes. Use this guide to figure what code it is.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bobdlee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How do I find the code?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I got a better guide.

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=468260

 

Ok, I checked the LED, found codes 4 and 8. Resetting the ECU took care of 4. The solutions from the guide to code 8, TDC position, all seem to require a multimeter and other stuff, which I lack.

Couldn't I be having this problem just because I haven't set the timing right? I don't think it's a problem with electrical connections, do I need the ohmeter and stuff?

thanks,
bob

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bobdlee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ok, I checked the LED, found codes 4 and 8. Resetting the ECU took care of 4. The solutions from the guide to code 8, TDC position, all seem to require a multimeter and other stuff, which I lack.

Couldn't I be having this problem just because I haven't set the timing right? I don't think it's a problem with electrical connections, do I need the ohmeter and stuff?

thanks,
bob</TD></TR></TABLE>

No, timing on its own will not cause a check engine light in a pre-OBD SOHC Car. I think the code 8 is caused by your new dist being faulty

 

So I might have the timing right, then?

I guess I'll try putting the old distributor back in?