Changed spark plugs - Now no spark at all

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Old Mar 13, 2007 | 08:56 PM
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Default Changed spark plugs - Now no spark at all

Hey guys,

Car: 89 CRX HF, Engine: stock b15b6

Just changed my spark plugs and after i installed everything I'm not getting any spark. The car was running fine and never had a problem starting until after installation. I thought maybe it was the spark plugs so I re-installed the older ones (they werent bad) and tried firing her up but still no spark.

FYI - I did tamper with the distributor as I wanted to take it off by the top bolt out of the 3 did not budge. I sprayed a little bit of wd-40 on the nut to see if that helped and of course it didnt. So I installed the cap back on the distributor and bolted the 2 nuts I managed to get off earlier and called it quits. I wanted to change the distributor o-ring. That is why I was "messing" with it.

So in all, why is my car no starting. I'm getting no sparks. Its not the spark plugs. Could I have damaged my distributor?

TIA,
Jimmy
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Old Mar 13, 2007 | 09:17 PM
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Default Re: Changed spark plugs - Now no spark at all (jchung)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jchung &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">FYI - I did tamper with the distributor</TD></TR></TABLE>

did you get wd-40 into the distributor?
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Old Mar 13, 2007 | 09:22 PM
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Default Re: Changed spark plugs - Now no spark at all (STREETWERKZ)

igniter........?
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Old Mar 13, 2007 | 09:28 PM
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Default Re: Changed spark plugs - Now no spark at all (STREETWERKZ)

im guessing you didnt put plug wires back in the right order
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Old Mar 13, 2007 | 09:30 PM
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Default Re: Changed spark plugs - Now no spark at all (.Manny.)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .Manny. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">im guessing you didnt put plug wires back in the right order</TD></TR></TABLE>


that's a good possibility too.
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Old Mar 13, 2007 | 10:20 PM
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Default Re: Changed spark plugs - Now no spark at all (.Manny.)

hmm,, i re-though and re-checked that several times. how can i make sure? is there a diagram?

even if the wires werent put back in the right order, wouldnt i get some spark? the car wont make a sound when i try and start it.
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Old Mar 13, 2007 | 11:06 PM
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Default Re: Changed spark plugs - Now no spark at all (jchung)

im pretty sure the wires are plugged in correctly. i know its not the wires because the engine would still spark (chug) but not start.

any ideas?
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Old Mar 13, 2007 | 11:16 PM
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Default Re: Changed spark plugs - Now no spark at all (jchung)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jchung &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">im pretty sure the wires are plugged in correctly. i know its not the wires because the engine would still spark (chug) but not start.

any ideas?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Doesn't mean you couldn't have on in the wrong spot. Did you gap the plugs correctly? Make sure you gapped them right, and dont have the firing order off. If those are correct, and you have spark like you say, then timing must be off somehow.
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Old Mar 13, 2007 | 11:32 PM
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Default Re: Changed spark plugs - Now no spark at all (ImportHatch)

sorry if i was misleading on my previous post but i have NO SPARK right now. if the problem was simply mis-plugging the wires into the wrong sockets the engine would chug (spark), but in this case i'm not getting anything.
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Old Mar 14, 2007 | 06:56 AM
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Default Re: Changed spark plugs - Now no spark at all (jchung)

Check your cap for the two contacts. One is for the coil to cap and then check the one from the cap to rotor.

While you are there check the rotor, see if it is loose or wobbly.
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Old Mar 14, 2007 | 09:51 AM
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Default Re: Changed spark plugs - Now no spark at all (thesmogman)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by thesmogman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Check your cap for the two contacts. One is for the coil to cap and then check the one from the cap to rotor.

While you are there check the rotor, see if it is loose or wobbly.</TD></TR></TABLE>


what about the 2 contacts am i looking for on the cap?

bump
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Old Mar 14, 2007 | 10:16 AM
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Default Re: Changed spark plugs - Now no spark at all (jchung)

check the contacts for any kind of buildup, make sure they are clean. also look inside your cap and make sure that there is no moisture in there.

My bet is your plug wires are on wrong.
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Old Mar 14, 2007 | 10:30 AM
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I would guess that the wires are wrong if it turns over but does not fire. An easy way to tell if you're actually getting spark is to hold a plug wire near the valve cover or something and see if you get spark when the ignition is cranked. And if you remove your distributor cap you should see the two small metal contacts inside, if these are corroded or dirty it may be worth it to just clean them up or get a new cap.
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Old Mar 14, 2007 | 11:18 AM
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Default Re: Changed spark plugs - Now no spark at all (black88si)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by black88si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

My bet is your plug wires are on wrong.</TD></TR></TABLE>

that cant be because it wont even spark. even if i had it the wires in wrong it would spark but not fire up.
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Old Mar 14, 2007 | 11:19 AM
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Default Re: (wiZCo)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wiZCo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I would guess that the wires are wrong if it turns over but does not fire. An easy way to tell if you're actually getting spark is to hold a plug wire near the valve cover or something and see if you get spark when the ignition is cranked. And if you remove your distributor cap you should see the two small metal contacts inside, if these are corroded or dirty it may be worth it to just clean them up or get a new cap.</TD></TR></TABLE>

hi wiz,

do you mean the wires need to be replaced or the wires are plugged in wrong? im pretty certain that i have the plugs in correctly, but i could be wrong. anyone have a diagram?
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Old Mar 14, 2007 | 12:31 PM
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Default Re: (jchung)

bump, any other ideas?

ima check the wires again when i get home but i'm almost completely convinced it might be the wires becase the engine doesnt make one sound when i try to fire her up.
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Old Mar 14, 2007 | 05:04 PM
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Default Re: (jchung)

This is what I'd do.

Pull a wire off, have no plug in it. Put something metal in the end of it and arc it off of something metal while your friend cranks the engine over. If you have spark there, then I'd check the gap on your plugs. If you get spark through the plug, and looks like a good spark then I'd pull the cap. Like other said, Clean the contact on the cap with something like some fine sandpaper. Do the same with the end of the rotor. Just narrow it down, not that hard.
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Old Mar 14, 2007 | 06:03 PM
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Default Re: (ImportHatch)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ImportHatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This is what I'd do.

Pull a wire off, have no plug in it. Put something metal in the end of it and arc it off of something metal while your friend cranks the engine over. If you have spark there, then I'd check the gap on your plugs. If you get spark through the plug, and looks like a good spark then I'd pull the cap. Like other said, Clean the contact on the cap with something like some fine sandpaper. Do the same with the end of the rotor. Just narrow it down, not that hard.</TD></TR></TABLE>

im gonna try that when my brother gets home.

anyone know what this is? i was checking for loose wires and i saw this. this wire comes out of the fat wire tube i'm holding next to it.



edit: just now, while trying to crank the engine, my gauge lights just turned off and wont come back on when the key is on ignition II. could it be my battery then? also, i tried to jump it but it didnt crank at all.


Modified by jchung at 3:35 AM 3/15/2007
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Old Mar 15, 2007 | 09:44 AM
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Default Re: (jchung)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jchung &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

im gonna try that when my brother gets home.

anyone know what this is? i was checking for loose wires and i saw this. this wire comes out of the fat wire tube i'm holding next to it.



edit: just now, while trying to crank the engine, my gauge lights just turned off and wont come back on when the key is on ignition II. could it be my battery then? also, i tried to jump it but it didnt crank at all.


Modified by jchung at 3:35 AM 3/15/2007</TD></TR></TABLE>

bump for ^
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Old Mar 15, 2007 | 10:08 AM
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Definitely a broken ground wire. I bet that's the problem... hard to tell which one it is though. Try to see where it broke off and get back to me.
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Old Mar 15, 2007 | 10:32 AM
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Default Re: (wiZCo)

what the heck are you doing to your car man! lol...i told you to leave it alone...

I agree that does look like a broken ground wire...most likely the one that goes to the thermostat housing. That would cause the car to not start like your talking about. Let me know if you need help working on the car. I also have an old Chilton's or Haynes book that might help you with all the maintenance.
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Old Mar 15, 2007 | 10:55 AM
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Default Re: (dkim48)

that wire looks to be for the starter, I could be wrong. JUST IN CASE check the grounds on the thermostat too.
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Old Mar 15, 2007 | 11:25 AM
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Default Re: (hardEH2)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dkim48 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what the heck are you doing to your car man! lol...i told you to leave it alone...

I agree that does look like a broken ground wire...most likely the one that goes to the thermostat housing. That would cause the car to not start like your talking about. Let me know if you need help working on the car. I also have an old Chilton's or Haynes book that might help you with all the maintenance. </TD></TR></TABLE>

whoo hoo, thanks danny. if you're free, maybe you can help me on saturday. i received my parts and i need to install them.

i wont have any time to work on it until saturday. thanks everyone for your help!
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Old Mar 15, 2007 | 11:39 AM
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Default Re: (hardEH2)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hardEH2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">that wire looks to be for the starter, I could be wrong. JUST IN CASE check the grounds on the thermostat too.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That could be it too...Thanks for the replies

I should have some time on Saturday. Call me
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Old Mar 16, 2007 | 10:13 PM
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Default Re: (dkim48)

it was the starter ground wire. the wire just snapped off and it was so hard to see what it was connected to. for everyone that helped!
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