I'm having a problem figuring out which distributor is on my '87 CRX DX.

I have a Haynes book for 84-90 Civic/CRXs, and it states that there are two distributors available during these years -- a Toyo Denso and a Hitachi distributor. According to the diagram, mine is a Toyo Denso. However... I went to my local parts store to pick up a new cap, and the parts list they had showed an '87 CRX DX distributor as being neither of these. According to this list, my distributor matches up with what should be on the '87 CRX Si.

Now, to add confusion, I talked to the parts guys at my local Honda dealership, and they said that there was only one distributor available for '87 CRX DXs, and that it was neither a Toyo Denso or a Hitachi -- it was a TEC (which is what it actually says on my distributor). I had to order a gasket for the distributor, so it remains to be seen which distributor Honda thinks I have -- I'll find out tomorrow when the part comes in.

So does anyone know what kind of distributor came in an '87 CRX DX? How does TEC fit in with Toyo Denso and Hitachi? Is it possible that I simply have an Si distributor on my DX?

Thanks for any info!

 

My guess would be that the DX and Si do use different distributors. However, it is very possible that they use the same cap. The 2nd generation DX and Si use the same cap even thought they use a different distributor.

Another good resource for these types of things is majestic honda's website. You can always go in and check part numbers. http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/

 

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately it only adds to the confusion!

It has the Hitachi distributor as the only '87 CRX DX distributor and a TEC distributor for the SI. Unfortunately, there are no diagrams. Guess I'll just wait and see what part the Honda guys get for me, and if it matches then I'll know that they know what they are talking about!

 

OK, I picked up the gasket from the Honda dealership and it was the right one, so I guess they know what they are talking about -- as opposed to the parts shop that originally gave me the wrong cap. The Honda guys told me that there is only one distributor -- a TEC distributor -- for the DX, and a different distributor for the SI (a Hitachi, I think). The Haynes book is American, which will apparently not always match up with the cars we've got here in Canada -- I guess even when the model designations are the same, there are differences between the cars that Canada and the US got.

Anyway, now I know that I can talk to the Honda guys regarding my distributor, and they (at least) will know which distributor I have.

 

Do these different distributors have different patterns for spark plug wires?