Hello Everybody,
I have a 1995 Honda Del sol Si and I was driving on the highway yesterday at a speed of about 60-70 mph. The car was running smooth but all of a sudden the car starts giving short jolts (about a split second long) where rpm needle showed a sharp drop but came back up right away. After a few times, rpm went to 0. I pressed the gas but no acceleration. Also all 3 lights ie check engine light, oil light and battery light came on. I pulled to the side, waited about 5 minutes and started the car again thinking it was some one time glitch. It started fine and ran couple mile just fine but then did the exact same thing again. I again pulled to the side and got my car towed. I pulled the check engine light code and it came out to be 15 ie Ignition Output Signal missing or defective ignition output signal.
I did have this trouble with cold/wet start and I did change the distributor about 2.5 years back. That did not fix the problem but later changing the spark plugs and wires fixed it.
any suggestions/information/ideas will be much appreciated.
Thanks guys

 

your computer may be bad. i have never heard of ignition output signal but i know my one computer was not putting out a signal for the icm so it did not start at all. grab a friend with a p28 and plug it in. try it.

 

distributor cap/rotor/plugs/wires
main relay
ICM/coil
grounds
ECU
(check in that order)

2.5 years = how many miles?

 

Hey guys,
Thanks for the replies.

Dave, it is starting just fine. As I mentioned I was on the highway yesterday cruising at ~ 70 mph and the rpm gave a few jolts and went to 0. It was starting fine after I restarted after that but as I was unsure how safe it was plus I did not want to screw my engine further if I would have kept driving ( although I drove one more time to see if it was a random one time glitch but it died on me again as I mentioned). Today I drove it about 30 miles in the city and I-66 ( ~ upto 60 mph) and it ran fine. By computer, you mean ECU , right ??

Relic, the distributor is ~ 17 K /2.5 year old (entire distributor assembly).
In fact I have an extra one, a new one ordered from ebay. A local machenic is charging me $ 30 to replace it. If I get the distributor replaced that would cover
cap, rotor, ignitor, coil, ICM ( ???).
spark plugs, Wires and fuel filter was replaced 1 yr/ 5k miles back and were original honda dealer parts.
Replacing the distributor assembly and assuming the spark plugs/wires are still good, this would leave me main relay, grounds, ECU. I will see.
As I mentioned I took it for a ride in the city and the highway (~ 60 mph) and drove about 30 miles , no problem ! What say ?
Will keep you guys updated.
Thanks
sandy

 

bad connections start out this way, only occasionally causing issues. Over time it gets more frequently.

If your main relay has never been replaced or repaired, do it anyway. They are a known problem with our cars. (can be easily repaired if you can solder)
grounds are also a common problem with our cars, at the age they are wires that flex all the time get weaker. some good 4awg jumpers to replace the factory grounds is never a bad thing.

 

Hey relic
I was thinking about changing the main relay also. A mechanic is charging me $ 30 to change the distributor. You think another $ 10-20 will cover fr changing the main relay. I believe main relay should not be more than $ 60.
I have no idea about how and where to look for ground .. How much this will cost me if I decide for it.
thanks for your input.
sandy