my D16A8 recently sputtered and died. it would start and run, but sputter ALOT and die and was running really rich, shooting soot from the exhaust, and the tach was bouncing. i replaced the ignitor, and it runs pretty good now, but there's still some sputtering and the tach is still bouncing, even when the engine feels like it's running OK.

what else should i look into? does a failing coil make the tach jump around, too? maybe ECU?

when the trouble started, i checked the codes, and it was showing code 9 (CPS), when i checked the CPS, the resistance checks were fine, but i had the wires reversed. could i have messed up the ECU? i've got a spare PM6, but haven't tried it yet.

D16A8, PG7, auto

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gutterslide &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what else should i look into? does a failing coil make the tach jump around, too? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, when my tach was jumping around my car eventually stalled and wouldn't start again. I ASSumed it was the ignitor because of everything I read, I replaced it and it still didn't start. Then I did the coil and it started and ran fine.

 

i always get the two mixed up.

but i think ive found the ignitor makes the tach just bounce, but the ignition coil will prevent the car from starting or driving rough.

either way, both things need attention when it comes to distributor problems.

 

i guess i'll try a new coil, or a whole new distributor.

i think the distributor might be the original. but it looks like the ignitor has been replaced before, because the clip that holds the ignitor wires in place wasn't screwed to the ignitor that was in there. maybe the coil is failing, and damaging the ignitors.

thanks for the replies.