Ok, I got a problem. I was driving today and when I stopped at a stoplight, i noticed my car was quiet. Hmm..Battery light was on. So I cranked it back up, and it started up fine. Then I drove then next light, it turned off.

So then, I cranked it back up and the car ran fine for like 1 hour then I was at a stop light and it just stalls out?? I then start the car up, but it doesn't. So I push it a little, crank it and somehow it starts back up. Then it goes for like 50 feet and stalls out while in gear. So I push the car into the bank and I see that I have 1/4 tank of fuel left?

So I went to the gas station, thinking that maybe it doens't have enough fuel. I put the gas in, and crank and it still doesn't start up!

The motor CRANKS. So I checked to see if there is spark. I put a screw driver into the spark plug wire hole and hold it up to a ground source and crank the motor. No luck! I called my friend up and he came over and he tried it on his car (An integra) and a big spark jumped on his car. So Then, he took me to Acura dealership and I bought a NEW Ignition coil, Distributor cap, rotor and install it.

STILL NO LUCK!!! I checked for spark and there is STILL NO SPARK. So I got my friends spark plug wires and tried it on mine and it still didn't work. The motor cranks too. The battery is fine, radio works, everything etc... but there is no spark.

So I pushed my car home which is like 2 miles away. Sucks!!!

What could be the problem!!?!? I'm so pissed.

 

did you replace the ignitor in the distributor? this a different part inside the distributor than the HV coil. good luck.


[Modified by kkim, 3:48 AM 4/3/2002]

 

I had the same problem with my gsr motor, i replaced the ignitor and the problem was solved. It was 100 bucks from the dealer

 

try just going to some generic parts store for the parts and save the money. I mean, if the stock ignitor is a POS, why buy it again? faulty ignitors are a known weak spot on hondas/acuras.

 

It does sound like your ignitor. Same symptoms as when mine went out.

Tom

 

u nkow...i'm gonna get my friends distrubotor tomorow and see if his works. If it does, i'm gonna jack his.

or better yet, how about I just get a VTEC head and not spend $350 for a brand new distributor?? lol

 

Just try using his ignitor and see if it fixes your problem... I mean, it seems you've changed everything else in there. If that fixes it, just go buy a ignitor and save yourself a couple of hundred. Sure sounds like that's the problem...

 

where is this igniter located at? and what does it look like? pics would be nice

 

sorry, no pics, but it is the only module left in the distributor that you said you changed the HV coil in. do you have a service manual? if not, try to get one from a friend. it will help you a lot. In th future, I'd advise you to get a Helms manual for your car. Great addition for your car. I'll try and see if I can come up with a pic in the meantime.

 

distributor rotor maybe.

 

already changed rotor, distributor cap, and ignition coil. Gonna check igniter tommorow

 

this is a far shot, but you have enuf oil in there? i was running on ~1 qt one time and the car would not hold idle.

 

There's plenty of oil. Just no spark...Gonna go right now to dealership to pick up a new igniter!

 

Yea it is the ignitor, I had the same problem in my truck, except you got lucky you could even start it the first time it happened. My truck died right dab smack in the middle of rush hour traffic. Talk about crappy luck...

 

Good luck... sure hope this fixes your problem. please let us know what happens.

 

Is this the igniter? I took it out. Pretty small (2 inch by 2 inch?) for something that costs $215+ at the dealership!!! Does anyone in here know if the GSR one will work? Because I'm gonna switch with my friend to see if this is the problem behind it all.

 

Also, is there any way for me to check this with a voltmeter or ohmeter to see if its in good working condition?

I checked for volt, across ground and the black/yellow wire and it was 12 volts. Checked the ground and the green/yellow or something and it was 10 volts. Checked the ground and the BLUE wire (Tachometer?) and it read 0 volts...

 

The tach reads in A/C, so I don't think you'd get any D/C current going through. Good luck.

 

how long does the ignitor in an integra last anyhow?
just curious. so we know when to go and replace it when the time comes, with the other regular maintenance schedule

 

there is no way to tell how long they will last. I've seen an accord ignitor go at 60k miles, an 88 prelude go at 130k miles... and there are cars that never have any ignitor problems their entire life. bad thing is, when they go, your car just dies. You may get some warning, like BG did, but I've seen them just die in the middle of traffic. don't know if honda ever addressed a fix, but to my knowledge, this is still an on going problem for the older generations of H/A. don't know about the newer cars, though. one way might be to install an aftermarket ignition that bypasses the ignitor, if there is such a thing.