Went out to start my 97 Honda Accord LX and it wont crank. It doesn't sound like anything is turning or moving, only a quite hissing noise comes from somewhere around the engine when the key turned and it lasts about 2 seconds.

I pulled out the spark plug shafts and touched the leads to metal hoping I would get a spark, but alas, there is none. Strangely enough, the lights, stereo and the AC all still come on.

I've gotten 3 different answers from 3 different "car guys". Distributor, ignition coil or a bad main relay. How do I diagnose what is exactly wrong?

 

Roger Dodge,
Have you done the test I already suggested?
If the motor is not spinning over?????it is not the dist, coil or main relay.

 

if the car is not turning over make sure the battery is still good (ie try to jump the car) if the battery is good then you probably have an issues with the starter.

 

It sound like the starter is no good. The hissing sound you hear is the motor in the starter. There is a chance the starter is being grounded out look around the starter for open wires. Sometimes if the starter is bad you can lightly tap it with a hammer to get it to turn over. I said lightly because you can ruin it if you hit it to hard.