Ok so heres the background to the current problem: I was driving on the highway for awhile with no problems. I slowed down to a red light and my car stalls. I couldnt get the car to even try and start until I was pulled of to the side of the road. Even then after a bucnh of cranking the car ran *rough* with full throttle and died instantly when it was not applied, couldn't get it to start after this.
Here's what I've found: The car cranks and cranks but never actually starts. With full throttle on cranking it makes a sound kind of like a back fire every once in awhile. I got it to start and run for a short time like this but it sounded like it was only hitting on 1 or 2 cylinders and backfiring pretty bad. I pulled 1 spark plug wire at a time and put a good plug in the end and cranked, no spark from the plug in any of the wires. I removed the cap altogether and the car behaves the same. So I'm suspecting the ditributer went bad? Does that sound about right for the circumsances and the problem? I really need help.
Thanks,
-Denny

 

Actually sounds like your timing belt is done for...Check that asap

 

Depending on the engine-YES! It is a well known problem for those of us with the TD-02U series of distributors used on D16a6 engines. If you have an engine with an internal Crankshaft sensor-it is very likely toast based on your description. You can take alook inside the dizzy and if you see alot of reddish dust-this is a strong indicator.
Best sourcde for a replacement is Distributor King. A reman or the dealer willcost you dearly by comparison and he does warranty them.

 

My car has the ZC block and Si head, so yeah basically a Si motor with nicer pistons. I will go check my timing belt real quick just to make sure because I kind of thought it might be. But It wouldn't have started at all if that was the case though right? Is distributer king online? I need one kind of soon.
-Denny

 

hi. I restore CRXs. It sounds like one of the following: timing belt jumped. Air flow meter has failed. this isn't the correct name for it, it's the butterfly like device in the intake of the throttle body. Distributer might be bad. Crank angle sensor might be bad (inside of dist) read your computer. How many times is the red light blinking?

 

I figured it out thank god. I started looking around in the dizzy at the recomendation of a post earlier and noticed the screw for the rotor had *come out* and was just chilling under it. It amazingly didnt get in the way of gear or anything so all I did was screw it back in and it runs great agian.
-Note to self, keep screws tightened
Thanks!
-Denny