'93 civic EX 2-door
1.6L, 5-speed, 196K miles...


The other day I am at a stop light, and the check engine light comes on and the car dies. I turn the ignition off, and then attempt to start it up and she fired right up, no CEL and she runs good...

Then drive 65mph on the freeway, almost same thing, but it never did die but just no power with the gas pedal pressed...started to coast to the shoulder as this was all I can do. Before I stopped, turned key off, and then she started right up with no issues....

I got home and checked for any CEL codes that were stored...being the CEL was not on. Found it had a code 15....dealing with the distributor. Following the FSM, I checked the plug and wires at the distributor, but didn't have a chance to check the ECU per the manual...

Question…. besides a bad ECU, wiring or the distributor going bad, what else could cause this...a bad cap and rotor??? Bad plug wires???

I was told by a local parts store that there is a known problem with distributors for these model years...so that could be the cause. Is this true....any way of testing the distributor beside just replacing it?? Any other ideas on what to check??

Thanks for the help!

 

https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...+output+signal

 

Damm....I did a search last night for code 15 but it didn't find any...and not that link. Thanks for the link that is some good info...

A couple questions...

How does one test the igniter?

Also, when they say "ignition switch"..do they mean the switch where the key goes in??

 

Courtesy of Ron & the FAQs.

 

LOL, there is a known problem with THEIR distributors, not actual Honda distributors..

The code 15 along with the car loosing ignition is a tale-tale sign of the ignitor / ignition module going out. I'd recommend purchasing a new ignitor from your Honda dealer. If you continue driving it like this, it will leave you stranded before long.

 

I took your advice and just finished installing a new ignitor...while it was apart, I also put on a new cap and rotor. I guess we will see what happens..

Thanks for the help...

 

did changing the new ignitor, cap and rotor solve ur problem?
sorry for bringing this thread back from the dead.

 

Yes....never had another issue with it since...

 

the price of buying a igniter for ur dizzy is about the same price for a new one ( aftermarket which is the complete assembly) u would better off going that route instead

 

Most aftermarket distributors are complete junk. I've seen lots of them, they don't last anywhere near like the OEM ones.

 

I am not sure how much an aftermarket dizzy is...but the igniter was about $35....are the dizzys that cheap??

 

No Idk what hondatuner is talking about. I just bought a new distributor and it costed me about $240 (OBD2). Thats with no rotor or cap

 

That is what I thought...a friend needed one for a 96 civic...not sure of any of the specs on the engine....

It was about $250 as you said....igniters seem to be much cheaper...

 

Hi guys --

About two months ago I bought a 1993 5-speed del Sol Si. Since then, I've had an intermittent no-start problem. Sometimes, when first trying to start it for the day, the engine will try to turn over but won't completely fire up. Once it is started, it will start up fine for the rest of the day. Also, sometimes after first starting it up, it might completely stall out. However, it always starts right back up with no problem.

Checked all the fuses, they're all good. Also pulled up a CEL code #15. I'm a total newbie when it comes to all this . . . but how do I use my multimeter to check for voltages at the wires leading to the distributor? How do I check resistance/voltage at the ignition coil? Any help is appreciated.

 

 

Hey Fig...did you get your car fixed?? just wondering?